There *is* a point around this, though

There is a point around this, though

I think GBBO, or the Strictly vs X Factor example, speaks to the licence fee question. Why is the BBC competing with a commercial product, and should they even be allowed to use tax money (the licence fee is a tax) to do that? Should the BBC stick to Proper News - it's brilliant at that - the World Service (arguably the jewel in the crown), Proper Documentaries that can't be funded through a commercial model, and special interest programmes (so, each programme would have a small viewership; but everyone would probably find one or two things a week to watch reflecting their own niche interests, in ecclesiastical architecture, the influence of pumpernickel on dubstep, the rise and fall of Jordan's chest size, whatever).

I'm using crude stereotypes, of course. But is Bake Off really what the licence fee is for?

Frankly I'd rather watch paint dry - not because I don't cook, I actually love it, but because watching competitive cake baking seems very dull to me. Others like it though and good luck to them - but surely there's a commercial model which would sustain it, and the licence fee could be better spent?

Posted By: Old Man on September 4th 2014 at 10:32:57

Message Thread

You know who gets all uncomfortable and confronty when faced with unabashedly expressed (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Sep 4, 10:06:34
- The f88king irony... (n/m) (General Chat) - Upperjarroldmiddle, Sep 4, 10:24:08
- Or real men who think there are too many cooking programs on tv already. (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 10:22:16
  - well put (n/m) (General Chat) - Real Man, Sep 4, 10:45:50
- strictly starts again soon too. (n/m) (General Chat) - Dunney, Sep 4, 10:13:45
- I'm fine with Bake Off. I just think there should be chainsaws in there as well (n/m) (General Chat) - Higher Wrather, Sep 4, 10:10:26
  - that would work for me (n/m) (General Chat) - Real Man, Sep 4, 10:46:16
  - Everyone to their own. I imagine it was more competitive than the England game. (General Chat) - Pixelman, Sep 4, 10:20:41
    - Same here (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 10:36:07
- Nowt wrong with men baking, been doing it for centuries. It's watching (General Chat) - CB41, Sep 4, 10:09:13
  - Vmt (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 10:20:27
    - You are aware it's *vastly* popular aren't you? (General Chat) - duke of york, Sep 4, 10:25:25
      - There *is* a point around this, though (General Chat) - Old Man, Sep 4, 10:32:57
        
        With the Strictly/Xfactor, there is a point there, but with the baking (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Sep 4, 11:08:26
        
        exactly this (General Chat) - Tricky Hawes, Sep 4, 11:59:50
        
        The Flan Factor. Now there's a concept. "I'm baking it for me Nan". (n/m) (General Chat) - Old Man, Sep 4, 11:14:19
        
        Pot noodle wars.... (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 11:29:17
        
        Who can scuba to 30 metres take a picture of a wreck (General Chat) - fareastcanary, Sep 4, 11:45:48
        
        Niiiiiiice! Have fun (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 13:26:03
        
        or for your Naan (n/m) (General Chat) - Pixelman, Sep 4, 11:18:07
        
        The cheap popular programmes help pay for the esoteric ones (General Chat) - yarmyyarmy, Sep 4, 10:59:02
        
        Maybe (General Chat) - duke of york, Sep 4, 10:39:14
        
        The beeb (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 11:05:57
        
        It's good value though if you compare it to say a subscription (General Chat) - Pixelman, Sep 4, 11:21:40
        
        How many new license fee holders are there every year? (General Chat) - pants, Sep 4, 11:19:05
        
        Dunno... (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 11:30:46
        
        Freeze on the fee - exactly (n/m) (General Chat) - duke of york, Sep 4, 11:40:52
        
        So what do you want, substantial fee increase?! (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 13:01:38
        
        You've researched something that misses the point of my post (n/m) (General Chat) - duke of york, Sep 4, 11:12:07
        
        No... (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 11:28:01
        
        If you could be arsed (General Chat) - duke of york, Sep 4, 11:40:26
        
        Yes its always criticised.... (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 12:03:11
        
        Yes, I do accept that (n/m) (General Chat) - Old Man, Sep 4, 10:45:43
        
        Vmt (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 10:34:28
      - Yes.....its supply and demand sadly. (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 10:31:55
      - I want to see gay porn after the evening news. (General Chat) - harry boulders, Sep 4, 10:31:42
        
        I'd like to see ANYTHING other the 'nothings on show' (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Sep 4, 10:35:26
    - I'm pissed off that my "trade" hasn't had a doc series yet... (General Chat) - Pixelman, Sep 4, 10:22:23

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