Why are bbc television signals not scrambled to prevent licence evasion?

Question

If Sky can do it why does the BBC not use the same method to ensure it receives its fees.

Answer 1

I dont know. But Ive been enjoying license free TV for 10 months now .........

Answer 2

Sky are already shutting down the illegal viewing in Spain.The Guardia raided the offices of Telmicron on the Costa Blanca this week and cut the cables and confiscated all the equipment,it would be very expensive to supply all those modems though.As Andrew say,s public viewing is a different kettle of fish from subscription viewing.

Answer 3

Its probably the last option they will think of?...knowing our over paid big bosses...

Answer 4

because your paper licence wont unscramble the television transmission.

Answer 5

The answer is very basic

Sky is received through a decoder box. The box has a decryption circuit built in.

BBC and all terrestial channels (both analogue and digital) are received on equipment without decryption.

So to do what you suggest, all the TVs in existance and all digital decoders already sold would need to be replaced.

Totally impossible besides who would pay for that eh.

Answer 6

It is a publicly funded system so it has to be available to all the public regardless if they have paid or not.

Sky is a subscriber service so only subscribers have access to it.