Tuesday
(0)The British Broacasting Corporation, as many readers will know, is paid for out of a tax, the licence fee. And here is further evidence that the BBC, which regards much of the terrestrial television world as its personal fiefdom, will stop at nothing to track down those who don't believe the BBC has a divine right to permanent existence.
As the saying goes, you couldn't make it up.
Well, they did abandon the radio licence, didn't they? Give credit where it's due....
Posted by mark at March 11, 2003 12:03 PM
The BBC should be commercialised and left to fend for itself.
On a technical note: I presume that the capability to deliver streaming video, news, TV, etc over an expanded broadband internet cannot now be too many years away. No government could contemplate taxing PCs to pay for the BBC. Will technology kill the beast? What does anyone else think?
Posted by Patrick W at March 11, 2003 01:01 PM
You just can't trust those pesky Normans, now can you? First thing they bring Modern State Taxation over from France, then not even a millenia later they're refusing to pay their telly.
Posted by Dale Amon at March 11, 2003 02:05 PM
""The problem is that there is no single list of buildings in the country so we have to try to make a list of licensable properties ourselves," a BBC spokesman told the newspaper.
"
Actually there are several lists of all properties in the UK.
The Royal Mail maintains one of every address capable of receiving mail.
The Land Registry maintains one of all properties.
The electroral roll contains all registered voters (and as its one of the primary sources of info for banks and credit bureaus etc most voters are on it)
Local councils maintain lists of those eligible to pay council tax.
So by selectively merging lists you can cover most of the UK. Most are for sale at a price
By substracting those addresses of people who already have licenses they get those who should have a license.
Which is probably what they did - hence mail to a rocky outcrop listed on the land registry but not on a voters roll or other list.
In a previous incarnation I worked for a mailing bureau where I spent days playing with lists to cater for different markets and marketing campaigns.
Posted by A Non at March 11, 2003 02:54 PM
If you get rid of your TV do you still have to pay the license fee? I think the canadians have the right idea. Check out nakednews.com. Let's see the BBC compete with that.
Posted by mike at March 11, 2003 03:16 PM
"The problem is that there is no single list of buildings in the country so we have to try to make a list of licensable properties ourselves,"
Sounds like a new Doomsday Book is needed.
Posted by R Adams at March 11, 2003 04:02 PM
