TV licence collection privatised and replaced with device licence fee in 5 years

CelticSeaShip

When I was renting, my apartment didn't come with a TV and I lived happily for a few years without a TV. I didn't feel I was at a loss for not having a TV.

I'm sure there are other people, like me who don't feel a need to have a TV and live happy and fulfilling lifes without a TV.

The plan for a device licence is an absolute load of bollocks.

There a loads of different devices like
Mobile phones
Laptops
Tablets


All of these of other/different functions aside from tv/tv player apps.

Like with mobile phones you can make and take calls, messaging, games, there's a whole entire world on the Internet.
Laptops there's other functions like word documents, game playing, etc.

I have a budget smartphone and I didn't buy it with the intention of watching TV on it and I don't watch TV on it either.

My laptop is for word documents.

JoeySully

Capita will get the contract to collect. They have already created a database of every house in the country called Eircode.

MrMusician18

I'm not sure giving RTE more money is what it needs. I mean they describe the likes of world cups, scheduled elections and commemorations as "unforeseen events". And the license fee isn't the only public money they get either. Listen to a typical RTE ad break, particularly radio 1 and often it will entirely or nearly entirely consist of semi state companies and quangos.

The whole place needs to be gutted.
First thing should be to sell Montrose completely and relocate somewhere cheaper like M50.
Next, offer realistic wages to it's "stars", if they don't like it, let them go and wish them well. RTE is a public service broadcaster so it shouldn't be holding people, but providing people with skills like a broadcasting incubator, encouraging them to move on to better things in private industry.
With the above in mind, wages and roles need to be looked at generally

Ave Sodalis

Ave Sodalis wrote: »

In our small town, there's at least 20 restaurants and eateries. We haven't got a huge population, and there is only so much you can cut prices and still be a viable business. So quality is increased. They try to out compete each other by make consistently good food. As someone who lives in the surrounding area, I have never been charged for not eating at any of the restaurants. And it works. There have been restaurants open for decades because they understand the basics of competitiveness.

It seems RTE haven't received the same memo.

Not quite a fair metaphor. RTE are supposed to be impartial. Food doesn't need to be impartial. If you start selling the national broadcaster to the highest bidder, you that supposed impartiality. You will start to get the likes of Fox News.

Edgware

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Ah FG. The party of taxation and privatisation, but nothing else except never-ending waste and scandals.

They are obviously not expecting to be reelected next time out if they're pushing this through at this stage.

I pay the license but I don't watch RTE at all. I couldn't even if I wanted to as I don't have the necessary external aerial for Saorview (internal doesn't work in my area). I do have freesat and everything else comes from the likes of Netflix, Amazon and the US.

Why should I have to pay for services I can't even access?

Pay up and shut up

Welcome to Ireland. Somebody must pay for the "talent" in R.T.E.

Falthyron

It would be a lot smarter if RTE just locked down their online content by license number rather than letting anyone with basic VPN knowledge. I have to login to watch VM stuff online, why can't RTE do the same? Then they can rest easy knowing nobody is watching their content online without paying.

Login with your license number and name, problem solved.

As for people watching TV the old fashioned way, i.e with a television, well it's the same game as 30 years ago.

And, if RTE want to talk about transparency and fairness, perhaps they will provide the license payers the reasons why a staff member of RTE was paid off last year, and the amount she received.

B65team

I get the need for RTE in some respect but when our money is spent funding absolute dross like "Fifty Ways to Kill your Mammy", "National Treasures", "Getaways" and that's just at the top of my head. Things like Mrs Browns Boys, Fair City - there's a certain demographic that watch these so I understand them being on RTE along with the news and Prime Time to an extend and Crime Watch.

It would be great though if it went the way of the water charges.

How Soon Is Now

What a load of absolute ****e.

How do they even start to justify the fee and how it's setup ffs.

We get absolutely nothing for it there should be protests and nation wide refusals to pay this ffs!

It's **** like this that sums up this country and how the Irish people are treated by the higher ups in general.

Get Real

I don't agree with the tv licence fee, but I still pay it.

Realistically, if the price stays at 160, itgis new method will make no difference to the 88percent of people already paying it. Only 12% don't. And of that 12% I'm unsure how many are justifiably not paying it.

MrMusician18

Get Real wrote: »

I don't agree with the tv licence fee, but I still pay it.

Realistically, if the price stays at 160, itgis new method will make no difference to the 88percent of people already paying it. Only 12% don't. And of that 12% I'm unsure how many are justifiably not paying it.

Given the profligacy of RTE, one could legitimately argue that the 12% are justifiably not paying it.

Loafing Oaf

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

We get absolutely nothing for it there should be protests and nation wide refusals to pay this ffs!

It's **** like this that sums up this country and how the Irish people are treated by the higher ups in general.

It would be fairly easy to bring down this charge if even a few thousand people felt as angry as this and were prepared to risk jail for the 'cause'.

How Soon Is Now

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

It would be fairly easy to bring down this charge if even a few thousand people felt as angry as this and were prepared to risk jail for the 'cause'.

It's like most things if enough people refuse they can't put them all in jail can they?

Rte need to cop on once and for all and see there in the situation there in because of themselves and the people of Ireland shouldn't have to keep funding no talent individuals on huge wages and basic **** "entertainment"

CelticSeaShip

Get Real wrote: »

I don't agree with the tv licence fee, but I still pay it.

Realistically, if the price stays at 160, itgis new method will make no difference to the 88percent of people already paying it. Only 12% don't. And of that 12% I'm unsure how many are justifiably not paying it.

Once everyone is paying with a device licence, I can guarantee too you it will go the same way as the bins. I remember a day when bins were 50p a week. Now it's much, much more. The price will definitely creep up and there's nothing any body can do about it because 'it's the law'.

Loafing Oaf

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

It's like most things if enough people refuse they can't put them all in jail can they?

I'm questioning how many people genuinely are this angry about it though. 160 or so per annum isn't a massive sum for the vast majority, even those on low wages. And I suspect most of those who genuinely 'never watch' RTE are probably pretty disengaged and apathetic politically and would not be likely to risk a spell in Mountjoy for any cause...

How Soon Is Now

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

I'm questioning how many people genuinely are this angry about it though. 160 or so per annum isn't a massive sum for the vast majority, even those on low wages. And I suspect most of those who genuinely 'never watch' RTE are probably pretty disengaged and apathetic politically and would not be likely to risk a spell in Mountjoy for any cause...

There would be a lot of opposition to it I'm sure. When you see what happened with the water charges I see this as just as bad if not worse in some ways.

LionelNashe

I prefer Fianna Fail's proposal - tax the big digital advertisers and distribute the funds to TV & print media.

bmm

Deleted User wrote: »

The Maurice McCabe exposé was worth the licence fee. .

You need to get your facts straight ! Paul Reynolds is nothing more than a Public relations Officer for the Gardai and was completely against Maurice McCabe and was spouting spin from the Garda Commissioner until it became clear he had gotten the totally wrong end of the stick.
I have never come across a reporter as biased as RTE's Paul Reynolds !

MissShihTzu

I just saw the news. Interesting soundbite, but little detail.

What's the charge going to be and how will it be assessed? Is it assessed against the household, or each person?
What about those in rented/student accommodation? How will the Govt know who is where? Is this down to the Govt to enforce, or the landlords?
How is this fee to be collected?

Look - the TV licence isn't perfect. Like lots of people, I resent paying the charge, especially as RTE also have advertising revenues unlike the BBC at home in the UK. There should be better enforcement and better ways of paying it. Why can't a card be issued much like the gas/electric cards and people can pay at PP outlets, banks and so on? When the E160 is reached, then the licence can be issued. Why on earth are we still buying stamps which is SO 20th century?

I think this is a stupid idea.

Infini

I'll just be blunt and say not a chance in hell am I paying for something that I do not use in any sense or fashion. Netflix and gaming are all I need and no a chance will I ever pay for something I do not need or use. I also have to laugh at that "evasion" rate as lilkely quite a few people now dont even need a telly anymore since you can get everything from the internet.

Jimmy Garlic

Pay your license freeloaders. Think of the little ones, how the hell will they get down to the Dundrum town centre if mummy hasn't got a Range Rover?? Selfish baxtards.

flazio

B65team wrote: »

I get the need for RTE in some respect but when our money is spent funding absolute dross like "Fifty Ways to Kill your Mammy", "National Treasures", "Getaways" and that's just at the top of my head. Things like Mrs Browns Boys, Fair City - there's a certain demographic that watch these so I understand them being on RTE along with the news and Prime Time to an extend and Crime Watch.

It would be great though if it went the way of the water charges.

50 ways to kill mammy was made by Sky, Getaways is made by BBC Northern Ireland and Mrs Brown is made by BBC Scotland in Glasgow.
So if you're having a go at RTÉ, at least pick on their own content.

Penn

If they want to include devices in it, let them give you a username and password when you sign up and you can only access RTE digital content on your device/PC with that username. If you don't want to access the stuff through a device/PC, cheaper TV-only licence.

Pa ElGrande

whisky_galore wrote: »

What can they do in the event of non payment? Cut you off?

Could be like Irish Water all over again.

Most likely you will not have a choice they will incorporate it to increased property tax or a tax collected by your internet service provider, both ideas have been floating around for several years now.


RTE can simply solve the problem of IP based devices accessing their content by implementing a subscription model like Netflix does. They could even do several packages RTE basic (News, weather, political broadcasts) and RTE premium (Fair city etc.) to reduce the cost of their service to the consumer. After all people are used to subscription packages with mobile phones, why should a multimedia company like RTE be any different?


Does anyone have the link to the proposed legislation?

Pa ElGrande

KaneToad wrote: »

I think a public service broadcaster is crucial for a mature democracy. I think the current fee is appropriate. I also believe that RTE is not without fault and that it is incumbent on us (taxpayer) to hold them to account via our public representatives.

Why not hold them to account via market mechanisms. The technology exists today so they can offer different packages to differentiate their service - so they can offer RTE bronze (news, weather, party political broadcasts) and RTE silver (Fair city and whatever) or RTE gold (24 hour content whenever you want to watch it). This way if they want to extract more money from the consumer they can improve the quality of their output and consumers don't need to waste their time and money.

Pa ElGrande

Pa ElGrande wrote: »

Why not hold them to account via market mechanisms. The technology exists today so they can offer different packages to differentiate their service - so they can offer RTE bronze (news, weather, party political broadcasts) and RTE silver (Fair city and whatever) or RTE gold (24 hour content whenever you want to watch it). This way if they want to extract more money from the consumer they can improve the quality of their output and consumers don't need to waste their time and money.

Why bother when they can use the government to force it on us

Venom

Pa ElGrande wrote: »

Most likely you will not have a choice they will incorporate it to increased property tax or a tax collected by your internet service provider, both ideas have been floating around for several years now.


RTE can simply solve the problem of IP based devices accessing their content by implementing a subscription model like Netflix does. They could even do several packages RTE basic (News, weather, political broadcasts) and RTE premium (Fair city etc.) to reduce the cost of their service to the consumer. After all people are used to subscription packages with mobile phones, why should a multimedia company like RTE be any different?


Does anyone have the link to the proposed legislation?

RTE will never go down the subscription model route because even their not deluded enough to think anyone would sign up and pay for it. The current model of the public having no choice but to pay, even if they will never use the service suit's them far too well.

riclad

I Think what will happen is anyone who has broadband connection will have to pay a tv license,
at the moment you can watch rte on a pc or a laptop,
the bbc in the uk bought in user codes registers ,
so anyone who uses the bbc website to watch tv has to put in a code,
register as a person with a uk tv license .
I think that is what will happen in the future ,
in 5 years you,ll have to register your name adress and license fee data
on the rte website if you want to watch rte programs on the website .
rte get their income from advertisers and the license fee .
i do not think they would be allowed to charge for a streaming service .i understand they have to do something, the have rte 1,2,tg4,tv and
6 plus digital radio stations .
i think there,ll be a user name pin on mobile devices and a rte app .
You wont be able to watch anything unless you have bought a license
.
the current license fee system was invented before the internet existed ,
when you had to buy a tv to watch any rte programs .
i used to bbc programs on the bbc iplayer before the brought in a user pin code system.

Boggles

Venom wrote: »

RTE will never go down the subscription model route because even their not deluded enough to think anyone would sign up and pay for it.

I would.

Don't think I am deluded.

whisky_galore

Pa ElGrande wrote: »

Why not hold them to account via market mechanisms. The technology exists today so they can offer different packages to differentiate their service - so they can offer RTE bronze (news, weather, party political broadcasts) and RTE silver (Fair city and whatever) or RTE gold (24 hour content whenever you want to watch it). This way if they want to extract more money from the consumer they can improve the quality of their output and consumers don't need to waste their time and money.

RTE Gold sounds like a lot of Twink, Frank Hall and shouty theatre luvvies from the early days of RTE.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

whisky_galore wrote: »

I can choose to subscribe to Netflix, choose what I want to watch and choose to end my subscription.

Just make RTE player subscription only, it's that easy.

Are you completely mad? A subscription based service would absolutely kill RTE, and that's just not acceptable.

What's really pissy is the fact that these presenters are getting pay increases while the rest of us peasants have to suck it up with a "sorry, the company is not able to increase your pay this year".

It's disgusting to think I would have to pay for a service I don't use, have not used and never intend to use. Why is there no Dublin bus tax? Imagine being charged the guts of 200 quid a year because Dublin bus is in trouble? It's an absurd idea. What if you were not on the grid yet you were forced to pay x amount per year to the ESB, because "well the service exists and you could use it"...

I have a PC and a smart phone and I will get rid of both before I am forced to pay these scumbags for their over inflated bullshít. 500K a year, for what? WTF service is Tubridy, or the other tosspots, doing for Ireland that warrants such a bill?

I would rather pay for a tax that can be used by a service that is actually needed, like the Gardai, or emergency services.

Loafing Oaf

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

There would be a lot of opposition to it I'm sure. When you see what happened with the water charges I see this as just as bad if not worse in some ways.

Well no water charges type campaign has materialised over the current tv license system, so I don't see how this should be any different. Vast majority will grumble and cough up the way they do now

Boggles

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Well no water charges type campaign has materialised over the current tv license system, so I don't see how this should be any different. Vast majority will grumble and cough up the way they do now

The Vast Majority won't be effected.

Eric Cartman

whisky_galore wrote: »

What can they do in the event of non payment? Cut you off?

Could be like Irish Water all over again.

please do, install a signal blocker that blocks RTE around my house, ill pay them to do that even.

expectationlost

if you were looking for funding for public broadcaster now would you create a separate tax or just take it from income tax

Sir Oxman

riclad wrote: »

i used to bbc programs on the bbc iplayer before the brought in a user pin code system.

Nope, I can watch BBC iPlayer without licence code or pin or any other code.
just smartdns or vpn needed



But I believe it will be come in eventually.

Jimmy Garlic

whisky_galore wrote: »

RTE Gold sounds like a lot of Twink, Frank Hall and shouty theatre luvvies from the early days of RTE.

I always wondered why RTE insist on dragging Twink out of her 1980s time warp several times a year. Who's interested? Same way they reserruct Bill Cullen to tell his rags to riches story. Rinse and repeat the same old trash on a loop.

Sir Oxman

Ray D'arcy - 450,000 euros per year.

I'll just leave that there.

Pa ElGrande

Sir Oxman wrote: »

Ray D'arcy - 450,000 euros per year.

I'll just leave that there.

Anything less and the wife will give him the silent treatment.

jester77

biko wrote: »

In Sweden the TV licence was replace by a "public service fee".
So even if you never watch TV or any of that, your tax still pay towards the salaries of people that you never intended to reward.

It's opposite of fair and free market.

Similar in Germany, once you have a mobile or a radio in the car you pay the fee. I'm paying €210 a year and there isn't even a signal coming into the house at the moment.

jimmycrackcorm

Its strange how many people say they never watch RTE yet are the first also to comment on the outrage when they saw the Greyhounds or creche exposes.

Pa ElGrande

Pa ElGrande wrote: »

Anything less and the wife will give him the silent treatment.

Low blow

Pa ElGrande

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Its strange how many people say they never watch RTE yet are the first also to comment on the outrage when they saw the Greyhounds or creche exposes.

If they saw those then they probably do consume RTE content. I only learned about the latest recurring controversies via the internet and even then I've only given them a passing glance but not enough to comment.

Loafing Oaf

Julius Yellow Toothpaste wrote: »

Are you completely mad? A subscription based service would absolutely kill RTE,

Yeah a large swathe of the population just wouldn't pay the subscription, RTE would be forced to dump most of their 'public service' output and we'd end up with something very similar to Virgin Media. And we don't need two of them...

Pa ElGrande

expectationlost wrote: »

if you were looking for funding for public broadcaster now would you create a separate tax or just take it from income tax

Government sponsored enterprises such as RTE are an expense not bound by the quality of their output or customer satisfaction targets and they will continue to sap the taxpayer for whatever money that can take and they will always be back with rattling their iron rice bowl, in addition they are distorting the market by undercutting commercial competition and draining money from local economies across the Republic. Their current funding and operational model is broken and giving them more tax is just continuing that model.


By putting them on a subscription model, the consumers that like RTE will pay for their service and if they want to create more income for themselves they can either produce or commission new content and consumers will pay. The only feedback mechanism RTE have at the moment are from the commercial advertisers who can link their own product sales to that of RTE.


For those who say that this ignores the cultural stuff, those organisations who wish to promote their culture can sponsor the content themselves and it can be distributed under the basic subscription package.

InTheShadows

I can't see how a private company is going to go collecting a fee off people for something they don't use. What are they going to do, knock on your door ask if you have a smart phone/tablet etc.. Just say no and close the door they have absolutely no right to come into the property to check. The whole thing sounds like a farce.

Pa ElGrande

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Yeah a large swathe of the population just wouldn't pay the subscription, RTE would be forced to dump most of their 'public service' output and we'd end up with something very similar to Virgin Media. And we don't need two of them...

What exactly is "public service" content? And why not take aspects of the American PBS system to produce such sponsored content? Why not produce such content as tax write-downs sort of like the charity model we run in Ireland?

Pa ElGrande

InTheShadows wrote: »

I can't see how a private company is going to go collecting a fee off people for something they don't use. What are they going to do, knock on your door ask if you have a smart phone/tablet etc.. Just say no and close the door they have absolutely no right to come into the property to check. The whole thing sounds like a farce.

The current system is just a hidden jobs for the boys subsidy for An Post. It is technically possible for people to sign up on RTE.IE but finding a post office is becoming increasingly harder as many have already been closed and more will follow.

Sleeper12

I wonder will this be the death nail for TV or device licence /fee?

Forcing people to pay for a service they don't use is a difficult task. I wonder will it annoy people enough for it to become the water meter protest.

Loafing Oaf

Pa ElGrande wrote: »

What exactly is "public service" content? And why not take aspects of the American PBS system to produce such sponsored content? Why not produce such content as tax write-downs sort of like the charity model we run in Ireland?

Well a dictionary definition of PSB is "television and radio programmes that are broadcast to provide information, advice, or entertainment to the public without trying to make a profit." IMO the reality in a small country like Ireland is if that sort of content isn't funded by the taxpayer in one form or another it doesn't get made. How long would you be waiting for the private sector to set up something like Lyric FM?

BarryD2

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Its strange how many people say they never watch RTE yet are the first also to comment on the outrage when they saw the Greyhounds or creche exposes.

Yeah, was laughing at the ones txting in RTE radio this morning, saying they never used the service.. they must be telepathic if they knew what was being discussed!