In focus
Subtitle: the case for privatising the BBC
By: edited by Philip Booth ; contributions by Ryan Bourne, Tim Congdon, Stephen Davies, Cento Veljanovski
Contributors: Institute of Economic Affairs (Great Britain)
Series: Hobart paperback -- 182; Hobart paperback -- no. 182.
Publisher: Institute of Economic Affairs
Published: 2016
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 145
ISBN-13: 9780255367257
Copyright date: 2016
Subjects: Public broadcasting; Finance; Broadcasting; British Broadcasting Corporation
Description: "This book makes a persuasive argument that the licence fee is no longer the right way to raise revenue for the BBC. While there was a case for this model when the only way to watch the BBC was through the ownership of a television, and there was no way to prevent anyone who owned a television from watching the BBC, technological developments have demolished this argument. Millennials consume more and more of their broadcast media through a tablet, computer or phone. Yet, non-payment of the licence fee now accounts for 10 per cent of all criminal convictions in the UK, so we may soon be in the invidious position where a majority of young people watch BBC programmes through devices that are not taxed, while older people who own a television but watch only ITV or Sky Sports are taxed and, in the case of non-compliance, subject to arrest. Those who support the continuation of the licence fee often do so using two arguments: that the BBC is vital for producing what has become known as 'public service broadcasting', and that the BBC produces news that is non-partisan together with unbiased coverage of current affairs.The authors of this book challenge both of these arguments and show that there are various ways in which the BBC could be made independent of the state and/or of compulsory funding." -- Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.