Public Broadcasting Charge

Dannyboy83

I see that there is going to be a new Public Broadcasting Charge to replace the TV License.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/ibi-calls-for-new-fee-to-provide-funding-for-independent-stations-499988.html

Not that I agree with subsidizing RTE anyway, but why does the state operate such a convoluted method of collecting these fees?

Why not simply collect this money at source, along with the USC etc.?

Sleepy

I'd agree with some of the comments on the thread. Privatise RTÉ and do away with the TV licence full stop.

They should be able to survive on advertising, program generation and whatever fees they get from Sky / NTL etc. to be included in their offerings.

Finnbar01

Sleepy wrote: »

I'd agree with some of the comments on the thread. Privatise RTÉ and do away with the TV licence full stop.

They should be able to survive on advertising, program generation and whatever fees they get from Sky / NTL etc. to be included in their offerings.

Some?

Dannyboy83

Sleepy wrote: »

I'd agree with some of the comments on the thread. Privatise RTÉ and do away with the TV licence full stop.

They should be able to survive on advertising, program generation and whatever fees they get from Sky / NTL etc. to be included in their offerings.

I agree with that.
I just don't understand why they use such a convoluted system to administrate these fees.

AFAIK, In Germany there are various deductions made at source for the upkeep of churches and that.
You can opt out if you wish, but then you can't use the church for christenings, weddings and other ceremonies.
I'm open to correction on this, but thats what I've had explained to me.
It seems to make a lot more sense than our current system.

I think most people probably wouldn't give a damn about funding RTE if it was a €10 per month coming out of their paypacket, especially if everyone else paid it too.
But when it's an upfront payment of €150, people really feel it.

ferike1

I wrote about this ages ago, got moved to the Media forum. The whole PBC is absolute bs if you ask me. They want to charge for the internet too. I don't have a TV for the reason of RTE being crap and I wouldn't watch it anyway. The funny thing is RTE get advertising money and TV license money which is unfair, they should not be allowed to advertise since they are getting the funding.

Seth Brundle

Either way, we need to have a large licence fee. Advertising alone will not cover the large costs to ensure that the valuable talents of Kenny, Finucane, Duffy, et al are not lost to competitors.

oh and don't forget about Tubs, he's great he is!

(oops forgot my sarcasm tags)

I don't like their radio or TV.
RTE provides me with what I view as visibly biased news and interviews. My kids don't watch Network2 (or whatever it is currently called) as its crap. It retains very little talent that it puts forward preferring to reuse the same crappy "stars" that I had wished long ago would retire. (Larry Gogan for Christ's sake!?!?)
Oh and to think that they still think I want to watch one of their arrogant drug using stars last performances - GTFO! (Lets not forget that his daughter was subsequently hired by RTE).
I pay the licence fee* purely becaue I have to. I really see no value in RTE though.


* on top of my paymant to NTL which includes payment to RTE!