Posted by Andy F Batter on 09/24/06 19:57

"Roberto Pirezzi" <roberto_pirezzi@btinternet.com> wrote in message

> The licence fee is worth it anyway, even if it is only to watch competing
> channels shows, such as deal or no deal :-)

You have to take into account that the BBC provides a service no commercial
station would. Broadcasters led by advertising revenue disregard minority
needs, as they're always chasing the biggest audience.

During my nan's last days, she was regularly tuned into BBC Radio
Cambridgeshire, which seems geared-up to cater for those who want to hear
"we'll gather lilacs" and other similarly nauseating tunes from the pre-war
era. It's a public service that's appreciated by many, but were it not for
the Beeb, what else would old folk have to listen to?

Those who are dissing the Beeb now, may well be more thankful of its
existence in 40 years time... Can you imagine commercial radio blue rinse?
"Sponsored by Stannah stairlifts, coming up how to stiff your kids out of
their inheritance with equity release with Norwich Union, but first, do you
worry about who's going to pay for your funeral? Why not pay now, die
later?"

The whole I want to pay just for what *I* watch is a selfish argument, and
you're not seeing the broader picture. The BBC, like the NHS and the Police
is a state service funded by the taxpayer. Healthy people could argue that
it's unjust that they're forced to support the NHS, it's effectively the
same argument.

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