If so many people support the Licence Fee...

Simple. No TV license would mean either a much weaker or no TV industry at all. The BBC would either have to go commercial or subscription. If it went commercial, then a struggling ITV would find it even harder and in theory profits would be halved. The same with BBC2 vs Channel 4/five, and then BBC3/4 vs ITV2/3 etc. Digital channels could also fold, not only would advertisers go to BBC channels, but with more space available on terrestrial TV it is quite likely they could forget all about digital TV advertising. It would make channels even more low rent than they currently already are and they would be packed to the brim with repeats and imports. If the BBC went subscription only, then not only would we lose some TV and radio channels, but would also lose a high quality site that is thought of as one of the best websites in the world. This would again have a knock on effect on ITV and the rest of commercial TV. ITV would have nothing to keep them on their toes, so it might not have such a hold over the market because it won't have a benchmark from the BBC to set its ratings to.

All this comes from someone who only actually watches Family Guy, Waterloo Road and The Apprentice out of the BBC's entire output. Plus at £2 a week it isn't exactly burning a hole in your pocket.

I don't like having to pay income tax or have any use for child benefit, or nuclear weapons & would love not to be paying extortionate rates of council tax, It's part of living here. I don't want to pay the higher prices at Tesco's et al for the advertising and marketing & the profit margins of ITV - it is the inevitable & hidden price of commercial television.

I actually get something visible for the licence fee.

But most important of all a world run by Murdoch doesn't bear thinking about.

For shows like
LOST,24, NEW Simpsons,Stargate,Bones,Lie To Me,Ghost Whisperer,Warehouse 13,Dollhouse,Fringe,Futurama,A Town Called Eureka,Modern Family,Souh Park,Two & A Half Men,Eastbound & Down,Burn Note,Cold Case,and much more too

I know not all shows all on SKY ran channels but all on other pay channels.

But you never know when you may need them. All the commercial businesses are susceptible to economic conditions. One day Sky, ITV et al may go bust. If the BBC was commercial too, we could end up with no means of communicating important information to the masses.

He was actually supporting the licence fee if you'd read the rest of the post.

And anyway, your argument is a terrible one. Paying £120 a year for an emergency broadcasting system that we'll probably never need? Ridiculous.

I wholeheartedly support the licence fee, but that is a silly reason.

Yes I know I wasn't disagreeing with him, I was just supplementing his post whilst attempting to draw a parrallel with people who argue against paying for the NHS et al.

And it's not a silly reason! Probably never needing something and definitely not needing something are two different things.

I can understand why so many love the BBC on here, it's the type of people you are. So out of touch with the real world.

You can't face up to the fact that some people oppose the BBC and its funds. It really is sad.

And for the people who agree that the BBC shouldn't have taxpayers money? You need to start doing something about it and get your voice heard (not by people on this forum though - they only think one way). It's the only way things will change, and not let this organization get away with taking millions of pounds off you in which the money could be spent on real and more important things.

Speak out.

If you had watched more BBC/UK produced shows when you were young you would know how to spell that word the Bristish way.

Organisation.

When people try to pick things out of an argument with little meaning, you know that they're trying to divert attention and stray away with the actual argument. It tells you a lot.

September 2009 ICM poll:
43% of people support the license fee. (up 12% on previous poll)
24% of people support the BBC funded by Advertising
31% of people support the BBC funded by subscription.

The biggest group out of the three funding options presented there are the pro-license fee crowd.

Not a majority, granted, but the stats show it's the preferred option of the three.

And what type of people and how many were asked this? I would love to know that.

Oh and 43% less than half. Says it all. The same 43% that watches Doctor Who and Strictly.

Do some research to substantiate your comments and find out then.