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, Sep 4, 10:32:57