Re: TVLD
Service charges on leasehold flats or properties for things like 'lift maintenance', concierges and so forth, even when management companies do a terrible job / no work at all.
Paying council tax when, increasingly, council-funded services are having to reduce budgets due to increasing deficits, resulting in things like poorly-maintained highways or completely closed public facilities (where have all the public loos gone?)
For what's provided in return for the licence fee, it seems like a pretty balanced deal.
* Globally recognised R&D which generates income for UK industry and leads the world in broadcasting standards
* World-class, pioneering on-demand platform
* So many TV and radio shows
* A host of online content and services
* A network of national and local radio and TV stations, including dedicated national language stations.
* Extensive coverage of Parliamentary goings-on
* Regular, massive charitable fundraising campaigns
* Significant 'soft power' working in our interests overseas
* A globally recognised and admired World Service
(Believe me, in countries where there's free or independent media, the BBC is lauded as an acclaimed, trustworthy broadcaster. Have first-hand experience of this. It's only in the UK where the BBC's constantly accused of bias from both sides!)
It's a chunk of cash, but when you consider Switzerland charge about £400 a year for a licence and loads of Scandi countries also charge several hundred a year... Most countries with TV licenses also show ads (except Norway, Sweden and Finland I think?).
Heck, Slovenia still charge for a radio licence even if you don't watch TV. That's horrific.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
