Friends Of Southport conducted a survey with the question:

“With the BBC losing so many subscriptions and many losing faith in its broadcasting concept, do you subscribe and buy a licence?”

The options on the poll were: Yes, No, and thinking of cancelling.

Looking at the poll, it’s very clear that many are disheartened with the BBC, be it their programming or their agenda they try to push on all viewers.

What the poll did show was a high percentage who were thinking about cancelling their TV licence and this shows more discomfort within it’s broadcasting to the public.

Some comments gave a good insight into the Southport residents’ feelings on the matter:

“cbeebies and cbbc are worth every penny of the licence fee on their own if you have kids”

“I buy a licence but think the BBC should discontinue it. BBC used to be the best channel, but there are so many better channels to pick from now”

“I don't like anything the BBC makes. I am being strong-armed into paying for TV I don't want”

“How about, we pay a licence, but get a rebate every time the BBC shows a repeat”

“I watch pre-recorded shows on my firestick. The only reason I pay the damned thing is that my daughter loves to watch ceebeebies”

Complaints about BBC content have more than trebled since 2018-2020, jumping from 1,673 four years ago to 8,429 this year.

Describing the national broadcaster’s commitment to delivering impartial coverage as a “complex challenge”, Ofcom warned that the BBC has been hit by “historical failings” during the past 12 months.

Going by the poll it's very clear that the BBC is not as popular as it once was and it’s clear there seems to be discontent with paying for this service.

FOS have contacted the BBC for comment but at time of writing still no response, maybe too busy counting its money from all those licensing fees!

Reported by Blake Maynard 'Friends of Southport' group

The TV licence is actually amazing value for money at around £3 a week (less than the price of a pint), as well as conferring the right to receive live television transmissions from other services.

Details at:

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-does-your-licence-fee-pay-for-top13

https://www.gov.uk/tv-licence

FOS have contacted the BBC for comment

Is there anyone more full of misguided self importance than Blake Maynard?

Mainstream T.V. is pretty poor these days, with an abundance of low quality game shows and reality tv programmes. Yes, both ITV and the BBC do manage the odd decent drama, but they are few and far between. It is becoming more and more necessary to subscribe to the likes of Netflix to get decent quality entertainment.
High time the T.V. licence was scrapped.

Originally Posted by justbecause

Mainstream T.V. is pretty poor these days, with an abundance of low quality game shows and reality tv programmes. Yes, both ITV and the BBC do manage the odd decent drama, but they are few and far between. It is becoming more and more necessary to subscribe to the likes of Netflix to get decent quality entertainment.
High time the T.V. licence was scrapped.

It costs less than the price of a pint a week...!! Do you not appreciate that it's not the easiest thing in the world to deliver television and radio programmes and all the associated services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year to a population with widely differing tastes?

I can watch TV programmes from many parts of the world and, believe you me, they and the adverts that accompany them are very little different...!!

I have no idea why these surveys are allowed to be published - given that there is no indication given of how many people were asked.
It's quite possible that this survey was only completed by three people - meaning that it is as representative of local opinion as asking the people waiting in a bus shelter.
If Blake Maynard and/or his 'Friends of Southport' group can't provide evidence (preferably independently audited) of the number of people surveyed then his surveys reallly should not see the light of day.

Originally Posted by jayjay2000

I have no idea why these surveys are allowed to be published - given that there is no indication given of how many people were asked.
It's quite possible that this survey was only completed by three people - meaning that it is as representative of local opinion as asking the people waiting in a bus shelter.
If Blake Maynard and/or his 'Friends of Southport' group can't provide evidence (preferably independently audited) of the number of people surveyed then his surveys reallly should not see the light of day.

It's just an ego trip for the narcissist Maynard.
Runs polls where he makes his own views clear then repeatedly shouts down anyone who disagrees with him whilst never challenging factually inaccurate views that match his own. If the discussion isnt going his way he deletes posts and turns off comments despite claiming his group doesn't muffle debate.
Fills his Southport groups with acolytes from groups he ran for expats in Turkey where he lived until a couple of years ago.
Claims there's no racism in Southport because his pale skinned European looking Turkish wife is asian and hasn't experienced any here.