tv licenses....

**LittleGrizzly** · 06-03-2005, 04:45

you pay the license fee for BBC, not to watch tv.

**IrishMike** · 06-03-2005, 04:46

Oh ok, my bad, just showing my ignorance here.

**Spetulhu** · 06-03-2005, 05:13

Originally Posted by LittleGrizzly

you pay the license fee for BBC, not to watch tv.

So do we. Well, we don't pay for the BBC but our own state broadcasting company. It's called a TV license anyway, since they demand everyone pay it if there's a TV in the home. A nice case of "you can watch it if you want, so cough up the money for it". If I tried to bill people on the same grounds I'd be in court sooner than you can say "fraud".

No, I don't pay.

**Krusader** · 06-03-2005, 08:07

Originally Posted by Spetulhu

So do we. Well, we don't pay for the BBC but our own state broadcasting company. It's called a TV license anyway, since they demand everyyone pay it if there's a TV in the home. A nice case of "you can watch it if you want, so cough up the money for it". If I tried to bill people on the same grounds I'd be in court sooner than you can say "fraud".

No, I don't pay.

Same in Norway. Exactly the same system. Pay for the state channel, but even if you don't watch it you still got to pay if you own a TV.

**Kagemusha** · 06-03-2005, 08:14

Originally Posted by Krusader

Same in Norway. Exactly the same system. Pay for the state channel, but even if you don't watch it you still got to pay if you own a TV.

Same thing here in Finland.

**Ser Clegane** · 06-03-2005, 08:45

Originally Posted by kagemusha

Same thing here in Finland.

And here in Germany

**The_Doctor** · 06-03-2005, 09:34

Do those channels have adverts?

**Ser Clegane** · 06-03-2005, 09:38

Originally Posted by Martinus

Do those channels have adverts?

Here in Germany the two main public channels have adverts to a very limited extent - during the afternoon they have adverts between shows and sometimes there are short a announcements of who is sponsoring a certain program.
There are no breaks for ads during e.g. movies.

**Krusader** · 06-03-2005, 11:14

Originally Posted by Martinus

Do those channels have adverts?

There are no adverts in the shows and neither between them. They are also strongly prohibited from showing any commercial company or product in a "advertising way". The state channel, NRK, have done that a few times and there has been discussions about it.
Later years, many people have demanded that the license fee be reduced, since sports broadcasts have "This broadcast is supported by" ads in the beginning from some companies/corporations that often sponsor the different Norwegian national teams and/or sports clubs.

**Ja'chyra** · 06-03-2005, 10:43

Originally Posted by LittleGrizzly

you pay the license fee for BBC, not to watch tv.

Strictly speaking true, but realistically if you watch any TV including Sky or cable you need a license even if you never tune into BBC.

Don't you also need it to listen to the radio? I would rathe they done away with the license fee and went to advertising, let's face it we all need a toilet break during a three hour film.