Currently, anyone who uses a television to watch content must pay the licence fee even if they do not watch the BBC. Under the proposed changes it would be expanded to cover all other online providers, such as Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, YouTube, which are currently exempt.
The Whitehall source explained that the move was “because people are able to use them to avoid paying currently”. They added: “It’s not fair that people are essentially able to watch television content but avoid the licence fee.”
Why would the BBC be allowed to collect money on services it does not provide? This is basically saying “everyone must pay this fee, or unplug their internet”.
At that point, you might as well just take it from the government budget.
Then make it a tax.
This was going to be my answer but it apparently already is, officially, a tax.
I was using it as shorthand for “make it mandatory”. If I’m going to be forced to pay then I don’t want the pretence of choice, and it’d mean we could eliminate those TV Licensing arseholes too.
I agree fully.
If you’re charging for BBC services then charge for that, if you want to tax tv based entertainment, then be honest.
This “how do we word it so we can effectively tax everyone, but don’t have to admit that’s what we want” approach is bullshit.
that was my point, it should be a tax
And my point was that it currently isn’t. While that remains the case I opt out. If the criteria for having to pay this optional tax is essentially “don’t use the internet” then it’s ridiculous to the point of me actively resenting them.