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BBC to force more to pay licence fee with ‘YouTube tax’ (www.independent.co.uk)

submitted 2 days ago by Armand1@lemmy.world to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk

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Currently, anyone who uses a television to watch content must pay the licence fee even if they do not watch the BBC. Under the proposed changes it would be expanded to cover all other online providers, such as Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, YouTube, which are currently exempt.

The Whitehall source explained that the move was “because people are able to use them to avoid paying currently”. They added: “It’s not fair that people are essentially able to watch television content but avoid the licence fee.”

Why would the BBC be allowed to collect money on services it does not provide? This is basically saying "everyone must pay this fee, or unplug their internet".

At that point, you might as well just take it from the government budget.

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[–] tal@lemmy.today 8 points 2 days ago* (4 children)

Why would the BBC be allowed to collect money on services it does not provide? This is basically saying "everyone must pay this fee, or unplug their internet".

I think that it's because the BBC puts content on YouTube (and I assume either doesn't have ads enabled or wants more money than they generate).

I guess I could understand someone saying "well, with TV, I have to watch British broadcast or cable stations, and with YouTube, I don't, but I'd think that the same would apply to TVs using satellite receivers, and I assume—though I don't know, don't live in the UK—that satellite TV users are also subject to the license fee.

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