Gary Lineker's tweet

Galaxy

Many people express opinions, it's not just Sugar, its Chris Packham for example, the BBC dont know how to deal with this issue, GL isnt the first. Am sure they will do weeks of self loathing they seem to enjoy that.

True! I'd forgotten about Chris Packham.

Galaxy

Two million people stopped paying the license fee last year. It isnt difficult. Not desirable in my view but not difficult. I cant believe I end up in these conversations defending the idea of the BBC but the alternative is worse.

I agree.

I didn't pay for a licence for years because I didn't have a TV and I never watched live TV.

However, my relatively new OH stays with me most weekends and is a bit of a TV addict. He has the whole works at home and I felt I was depriving him when he was here.

I bought a basic TV and started paying for a licence. He watches it at weekend and I watch something maybe two or three times a week. I think it's a bargain for what I get. Even going to the cinema once costs more than double the weekly BBC fee.

I also watch Netflix, Prime and Sky when I'm at my OH's house, but he pays what is (to me) a fortune. He's a sport addict, so uses the channels for them. I scroll through the lists of programmes and I rarely find anything which really attracts me. I certainly wouldn't pay for them for myself.

Many people express opinions, it's not just Sugar, its Chris Packham for example, the BBC dont know how to deal with this issue, GL isnt the first. Am sure they will do weeks of self loathing they seem to enjoy that.

Katie59 Which part of his tweet was a personal opinion?

What do you think of Alan Sugar's personal opinions on Twitter?

Two million people stopped paying the license fee last year. It isnt difficult. Not desirable in my view but not difficult. I cant believe I end up in these conversations defending the idea of the BBC but the alternative is worse.

Maudi

I subscribe to Netflix and Prime and pay for YouTube (no advertising).

Well, if you think you're getting good value from them, good for you!

My OH has them too, but personally I wouldn't pay a penny for them.

Katie59

It will kill the BBC for sure if it becomes subscription because very few will pay for news and culture, the future could well be commercial like almost all other broadcasters.

Lineker went too far with his tweet, as a celebrity with a massive BBC contract, his private opinions should be kept private. Do we really want presenters expressing personal opinions on every controversial subject or using their public profile to promote any particular agenda.

In what way did he go too far? It was truthful!!!

I assume you've actually read it, rather than relying on the gutter press' interpretation.

Fleurpepper

How do you get away with not paying a TV Licence?

It's easy, loads of people do it. Like all state agencies the service is short of cash so can't afford to chase people up.

The 'licence' you buy isn't for the privilege of watching the BBC, it is a licence to receive live broadcast TV on your receiving equipment. That is any channel on any device.

It was originally for funding the public broadcaster when the British Broadcasting Corporation was the only service in operation but the proliferation of broadcasters and paid for services has made the 'licensing' model quite obsolete.

I don't know what you put in its place. I value highly an advert free, quality service such as the BBC provides. I think the state should provide it without the pretence of having to fund it from the licence fee. Perhaps by putting a purchase levy on every form of device that can receive TV broadcasts...

It will kill the BBC for sure if it becomes subscription because very few will pay for news and culture, the future could well be commercial like almost all other broadcasters.

Lineker went too far with his tweet, as a celebrity with a massive BBC contract, his private opinions should be kept private. Do we really want presenters expressing personal opinions on every controversial subject or using their public profile to promote any particular agenda.

I subscribe to Netflix and Prime and pay for YouTube (no advertising).

lixy

More BBC navel-gazing. I wonder how long it will go on for this time.

For as long as the "people" are still obsessed with Harry and Meghan (ie in perpetuity).

If you don't watch live TV you don't have to have a TV licence.

£3 a week for the BBC is a bargain compared with Sky or Netflix.

More BBC navel-gazing. I wonder how long it will go on for this time.

Where did I say that I'm happy to pay for a football pundit's salary?

How do you even know that I do?

(Shakes head)

How do you get away with not paying a TV Licence?

07:32growstuff

Maudi

I think the BBC should be a subscription service why should the general public be forced to pay for a license fee with the threat of legal action if they refuse. Are Linekers supporters happy to fund his £1.3 million salary for hosting MOTD and Zoe Ball the next BBC top earner do you think she's worth the money I certainly don't.

Easy peasy! Don't watch TV! Nobody is actually forced to pay for a licence fee.

I don't watch the BBC or pay for a TV Licence actually.

So you are happy paying for a football pundits £1.3 million salary, how strange.

I think that there is always a place for a national broadcaster, particularly the type of broadcasting the bbc has always traditionally supplied.

The problem is the way it is funded with the government of the day pulling the strings.

That is what needs changing.

Then we can get back to the quality broadcasting for which the bbc has become so famous for, without hinderance from philistine governments.

Maudi

I think the BBC should be a subscription service why should the general public be forced to pay for a license fee with the threat of legal action if they refuse. Are Linekers supporters happy to fund his £1.3 million salary for hosting MOTD and Zoe Ball the next BBC top earner do you think she's worth the money I certainly don't.

Easy peasy! Don't watch TV! Nobody is actually forced to pay for a licence fee.

I think the BBC should be a subscription service why should the general public be forced to pay for a license fee with the threat of legal action if they refuse. Are Linekers supporters happy to fund his £1.3 million salary for hosting MOTD and Zoe Ball the next BBC top earner do you think she's worth the money I certainly don't.

Unfortunately, the big loser is going to be the BBC. Funding has already been frozen and there are threats that there will be a new funding model from 2027. MOTD is hugely popular and if the BBC can't attract viewers, the government will have the perfect excuse to make further cuts to funding, probably abolishing the licence fee and either introducing advertising and/or making some programmes pay to view. Until then it's going to be a state rather than a national channel.

PS. Lineker himself won't be short of job offers.

Quite a week for the BBC which is failing at every level.

A prime example of the sort of bad ass reporting that goes on in the U.K. can be seen in the headlines of the usual suspects this morning.

Telegraph, Mail and Express talk of Lineker’s “Nazi” tweet.

he never used the word

We know he didn’t - but ramping up the rhetoric is all the right have left.

This government is gradually eroding the rights, liberties, environment, security and health of the people of the UK. I wonder what would have happened if Lineker had tweeted something favourable about this government - would there be this outcry that he should remain impartial and not tweet his views? What happened to free speech ?

Gundy

*Dinahmo and westendgirl*
(back on page 4)
As in America the right wing Republicans are doing pretty much the same thing - deflecting the most most important issues of the day, keeping the electorate in a state of confusion. This is how fascist/authoritarian movements come in and take over.

It is so scary. We (the US) can vote these people out of office - that is IF people turn out to vote! I’m worried too many people are “programmed” only listening to certain media outlets instead of hearing the other side with facts.

Many western countries are feeling, seeing, experiencing a surge of white supremacy, fascism in the ranks.
Vote!
USA Gundy

I’m on Brandon Webers Facebook page and quite often I’ll read something that’s been written and I think it’s something that’s happening in the U.K. and then realise it’s America. It was such a relief when Trump was voted out but he still hasn’t gone away has he? Sadly Brandon died a couple of years ago but his partner keeps the page going.