Plagued by BBC repeats!

30/04/2008

I and other pensioners who have not yet reached 75 have noticed that the BBC are showing certain programmes - like the life of Frankie Howerd and that of Hugh Green - on stations other than BBC1 and BBC2. Meanwhile us licence payers are plagued with repeats - especially on BBC1 - which make me feel that we are being robbed on the value of our licence.

 

I emailed the BBC about the matter who, apart from a lot of waffle, commented: 'I'm sorry you are concerned that part of your licence fee is being used to fund the BBC's new digital channels as they are only available using additional receiving equipment ... Although new investment in the analogue services remains our priority, the fact is that digital is the indisputable technology of the future and the change will eventually affect every household.'

 

So what about us pensioners who cannot afford the extra equipment? Whether you are in the 60s or 75 plus age range, we all struggle to survive on the same low government pension if we have no other means of financial assistance. 

 

The BBC also added: 'With regard to pensioner's exemption from the licence fee, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport sets the amount of the licence fee and decides who needs one and for what equipment.' Fair enough, I suppose.

 

But what are other readers' feelings about this?  

 

Fran (by email)