I’m all for going to the German model where public channels are paid for through general taxation but retaining independence from governemnet influence. Means we don’t need to have this debate.
Missed this – didn’t know about it and liking it already. Sounds like a very good idea – increasing taxation in this country isn’t something that most people would go for though!
not really general taxation, and hence, not really a tax increase either. instead of being obliged to pay for use of a tv, with almost everyone having a tv, they just changed it to being obliged to pay and if you don’t want to watch TV, or use the online sites, or streaming, or whatever, then that’s your problem.
so it’s essentially a household surcharge rather than general taxation.
probably the easiest way to do that in UK is to scrap licence fee, and add tenner or whatever per month surcharge on the council tax bill (which already collects surcharges for all sorts of other things, depending on where you live).
I have a TV. Apart from Top Gear, F1, and Cycling and IoM TT on ITV4, there’s bog all on the gogglebox.