[all new phil]

I’m not really sure that’s the case once the license fee ends. As I have previously said, BBC news will always be public, and with a channel broadcasting (general BBC content) that is free, this mandate is met. It would still be accessible to all for free. You’d pay if you want on demand access or some combination of that. Is there a way to pay for the BBC which isn’t compulsory and allows access to all? Adverts are of course the obvious choice in that case and perhaps premium for those that want it as ITV do?

Anything compulsory in my mind is also a non starter. They need to find another solution.

I don’t understand why you can’t see beyond a subscription service. We have plenty of those already.

Like it or not there is value in having a state broadcaster that everyone contributes to. Just as there is value in having libraries, museums, schools, hospitals, even if we don’t all use them. There are certainly discussions to be had about just how much the BBC should be doing, and I’m as vocal about that as anybody, but the current system where people essentially opt in to pay isn’t the right way of funding it. It shouldn’t be about ‘I don’t watch it so I shouldn’t pay’ and framing the council tax proposal as compulsory is bad faith.