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Should the BBC license be mandatory? Should the BBC license be mandatory?
Yes, the BBC license should be mandatory Yes, the BBC license should be mandatory
No, the license should not be mandatory No, the license should not be mandatory
A mandatory license fee supports minority tastes A mandatory license fee supports minority tastes
The BBC provides a service for the public good The BBC provides a service for the public good
BBC News is an essential public service BBC News is an essential public service
The BBC World Service serves the national interest The BBC World Service serves the national interest
The BBC doesn’t account for the majority of TV The BBC doesn’t account for the majority of TV
The BBC Trust cannot be trusted The BBC Trust cannot be trusted
The license fee disproportionately affects poor households The license fee disproportionately affects poor households
The TV license is unpopular The TV license is unpopular
Linear TV is dead Linear TV is dead
The license fee is impossible to enforce The license fee is impossible to enforce
The mandatory license stifles innovation The mandatory license stifles innovation
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Should the BBC license be mandatory?
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Yes, the BBC license should be mandatory

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BBC News is an essential public service

We pay for the police and fire brigade; like them, a national news service is an essential service.
Baroness Lady Morgan
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Context

While much of BBC coverage is made redundant by the private offerings on the market, BBC News is a unique product that could not be replicated by the private sector.

The Argument

In democracies, government has an obligation to keep its population informed. Democracies cannot function if voters do not have the information they need to allow them to make good decisions at the ballot box. The BBC's news offering was founded on that premise, and continues to fulfil it. While other elements of the BBC's offering compete with the private sector, BBC News is unique in its capacity to make editorial decisions free from any commercial constraints. There has been a colossal destruction of value in the media and journalism business globally over the last 15 years, which has meant bureaus closing, 30% of journalists laid off (from peak numbers) and a reduction of critical coverage. Misinformation, and outright disinformation have spread like wildfire since. BBC News, as a source of deep, trustworthy reporting, is an essential national service, and justifies the licence fee alone.

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This page was last edited on Friday, 10 Jul 2020 at 01:50 UTC

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