Recent blog posts:
Licence to bill: The cost of living and the TV tax What does it say that even in the midst of a cost of living crisis, the BBC still thinks that it can get away with leveraging a charge on people for simply owning a telly? |
Don’t just freeze the BBC licence fee, scrap it altogether You might say a licence fee freeze would be an early Christmas present for taxpayers at a time when taxes and costs are surging. But this is a far cry from the bold plans for the licence fee that this government originally touted. |
TaxPayers’ Alliance calls for Channel 4 and BBC overhaul to save taxpayers a fortune Research reveals that the sale of BBC shares could increase the tax-free personal allowance by £300. |
BBC annual review 2021: the good, the bad, and the ugly If the BBC simply isn’t capable of reducing senior salaries further, limiting luvvie pay or eradicating excessive expenses, we have a simple solution. Stop funding it with public money. |
The BBC has diverged significantly from its founding principles The BBC has diverged significantly from its founding principles, becoming a huge media empire which maintains itself thanks to taxpayers. If we accept its new endeavours into the streaming service age, then it must do so on a level playing field, without a draconian funding model. |
The government must be bold and reform the BBC Instead of getting the best deal for taxpayers the government seems to be giving up on reform at the very first hurdle. Ministers must not lose their nerve. They must be bold and push for serious reform. |
Public service broadcasting - How BBC broadcasters should service the public It seems a political age has passed since February, when Downing street figures told The Times that the BBC licence fee was set to be scrapped. But even though other seismic events have understandably dominated media and political attention in recent months, the battle over the future of the television tax - and with that inevitably, the future of public service broadcasting - is not one that can or should be set aside. |
“What’s the BBC ever given us for 58 quid!?” mused a bewildered-looking John Cleese... |
Channel 4 should be up for sale Why is Channel 4 still taxpayer-owned in 2020? |
Radio Ga Ga: Has the BBC had its time? The BBC is mismanaging licence fee funding which amounts to around £4 billion per year. |
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss A former Pepsi exec is about to become one of the most influential people in Britain. |
The BBC needs to be accountable to taxpayers We expect the government and local councils to be accountable - why not the state broadcaster? |
The BBC's broadband tax proposal A broadband tax would be a poor solution to the fundamental problem that the BBC model of public service broadcasting is not fit for the 21st century. |
A time to make you appreciate televised sport, with or without the BBC The sporting freeze makes us appreciative of just how much sport we can watch these days. Don't forget that it is the rise of competitive consumer power which has opened it up. The BBC, paid for by sporting fans and phobes alike, not need be involved. |
The future of the BBC licence fee Mark Wallace in conversation with Sir Robbie Gibb |
Consultation on decriminalising TV licence evasion In February 2020 the government launched a consultation on decriminalising TV licence evasion. Read the TaxPayers' Alliance submission in full. |
Bringing the BBC into the 21st Century When pondering the wonders of the small box with moving pictures, it is always worth remembering that everyone has to pay an annual tax for the privilege. |