BBC iPayer

[Perdita]

BBC chiefs want telly fans to start PAYING to see their favourite shows on iPlayer.

The free service has proved a huge hit as viewers catch up on programmes they missed.

But the BBC fears an increasing number of people watching by computer are doing without a television altogether — meaning they do not need a £142.50 licence.

BBC technology chief Erik Huggers said: “I don’t believe in a free ride. My view is that if you use the iPlayer you have to be a TV licence fee payer.”

The BBC is considering plans to introduce a licence just for the iPlayer or charging more for a TV licence to cover the service.

Another idea is to charge a subscription for iPlayer — which makes available BBC radio and TV shows from the previous seven days.

Former Microsoft executive Mr Huggers spoke out after the BBC Trust — the body that oversees the broadcaster — said TV licensing laws needed to be changed because of the internet.

At present, an annual licence is only needed to view programmes as they are broadcast.

The BBC blocks iPlayer access overseas where people do not contribute to its costs.

Researchers have already recorded a small annual drop in the proportion of British homes using TV sets.

A BBC spokesman said Mr Huggers’ view “is not the corporation’s official position”.

[Kim]

I think they should just put some sort of number on the TV licence if there isn't one already and make it so that viewers have to enter the number in order to watch anything. That would stop there being a free ride.

I think the drop in TV licences has something to do with the economic downturn though; how many people only watch the BBC on TV, so people can't really avoid having a licence. In times like this it's luxuries that go and I think TV's are on that list.

[Meh]

I think we pay enough for the license fee as it is. I wouldn't mind paying it if the BBC got back our national sports and provided more HD content. IMO, the iplayer issue is just the BBC trying to screw more money from the tax payer

[Abigail]

I think the drop in TV licences has something to do with the economic downturn though; how many people only watch the BBC on TV, so people can't really avoid having a licence. In times like this it's luxuries that go and I think TV's are on that list.

I disagree. In the current climate people need something to distract them from their worries and keep them occupied. Considering there is more than one way to skin a cat, I don't see how people can't afford to pay for a license. It's about 3 quid a week.

Anyway, that's besides the point.

Really though, say you watch five programs across the BBC channels, including Eastenders which is on four times a week. Are you really going to sit for hours in front of the computer waiting for programs to stream then watch? Watching programs on a computer is different to on tv. What about the rest of the family, are they all going to crowd round a small screen to watch EE?

Fifty minutes of Casualty is enough to give me eye strain.

Seems like another way for the fat cats to screw us out of more money.

[StarsOfCCTV]

If they stop being free, then people will just turn to illegal sites.
If they start charging us, I will just go elsewhere, I don't like doing that, and at the moment I have no need to with the catchup service, but we pay enough for the license, they should start using their money that they get more wisely!

E.g. Total wipeout filmed in Argentina - necessary, really?

[Abbie]

No! They cant do that to us! :(

[di marco]

if we pay for a tv license though, why should we have to pay to use iplayer? if they make it that we have to pay to use iplayer i just wont use it

[Chris_2k11]

they can go and whistle

[Chloe O'brien]

Why should we pair more we already pay for our tv licence and for internet usage so why do we have to pair more. The beeb have just discovered that some members of the public are accessing Iplayer without owning a tv therefore dodging the fee of buying a licence and to try and do something about it now is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. They won't get the public to pay more as they will just download from illegal sites.