Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: johns@happy.uk.sun.com (John Slater) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Licenses for Television in the UK Message-ID: <8658@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 4 Jun 90 10:42:27 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: John Slater Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 37 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 413, Message 9 of 9 In article <8505@accuvax.nwu.edu>, nigel.allen@f438.n250.z1. fidonet.org writes: >the operations of the British Broadcasting Corporation were >supported, at least in part, by a license fee imposed on television >sets and possibly on radios as well. This is still the case. In fact the BBC is funded entirely by this method (apart from a small income from overseas programme sales {yes, that's how we British spell "program" when it's other that the computer sort}, merchandising and so on). Radio licenses were abolished a long time ago (in the 1950's or 1960's, I think), as they were too difficult and expensive to collect. Television licenses cost (if memory serves) 71 pounds per year for colour, and about 20 pounds for monochrome. There is a derisory discount of 1.25 pounds for blind people on each of these figures. Evasion is widespread, and personally I am deeply cynical about the efficacy or even the existence of detector vans (I've never seen one). I believe the authorities rely largely on non-renewed licences to catch defaulters. The money funds the BBC's two national television channels, including local television opt-outs, *and* all its radio services - 4 national services (5 soon) and numerous local stations. The BBC external services, including the World Service and all the foreign language services, are funded by the government, but are run by the BBC and are editorially impartial (really. It works. Somehow she manages to keep her hands away from it ...). I thought you might be interested in a little more detail. John Slater Sun Microsystems, Gatwick, UK