Government defeated over TV licence fee decriminalisation

[Scubbie]

BBC News - Government defeated over TV licence fee decriminalisation

The government has been defeated in the House of Lords over changes to the television licence fee rules.

Peers narrowly voted that there should be no move to decriminalise non-payment of the fee before 2017.

Ministers want to keep open the option of making a change when an independent review reports in the summer.

The BBC has said decriminalisation could cost it up to £200m a year, warning channels may have to be closed as a result.

Last year, MPs backed plans to give the government power to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee, currently £145.50 a year for a colour television.

But in the Lords, a cross-party amendment, preventing any change before the next licence fee settlement begins in April 2017, was approved by 178 to 175.

Conservative peer Lord Grade of Yarmouth, a former chairman of the BBC, said he was "deeply concerned" about the uncertain effect of decriminalisation on the BBC's budget.

He said he would "love" to see the licence fee decriminalised, but added: "There are risks the enemies of the BBC will see it as an opportunity to then move the compulsory element of the licence fee and move the BBC to a subscription model which would completely undermine the whole concept of public service broadcasting."

The vote amends the Deregulation Bill, which will now go back to the House of Commons.

[Isitme]

The BBC has said decriminalisation could cost it up to £200m a year, warning channels may have to be closed as a result.

They have saved millions by loosing the Open Golf rights, are they going to open up more channels with that? I don't see how not being able to jail someone is going to cost £200M. They might actually save money as civil court is usually cheaper than the criminal court.

[Scubbie]

Just like Parliament is scared of the English having their own EMPs, causing them to lose power over us, the BBC is scared that by decriminalising the TV License fee that they will lose the ability to get paid.

The simple truth is that both would gain in the longer term.

Sure there will be changes, but there are other channels who are able to not only survive, but increase.

Take a look at Channel 4. The also run S4C, More4, 4seven, E4, Film 4 & 4Music. They also own 50% of Box Television who run 4Music, The Box, Smash Hits, Kerrang!, Q, Kiss & Magic.

Both Channel 5 and ITV have multiple channels as well and all have +1 channels, HD and SD versions of many of their channels too.

Ok the BBC also have a number of local and national radio stations. They also have the BBC World Service and have roughly half the network of terrestrial TV masts to operate, along with the various repeater masts scattered across the country.

Changing from the License Fee to a combination of advertising and subscription is IMHO the right way forward.