RTÉ planning hike in licence fee

[wombat]

I don't really watch TV but I listen to Lyric and RnG. Personally I'd pay 160 for just those two. Hell, I'd pay it for the John Kelly show on Lyric which is the best thing on the radio worldwide (and I have internet radio with 10,000 stations). Stop getting so wound up over nothing, lads.

That should be your choice. I don't think any of it is worth 160 p.a. but I don't have a choice. RTE is not an essential service and should not be funded by taxes.

[TradCat]

That should be your choice. I don't think any of it is worth 160 p.a. but I don't have a choice. RTE is not an essential service and should not be funded by taxes.

That's the point. The whole "I think it's worth it so you should pay it" argument needs to be put to rest. The question of value only arises when the threat of jail is removed. Believing RTE is worth the money is an argument for a subscription service.

[dipole]

In a purely commercial environment like the U.S. quality programming is still being made but those who want it pay for it. BBC America. Showtime. HBO. Critically acclaimed programs like Mad Men, Dexter, The Wire get made and get watched. Here we have people saying I like certain types of program so you should pay for them.
Programs like John Kelly's are made on a shoestring and are not a justification for the excesses of the broadcaster.
Between his programming and what TG4 achieves on a shoestring you really have to ask is RTE/License fee the best way of delivering quality programming for the benefit of society.

[Kf]

The whole licence thing is a nonsense. It should be done away with, as it costs too much to regulate and collect. Taxes can be raised by whatever miniscule amount is needed to collect the money that the licence brought in and that given as a block grant to RTE for public service progamming. There is no point in having a licence fee if everyone has a TV - they were devised as wealth taxes. The licence fee is as outdated as a window tax.