Why should people in the UK pay TV License when people in spain can watch free UK terrestrial via sky?

Question

my point is, when you point a satellite dish at sky satellites when in Spain, yes you can pick up terrestrial channels free! why the h**l do WE in the UK still get TAXED on a TV License funding the BBC and constantly get hounded for it? I suspect this is not legal and god only knows it`s probably allot more of europe than just Spain? but yea us residents in the UK actually have to fund the BBC!

Answer 1

cos we're mugs :)

Answer 2

This is the TV Electronics forum, where the discussions are centered around technical TV operational and electronics problems, not philosophical and/or political ones. For non-tech TV questions, try the "Entertainment & Music-TV" forum, or go to Y/A Categories and browse for something relating to political discussions - but not here.

And, of course, you could always put your Brit questions in Y/A International-United Kingdom where you will be talking to a home audience that 'might' both care and understand your issue. Most here are in the USA.

Answer 3

Because when you go to Spain, you don't pay Spanish road tax but can still drive on the Spanish roads. Similarly, Spanish cars can drive on British roads, even though they haven't paid UK road tax.

This kind of scroogemongering can go a long way. Like why should I pay for schools in my taxes if I have no kids, or for other people's rubbish to be collected.

In fact, the BBC has switched its transmissions to a more tightly focussed beam, which is far more difficult to receive in Spain, to try and prevent people there watching it (whatever happened to the BBC's motto of "nation shall speak unto nation"?). Conequently, some people have had to install extremely huge (and expensive) dishes just so that they can get them. Even so, they still can't get all the channels.

So, the BBC is making efforts to stop people in Spain watching it, while the latter are paying over the top  for their equipment.

The BBC does operate a subscription channel for expats, called BBC Prime. But it is marketed very half-heartedly, and tends to carry old repeats - imagine paying 5 pounds a month for one satellite channel that is similar to UK Gold, and needs expensive equipment to boot.  

Answer 4

i agree, i dont think we should pay a tv licence its ridiculous!!!!

Answer 5

Because you help pay for the BBC and that TV License is why you don't get bombarded by COMMERCIALS.

It's an old system and goes back the the very earliest days of broadcasting in the U.K.  At first it was a tax on RADIOS.

There isn't much you can do about it but buy the License.