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THE TV LICENSE HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC OF CONVERSATION RECENTLY, WITH MANY PEOPLE TAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE FEE WE ALL PAY TO WATCH TELEVISION THAT FUNDS THE BBC
17:33, 25 Feb 2025 The TV license has got people talking, with price increases prompting many to cancel their subscriptions. On X, one person shared: "We need to scrap the BBC TV
License Fee. Who is with me on this?" Another user posted: "Cancel your TV License. We all have a choice here! I cancelled mine a year ago, and I really don't miss it (other
than Gavin and Stacey). The BBC should not be funded." An increasing number of people are choosing not to renew their TV licenses or are actively cancelling them. However, those who
don't pay receive a stern letter warning them that they are breaking the law if they watch or record live TV without a license on any device, including all TV channels, pay TV services
like Sky, and live TV on streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, as well as needing a license to access BBC iPlayer content. Those who refuse to pay for the TV license are threatened
with a letter that reads: "Your address has been passed to the Enforcement Team in your area. Full details of what to expect during the visit will be sent to you shortly". The TV
license website also warns of prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000, stating they "have a fleet of detector vans that can detect the use of TV receiving equipment at specifically
targeted addresses within minutes." So, how are people fighting back? THOSE AGAINST THE TV LICENSE SAY... An anonymous source told the Mirror they won't be paying for their TV
License again, arguing it's not a fair charge. They're appalled that their parents, one of whom is ill and both in their late 70s, are expected to pay. If you're struggling to
pay, the TV license website suggests they'll "try to help" if you call them, directing you to other services. This 44-year-old hasn't paid for their license in a year –
and claims they've received no threatening letters so far. They argue the rules around the TV license and its necessity are "murky," and they don't watch live TV anyway.
They added that their parents can't afford it, as they're already "struggling" due to their mother's myeloma. "We don't want to support the BBC and
don't want our money going to them, and the price is too much," they expressed. They view a TV license as a "waste of time" and not suitable for people like them or their
parents. "It's been in the news recently so much for not good publicity, and I feel it's biased. I don't trust the BBC, and I feel they have an agenda," they
continued. In their opinion, "Nothing" should replace the charge, and they believe that watching TV should be free. "I just think it's wrong how they feel they can get
away charging people so much, and the elderly who have worked all their lives shouldn't have to pay," they vented. It's worth noting that state pensioners aged over 74 and
receiving Pension Credit can apply for a free TV license. Discounts are also available for the blind and those residing in care homes or sheltered accommodation. However, some individuals
support the TV License, understanding its high cost. THOSE IN FAVOUR SAY... Loris Petro, Marketing Manager of Kratom Earth, "genuinely thinks the TV License is excellent value for
money". He stated: "I mean, where else can you get such a massive range of content for what works out to be pennies a day? I'm talking about the BBC's documentaries that
dig deep into topics I'd never explore otherwise, like those wild nature series narrated by David Attenborough. "My money's going toward those jaw-dropping visuals and stories
that stick with me long after the credits roll. There are also dramas and comedies! I still rave about that one show, Fleabag, to anyone who'll listen. It's raw, hilarious, and
doesn't pull punches. "Knowing my license fee helps fund creators who take risks like that makes me appreciate it more. Even the news coverage keeps me hooked. They've got
people on the ground everywhere, giving me details I can't find scrolling through my phone." He also praised the radio stations, saying he listens to BBC Radio 6 while he
"brainstorms marketing ideas". "Sure, it's not perfect, and I don't watch everything they make, but I see exactly where my cash is going. It's funding quality I
can't get anywhere else, and that's worth it to me," he said. WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE TV LICENSE? According to Bloomberg, ministers are debating whether to extend the fee to
all streaming platform users to plug the BBC funding gap. This means that those who pay for services like Netflix and only watch those in their homes could be forced to pay anyway, even if
this is how they've been avoiding paying a TV License. Ministers are also said to be looking at charging those who listen to BBC radio, and a tiered license fee could be introduced to
help lower-income homes. The TV license fee currently costs £169.50 but is rising to £174.50 this April. It raises around £3.7 billion a year and accounted for 65% of the BBC's total
income in 2022/23. WHAT DID TV LICENSING SAY? A spokesperson for TV Licensing stated: "A TV Licence is needed to watch live content on streaming services, watch or record a TV programme
on any channel and when using BBC iPlayer. Article continues below "It covers audiences to watch over 400 live TV channels, plus live content on all streaming services. Free TV
Licences are available for those aged 75 and over who receive Pension Credit, ensuring that older viewers most in need are supported." What's your take on this? Share your thoughts
in the comments...