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

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Comments

  • #32
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,311 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    They can "reform" away, to minimal effect. Little will change in this household. Don't own a TV, everything is streamed via a monitor or phone. And before the pedants intervene, I don't access RTÉ online. Thus, no obligation on my part to pay the TV licence.


  • #33
    NIMAN
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,482 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    They can "reform" away, to minimal effect. Little will change in this household. Don't own a TV, everything is streamed via a monitor. And before the pedants intervene, I don't access RTÉ online. Thus, no obligation on my part to pay the TV licence.

    When they reform, it'll not be called a TV licence any more, it'll be something like a DIGITAL DEVICE tax, then you fit the bill.


  • #34
    The J Stands for Jay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,898 ✭✭✭The J Stands for Jay


    dhaughton99 wrote: »
    Isn’t €160 reasonable for that 1 episode of ‘reelin in the years’ you might accidentally watch when flicking through?

    Bit hard to accidentally watch something on rte when you never turn on the saorview box because there's never anything on it and it's too much hassle to turn on for the miniscule chance that there'd be something watchable on one of the 10 channels so you just stick to Freesat or Netflix.


  • #35
    Kivaro
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,105 ✭✭✭Kivaro


    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.
    Then you have to ask the question why?
    The cozy relationship between state broadcasters and governments who dictate their funding is the obvious answer. Look at RTE and our sitting government; where are all the difficult questions from our national broadcaster about the various sub-standard services that we are paying through the nose for, the lack of affordable housing, the disfunctional healthcare system, massively overpriced projects, an insurance cartel who are closing down small companies and businesses all over the country etc. etc.

    Nope, no hard-hitting questions or substantive investigations from RTE, and today they get their reward.


  • #36
    The J Stands for Jay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,898 ✭✭✭The J Stands for Jay


    NIMAN wrote: »
    When they reform, it'll not be called a TV licence any more, it'll be something like a DIGITAL DEVICE tax, then you fit the bill.

    *Investigates analogue streaming devices*


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  • #37
    Harry Palmr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    Perfectly reasonable policy.


  • #38
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,582 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    In the modern age there is simply no reason for rte. Privatise it, remove the licence fee and if they cannot survive so be it


  • #39
    NIMAN
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,482 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    Rte often question the government decisions.

    You must never listen to news on TV and radio. Or debates.

    The housing crisis has been used a stick to beat the government for years now, as has the health crisis. And Rte make plenty use of it.

    But if you want to believe that all the issues are hidden and never questioned, then you'll not be swayed.


  • #40
    NIMAN
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,482 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    Most other countries do something similar, be it a TV licence or a digital tax, but if you listen to some moaners in Ireland, we are the only ones doing it

    Of course their argument is that Swedish or Dutch TV is great compared to Irish TV.


  • #41
    Ave Sodalis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,555 ✭✭✭Ave Sodalis


    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 making 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.


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  • #42
    corny
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,817 ✭✭✭corny


    We'll all bitch about it, do nothing and vote FG/FF in the next election. Yay democracy.

    All is not lost though. Corporatism will eventually be challenged by a major revolution. We might all be reduced to serfdom by then but it'll happen.


  • #43
    OldGoat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,641 ✭✭✭✭OldGoat


    ILoveYourVibes wrote: »
    So basically a private company will be making money from the T.V license.
    malinheader wrote: »
    I would nearly put money on it being a friend of a friend in dail eireann who owns the company.
    (Ironically enough) From the RTE source quoted in the OP, "To address this, Mr Bruton is announcing that a new five-year contract for the collection of the licence fee will be put out to public tender later this year."

    If you don't want the tender to go to a friend of FG then apply for it yerself. It's a public tender.

    Assess the task
    Draw up a plan
    Present your costings
    Profit.

    I'm older than Minecraft goats.



  • #44
    InTheShadows
    Closed Accounts Posts: 727 ✭✭✭InTheShadows


    whisky_galore wrote: »
    What can they do in the event of non payment? Cut you off?

    Could be like Irish Water all over again.

    Cut what off, RTE? Not much of a punishment that.


  • #45
    JohnnyFlash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭JohnnyFlash


    Excellent news. A publicly funded state broadcaster with a public service ethos is the sign of a strong democracy and should be protected at all costs. We need that impartiality in our media. Hopefully this will put an end to the scroungers, leeches, cranks, and the ‘no way, we won’t pay’ crew.


  • #46
    InTheShadows
    Closed Accounts Posts: 727 ✭✭✭InTheShadows


    JohnnyFlash wrote: »
    Excellent news. A publicly funded state broadcaster with a public service ethos is the sign of a strong democracy and should be protected at all costs. We need that impartiality in our media. Hopefully this will put an end to the scroungers, leeches, cranks, and the ‘no way, we won’t pay’ crew.

    A publicly funded braodcaster shouldn't be paying the ridiculous wages RTE do. Until that's ended i'll continue to be that "scrounger" that doesn't pay the licence fee.

    And RTE "impartial" are you ****ing kidding me. They practically made a saint out of people the ilk of Margaret Cash ffs.


  • #47
    mike_cork
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 603 ✭✭✭mike_cork


    NIMAN wrote: »
    Its not only Rte this could be directed at.

    Take a look at the BBC, ITV, Sky etc on freesat. There is loads of dross and repeats on there too. And 80% of programming on Netflix is rubbish too.

    It's a worldwide issue, unfair to pick on Rte on their own.

    When you have 24/7 TV to fill and hundreds of channels, most of its going to be cheap muck.

    But you can choose to pay for Netflix or not.
    RTE wants to put a gun to your head- Pay for a service you dont use or else.
    Do you not think that's wrong ? Make RTE a subscription service and let people have the choice to pay for the service if they want to watch it.


  • #48
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Charles Babbage wrote: »
    This is blx.They should simply add the licence fee to the property tax, collection costs zero.

    So, only homeowners would have to pay? Not on your nelly.


  • #49
    Kivaro
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,105 ✭✭✭Kivaro


    OldGoat wrote: »
    (Ironically enough) From the RTE source quoted in the OP, "To address this, Mr Bruton is announcing that a new five-year contract for the collection of the licence fee will be put out to public tender later this year."

    If you don't want the tender to go to a friend of FG then apply for it yerself. It's a public tender.

    Assess the task
    Draw up a plan
    Present your costings
    Profit.


    Wonder if hobnail boots will be required for the staff of the new company that will be peering through windows and banging on doors and caravans all around the country?


  • #50
    Kivaro
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,105 ✭✭✭Kivaro


    Deleted User wrote: »
    So, only homeowners would have to pay? Not on your nelly.
    Not on your telly!


  • #51
    odyssey06
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,255 ✭✭✭✭odyssey06


    JohnnyFlash wrote: »
    Excellent news. A publicly funded state broadcaster with a public service ethos is the sign of a strong democracy and should be protected at all costs. We need that impartiality in our media. Hopefully this will put an end to the scroungers, leeches, cranks, and the ‘no way, we won’t pay’ crew.

    Where this impartial media - certainly not at RTE!

    As for scroungers, leeches and cranks, you've done a good job of describing RTE staff there.

    "To follow knowledge like a sinking star..." (Tennyson's Ulysses)



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  • #52
    munchkin_utd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,954 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    NIMAN wrote: »
    Rte often question the government decisions.

    You must never listen to news on TV and radio. Or debates.

    The housing crisis has been used a stick to beat the government for years now, as has the health crisis. And Rte make plenty use of it.

    But if you want to believe that all the issues are hidden and never questioned, then you'll not be swayed.
    +1
    sure remember the RTE Futureshock property crash programme which investigated the oversupply of houses and impending crash, which Bertie then called scare mongering and unpatriotic...... and then what happened ?

    Was the RTE programme correct, or the government ?

    If you see the lack of impartial reporting in Turkey or Russia or Hungary then you would realise what a service RTE (news) does for ireland in keeping the government in check.

    Still and all, one of the biggest costs in RTE has is the 13million a year in orchestras, funded by the TV licence and THAT is out of order.
    Just like other orchestras across europe, they should be funded from the public purse but not from the TV licence.


  • #53
    Inviere
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,966 ✭✭✭Inviere


    2018 salary figures (RTE Top 10)
    Ryan Tubridy: €495,000
    Ray D'Arcy: €450,000
    Joe Duffy: €389,988
    Sean O'Rourke: €308,964
    Marian Finucane: €300,617
    Miriam O'Callaghan: €299,000
    Claire Byrne: €216,000
    Bryan Dobson: €198,146
    George Hamilton: €186,195
    Mary Wilson: €185,679

    To think Ray D'Arcy will be earning a half million euro a year, from forced mandatory taxes on people, is astonishing.

    Obviously none of the big wigs/non presenters are included there either.

    Retro Computers/Consoles Repair/Restoration List



  • #54
    Working class heroes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,674 ✭✭✭Working class heroes


    CPTM wrote: »
    I don't really understand this. Would it not be more economical (And politically advantageous) to just scrap the tv license and factor it into the income tax instead. So for example, instead of dropping income tax by 2%, cut it by 1.5%. That way people will see tax reductions and also no tv license. Unfair for the handful of people who don't have a device I suppose but why have a whole system just for them?

    Unfair on people who actually work, no?

    Racism is now hiding behind the cloak of Community activism.



  • #55
    odyssey06
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,255 ✭✭✭✭odyssey06


    Working class heroes wrote: »
    Unfair on people who actually work, no?

    The are proposing to retain the free TV licence for those eligible for the Household Benefits Package so you can levy the same criticism against a licence based approach.

    "To follow knowledge like a sinking star..." (Tennyson's Ulysses)



  • #56
    Boggles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42,297 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


    I've studied this for years in the hope of coming up with an alternative.

    And I think I have cracked it. Oddly my findings are quite concise.

    "Stick a password on the player"

    What have I saved 50-60m?

    Who do I bill?


  • #57
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,237 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    odyssey06 wrote: »
    Where this impartial media - certainly not at RTE!

    As for scroungers, leeches and cranks, you've done a good job of describing RTE staff there.

    Wouldn't waste my time mate. You're dead right though.

    RTE are as far from impartial as you can get. A lot of stories get minimal or no cover at all, or are reformatted to make it "acceptable".

    Like a stopped clock they do occasionally get it right though, but such cases are the rare exception not the norm and certainly not worth €160.

    But being forced to pay for an entertainment service (we're not talking about schools or policing here) you legitimately don't use or can't access on top of the taxes made on your broadband/mobile charges or hardware purchases is another reason why FG shouldn't ever be let near Government.

    I hope this goes the way of water charges and people remind FG who serves who in this arrangement.


  • #58
    odyssey06
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,255 ✭✭✭✭odyssey06


    Boggles wrote: »
    I've studied this for years in the hope of coming up with an alternative.
    And I think I have cracked it. Oddly my findings are quite concise.
    "Stick a password on the player"
    What have I saved 50-60m?
    Who do I bill?

    +1

    But, if I'm going to pay money directly for access to a TV player it'll be the BBC...

    "To follow knowledge like a sinking star..." (Tennyson's Ulysses)



  • #59
    Boggles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42,297 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


    odyssey06 wrote: »
    +1

    But, if I'm going to pay money directly for access to a TV player it'll be the BBC...

    Your wish is granted.

    https://www.britbox.com/home


  • #60
    Ulysses Gaze
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,570 ✭✭✭Ulysses Gaze


    I will not be paying this.

    I refuse to pay for RTE propaganda.


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  • #61
    KaneToad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,643 ✭✭✭KaneToad


    I think a public broadcaster is important to have. I don't think RTE is perfect (far from it). But I do think it does produce some high quality content of national and independent importance. The fee is not overly onerous - although I'd rather less of it went on salaries to the "stars".


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