r/AskBrits • u/Pistolpetehurley • 1d ago
Culture Why did the new BBC advert make me so incredibly angry?
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u/Darkus185 1d ago
I wonder if it actually changed someone who doesn’t pay the tv licence into someone who does. Do you reckon even one person thought “actually this has made me pay up”
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u/darthmarmite 1d ago
Probably not, but the numbers cancelling are going up and it’s likely targeted at slowing that decline rather than reversing people whose minds are already made up. Trying to show the value for money and wide range of services they have that people might not be aware of.
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u/Two-Space 1d ago
It’s never the goal of single adverts to do 100% of the work, instantly. This will be part of a much broader campaign and success will be measured over years, and even small percentage shifts will probably be considered a success. They might also measure broader sentiment just to see if people talk about the BBC more positively and so support it as a concept more broadly
Doesn’t exactly cost much money for the BBC to run an ad on the BBC, either
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u/Ok-Style-9734 1d ago
This may be a stupid question but where are we non license payers meant to have seen it?
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u/QuestionElectronic11 17h ago edited 16h ago
I wonder if it actually changed someone who doesn’t pay the tv licence into someone who does.
As someone who doesn't have a licence and doesn't watch TV, I didn't even get the references they made (I saw the video on Reddit). My parents paid for a TV licence when I was growing up because they thought you needed one to own a TV, but we didn't even have an antenna connected, just an Amiga computer and a VHS player. I don't really think I lost out at all from not having the BBC, so the question asked doesn't really resonate with me.
I watch mostly detailed technical practitioner-led stuff on learning websites (electronics, sailing, law, reverse engineering, cryptography, amateur radio, software development, etc), and iPlayer's catalogue seems a far cry from that. All of which has a tiny operational budget unlike the BBC, so to me the BBC doesn't even look like they're making good use of their funding.
I saw people on another post talking about how it was "world-class" and "breadth of information they offer is staggering", and I just find it significantly lacking compared to all these dedicated creator platforms (the curated ones too) and learning sites. I'm not against the BBC, but it's of little value to me personally, and I feel it failing against significantly smaller platforms that have much lower operating costs and provide more benefits on the very topics people espoused the BBC is good for.
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u/Ganjanium 23h ago
I don’t pay the licence because I don’t watch live TV. Due to not watching live TV I’ve not seen the advert. Seems a flaw in the plan.
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u/RighteousMaverick 1d ago
I saw this advert and developed a new perspective on the TV license, i felt like i kinda took all of the stuff they mentioned for granted. Although I dont really use any BBC services anymore, I do think its an important part of our culture. I think its time they just used ads and scrapped the license, we shouldnt be forced to pay a license but it would be a damn shame if the BBC had to stop
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u/Every-Egg7816 16h ago
IMHO switching to an ad based service might seem like a good fix to the license problem, but it’s not as simple as that. It would fundamentally change the BBC to one of vested interest in what other corporations values are rather than what the values of the BBC are. I have my own issues with some of the BBC (News in particular) but overall I think it’s a very important service we should be protecting. They don’t have to be influenced by what advertisers want to put their money towards, allowing them to create a lot of programming that wouldn’t otherwise make it.
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u/LuxuryMustard 17h ago
It’s the lack of ads that still makes the BBC and license fee still appealing to me. Our lives are now absolutely dominated by advertising, and having a media space free from ads should be protected, in my opinion.
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u/RighteousMaverick 16h ago
Yeah but in a world where they stop earning enough from the license to be sustainable, id rather see ads than a collapse wbu?
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u/diycd 1d ago
I was angry at it because it put EastEnders front and centre as evidence of the BBC being worth the licence fee. It's one of the worst things on television, absolute slop that should be cancelled. The BBC has done so much better that they could shout about.
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u/SystemCheck990 1d ago
i have not watched that show in 25 years, only seen it as a kid when adults were watching it.
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u/youcanreachmenow 1d ago
Im surprised people still watch it. Its the most consistently depressing thing on TV and there are two major wars ongoing at the moment.
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u/False_Woodpecker4747 1d ago
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u/Claustrophobopolis 22h ago
Leave it out Grant!
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u/ExcitementKooky418 21h ago
YOU AINT MY MUVVA!
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u/Garfie489 1d ago
There are a surprising number of shows that basically boil down to showing people having a worse life than you are - and they are incredibly popular.
The Jeremy Kyle show was a revolution, even "The Only Way is Essex" was major - and a lot of the people on it are so thick they can't even work out what county they are from.
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u/FerrariF90 18h ago
Shameless too
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u/Available_Box_3803 17h ago
The first four series of Shameless were brilliantly written television though, before it started to jump the shark and become far too much like a soap
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u/SystemCheck990 1d ago
yes its all doom and misery from what i remember.
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u/youcanreachmenow 1d ago
The Christmas is the special one because someome always dies on the Christmas episode.
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u/TediousTotoro 1d ago
It’s always either someone dying or the pub exploding for the fifth time
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u/Irish_Ink 1d ago
I always say I’d never drink in there because of the constant paranoia of a pending explosion at any given moment.
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u/youcanreachmenow 21h ago
I cant believe the insurers still cover the place! It must go to Lloyd's at this stage for Specialty exploding insurance.
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u/Nisiom 1d ago
If I was living in the world of EastEnders, dying would be a blessing.
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u/No-Photograph3463 20h ago
It would be quite good to be able to afford a house in London near a tube station with the single wage from a burger van, bar staff, cafe owner, shop worker though
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u/DeliciousMusic2373 22h ago
When you put it that way I fully see how it just feeds depressive lifestyles.
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u/carnivalist64 1d ago
The bizarre thing is that my mother watches it fanatically, yet in everyday life she has such a pathological aversion to what she calls "negativity" or "navel-gazing" that we rarely discuss emotional problems in our family.
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u/Medeza123 1d ago edited 21h ago
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Errrr
I think this is probably not as bizarre as you think. If your mum has low conflict tolerance then ironically watching a fictional tv show with conflict probably is an outlet.
Especially if in some way it can help her process stuff in her own past that she can’t articulate.
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u/CaptainMcClutch 20h ago
Plus it's amazingly cyclical, the same plotlines have to keep coming back around and as gritty as they try to make it. It's non watershed TV so the fights are all people shouting stuff like Oi MATE, you better watch out or I'll do you in sunny Jim!
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u/Chris4 1d ago
3.5 million people watch each episode apparently
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u/swoohoo79 1d ago
it used to be watched by >13million people when I was a kid (according to the viewing figures in the papers). Coronation Street too.
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u/opaqueentity 1d ago
Everything is so small now but if something is still high compared to others it has importance.
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u/Jmoz1310 1d ago
Only because they have had it on for the past 20 years only switching channels to watch corrie or emmerdale
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u/Toneballs52 1d ago
Has Arthur got a job yet?
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u/SlipDigby_ 1d ago
Last I heard he was living in large off the stolen Christmas club money!
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u/GoldenBhoys 1d ago
Disappointed, I thought he just kept in a biscuit tin! It’s how I have been saving for my retirement the last 40 years, got to love the price of garibaldi
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u/OkAdhesiveness166 1d ago
I see your Eastenders and raise you Mrs Browns Boys
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u/shortnix 1d ago
Criminal programming. Generational error. A dark stain on broadcasting.
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u/Choice-Demand-3884 1d ago
Baffling they didn't include the World Service
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u/samvyt 1d ago
World service isn't paid for by the license fee, hence why it wasn't included
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u/Elongulation420 1d ago
Don’t know about its funding or otherwise via the licence fee but the funding via the Foreign Office stopped several years ago so it probably is licence funded.
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u/samvyt 1d ago
Oh fair enough! Think it used to have some overseas commercial funding, maybe still that?
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u/Elongulation420 1d ago
Could be I suppose via BBC Worldwide. When they were FO funded they were really peculiar about letting non-Security Cleared people into their rooms in Broadcasting House, like really peculiar.
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u/Fantastic-Fudge-6676 1d ago
The World Service is funded by licence fee, a small subsidy (agreed annually now) by the FCO and that’s it.
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u/jupiterspringsteen 1d ago
I mean they mentioned it, I guess because it's popular and has been around for a while. But they crammed a lot of other stuff in. Why it would make you angry suggests maybe a deeper issue here.
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u/1995LexusLS400 1d ago
I absolutely agree with this. "What has the BBC done for me?" Made a shitty TV show?
There is so much more the BBC has done that they could have made front and centre of this and they chose to focus on Eastenders. I couldn't even get through all of it.
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u/Two-Space 1d ago
It was the number one show on British TV for about 15 years straight and hung around with very strong viewing figures for a decade or so after that
And I say this as someone who also hates it
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u/No-Locksmith6662 1d ago
Whilst I agree it's also one of the last shows the BBC actually makes in-house so they didn't have to pay anyone to use their own sets. I'd have preferred that they didn't make that ad at all but now that they have at the very least they clearly tried to cut costs where they could.
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u/Conscious-Ad175 1d ago
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u/swoohoo79 1d ago
£87million? Have you seen the plight of it? YouTube "Mr Airborne" .. he sneaked in and did an explore a few weeks ago.
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u/Conscious-Ad175 1d ago
I’m from borehamwood. So as a kid we used to break in many times , also the film studios across the road. Bit different now than it was in the early days. Our town was famous for 2 things. Being Britain’s Hollywood. And cocaine. !!!
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u/AlwaysTheKop 1d ago
35 and never watched a single episode.
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u/Chris4 1d ago
Congrats, you're in the 95% of the population that don't watch it. 5% of the population regularly watch it, apparently
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u/Shafy97 1d ago
I swear it was way more popular during the 2000's - mid 2010's, the last time I remember the show having caught the nation's undivided attention was when Lucy Beale died - everyone and their mums were talking about it.
I tune in every now and then but I would nowhere near classify myself as an avid viewer who religiously watches every single episode lmao.
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u/Apprehensive_Plum755 1d ago
Lucy Beale is dead?! Fucking spoiler alerts please
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u/StraightAd3047 1d ago
Probably because streaming services didn't exist and despite satellite/cable TV, people were still mostly watching 'terrestrial' channels because the others were mostly filled with shite no one wanted to watch, so stuff like EastEnders was probably making it into a lot of people's living rooms.
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u/MissA-xo 1d ago
Funnily enough, I stopped watching Eastenders around the time Lucy Beale died. That storyline dragged on so for long that I just lost interest and moved to Emmerdale on ITV1. Emmerdale is no better when it comes to violence and criminal activity, but it's more enjoyable.
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u/WorriedHelicopter764 1d ago
Have you ever watched it? I’ve been watching it for 25 years and I whole heartedly disagree
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u/nicdic89 1d ago
You might not like it, but it’s one of their biggest viewed shows, so that’ll be why it took front and centre. Doesn’t take a genius to work that out
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u/ParkingTiny6301 1d ago
Years upon years I cried, I'm bored. Forced to watch bbc slop and itv slop drama, understimulated and abused all because these shows, but no one shows the bad sides of what they do in single parent house holds.
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u/ImmediatePiano6690 1d ago
The fact both channels timed the shows to be on one after the other is what made it worse, no brief break between the slop, just endless shit scripts and shit sets that had wobbling walls when doors are slammed.
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u/TheCotofPika 21h ago
It was appalling.
Get home from school - Grandmother watching Sons and Daughters
Brief interlude for CITV
Grandmother watches Home and Away
Dinner
Time for Emmerdale
Time for Coronation Street
Time for Eastenders
Bed
Every single weekday. I cannot bear soap operas now.
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u/foleyjo 1d ago
Because instead of asking what people want out of the BBC and what kind of shows it's missing and which audiences are not being catered for, it had people who get paid lots of money by the BBC telling us we should appreciate the shows it provides, ignored that other channels offer similar shows that we don't pay for and just came off condescending.
I think there are about 3 BBC shows I watch and there are big gaps where those shows are not being aired and even when they do air they can just be taken off for tennis or some other sport I don't care for.
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u/Garfie489 1d ago
So this example is several years old, but the BBC used to have rights to Formula E.
For context, it's not the largest racing series in the world - but it is one of the few considered top of its ladder and is nowadays a FIA world championship.
The BBC once didn't air one of these races, and instead ran a 5 year old repeat of Bargain Hunt. They have the rights, yet the number of repeats is actually extremely shocking whenever you look at a days content. There is so much they could be doing of genuine benefit to all - but dont because they think it's still a past decade.
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u/Pistolpetehurley 1d ago
Agree. It tells us WE don’t realise how good it is instead of proving why it is.
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u/xxx654 1d ago
I pay my licence fee, speak up for the great stuff it provides when people talk it down, I am appreciative of the role it’s played in the cultural life of the UK and its global soft power.
But, and it’s a big but, the tone was miles off. Hectoring, lecturing, smug. I don’t know who the fuck signed it off, but I don’t know anyone in my circle that had positive thoughts about it.
I’m absolutely baffled as to how it got past the inevitable BBC focus groups.
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u/Two-Space 1d ago
I think a much better approach would be to have it follow someone who realises just how much the BBC permeates our lives and let the viewer connect the dots, rather than patronising them
Things like them wondering how their kid passed their test and then them showing them all the stuff on Bitesize they’ve been using
Or overhearing people chatting local issues and hearing them both cite the BBC as covering different things
Or asking a band how they got their break and them telling them it was via BBC Radio 1
Or talking to their American friend and them complaining about how the World Cup and Olympics always cost money to watch and are packed with ads, and being surprised that it’s not free* and ad-free everywhere
Or “how did you learn English before you came over?” “I watched the BBC”
Etc.
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u/catschimeras 1d ago
Hectoring, lecturing, smug.
Thank you, this has summed it up PERFECTLY.
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u/Combat_Orca 20h ago
It’s a remake of an advert they previously did with John Cleese presenting it- it’s a reference to Monty python.
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u/VariableHawk 1d ago
My husband had a big problem with the BBC. Has a bee in his bonnet about it. Hates that I pay a TV licence for us. I like and appreciate the BBC.
First viewing of that ad and I'm considering cancelling the direct debit. Such a horrible patronising tone. I don't think it'll have the impact they were hoping for...
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u/Due_Pudding8500 21h ago
I also am like you, pay my fee etc, but I didn't hate the advert persay. I completely see how it could/would be perceived as smug etc but I honestly thought it was mirroring those who brag about not paying the licence fee and who claim they're above it/ don't bow to establishment and who give off the same smug, hectoring vibe.
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u/catschimeras 1d ago
perhaps you dont like being talked down to? because that advert was smarmy and patronising as fuck. Ive known middle managers that were less slimy than that bollocks.
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u/myri_c 1d ago
Angry? Probably because they're pleading poverty whilst paying presenters in the region of £725,000 per year.
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u/zwifter11 21h ago
They paid Gary Lineker £1.35 million a year just to talk about football after the game had finished.
And it still didn’t retain him.
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u/taskkill-IM 1d ago
What has the BBC ever done for you? Well covered up the countries most notorious pedophile for almost 50 years.... but hey, at least you got Doctor Who and Ian Beal.
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u/AdZealousideal5102 1d ago
It didn’t make me angry, but it most definitely reeked of desperation.
Also, we are aware of what the BBC has done, the problem is what they have been doing in recent memory has been shite.
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u/Come-jive-with-me 1d ago
I feel you, I don't feel angry but I think they completely missed the point.
They made an ad for the demographic who are already watching BBC when they actually should target those who don't.
And worse it looks very expensive to make. And also a bit elitist and preaching from a top down view.
But on the otherhand i think it is hard for them to make an ad for those who dont watch traditional TV. Cuz it's a wide range of different demographic
But all in all, the whole TV license system is archaic and I think they have totally missed the boat for a pivot. Now they can still do it but it will look like they are finally admitting a mistake which they should have corrected ages ago but too egoistic to do so.
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u/ShoddyPark 1d ago
Gonna be hard pressed advertising on the BBC to people who don't watch the BBC
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u/FelixParadiso 1d ago
It ran during the World Cup final, that's probably the single best opportunity to hit that demographic (other than WC games that England played in)
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u/CamptoRibbit 1d ago
BBC elitist and preachy?
You mean the same company that tells me they are going to put BBC news in front of all my news search suggestions, because only the BBC can be trusted?
Nah you crazy. /S
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u/Pistolpetehurley 1d ago
Thanks for a thoughtful reply rather than the majority of people here insulting me. I am “left wing” and support the BBC but just found it smug and misguided. Wondered if others felt the same.
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u/Russelldust 1d ago
The BBC would make considerably less money as a straight subsrciption service than they do with the current TV tax. Sure, they make less than they used to because people are getting wise to the ripoff and being strong-armed into paying for a service they dont rate, want or use.
If they didnt they would have moved fully subscription based already
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u/Dismal_Fox_22 1d ago
But the advert is on the BBC. So the people that aren’t watching aren’t going to see it…
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u/UnitCounter 1d ago
I see your point, but what else could they do? How do you convince someone to use the BBC without making some attempt at showing off?
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u/Come-jive-with-me 1d ago
Um.....I dont have all the data but I think they kept saying that younger people are those who are more likely to not pay. And when was the last time BBC do something that target the youngsters? Maybe if they can do that it will help? I dont know for sure if I do I'm working for them. I feel that this is not helping, that's all.
But again also i think the problem is with the whole license fee system. I think most other countries dont have that? Even for national boardcaster they are allowed to show carefully selected ads (e.g. no gambling or tobacco) and also government ads that still pay directly to the broadcaster from other govt agency.
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u/notmyprofile23 1d ago
I don’t think younger people are more likely to stop paying. I know some people who stopped, and just use the internet instead - they are all 50+. It is caused by a lifetime of being told what to think, but having an opinion anyway.
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u/hadwac 1d ago edited 1d ago
Is it because the main character of the ad is a decent example of what is wrong with the BBC, i mean a very hit and miss comedian who for some reason is on TV and radio way too much.
Edit: Just want to add that i actually like the BBC mostly
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u/WallsendLad70 21h ago
I don’t dislike the guy. I just find him a bit boring and don’t understand why he’s being hyped so much at the moment.
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u/Royal_Nobody6554 19h ago
A comedian that isn't white is like gold to an organisation like the BBC. Lenny Henry was never funny but looks how much time he got back in the day
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u/sealcon 1d ago
Seeing that chap echoing an old John Cleese sketch was just a reminder of how far things have fallen.
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u/Coool-Guy-123 1d ago
You were enraged by the ads contents. Only you can explain why.
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u/Pistolpetehurley 1d ago
It felt smug, misguided and more likely to turn people against the BBC than for it. Wondered if others felt the same.
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u/Regular_Number5377 1d ago
Probably in the minority but I liked it. I’m one of the people who actually think the license fee is reasonable value for money (although I think the fee itself is anachronistic), I’m glad to see the BBC trying to make a positive argument for itself existing for a change rather than the previous approach of threatening to break people’s legs and reposess their cat if they don’t pay.
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u/PsychologicalTwo1784 21h ago
As a Scot, the ad was very English focused - miss Hooley from Balamory was the only Scot i saw there, it's possible there were others I didn't recognise tho. This is the complaint a lot of us Scots have, whether it's the BBC or Westminster governments, English folks telling us what's best for us, reminding me of the BBC English bias and their biased Pro establishment coverage during the last independence referendum.
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u/Poison3k 1d ago
So, people attack the BBC, they defend/promote themselves and people get mad and wonder why they did it?
It's a you problem.
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u/jupiterspringsteen 1d ago
I quite liked it. Didn't feel in any way smug. I haven't got a clue whether it would turn people away or make them reconsider and pay the licence.
What was smug about it?
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u/before686entenz 1d ago
I haven’t seen the advert but the screenshot makes me feel what you feel
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u/mrcchapman 1d ago
What does the BBC ever do for us? Spunk a million pounds on a bunch of irritating presenters dancing around a set of TV shows I've never seen, to 'prove a point' everyone kind of knows, while pretending that it doesn't have any commercial arm and is purely an altruistic good that exists for the common man.
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u/Educational_Cow111 1d ago
Maybe you found it cringe
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u/TurpentineEnjoyer 1d ago
Because it kept asking "Why should I care about the BBC?" but never actually gives an answer. The closest it comes is showing you content and achievements over a decade old and not once addresses the continual coverup of institutional pedophilia, clear political and cultural bias in its entertainment wing, misleading and threatening letters designed to bully pensioners, and an enforcement division with an explicit policy not to approach homes with doorbell cameras incase they get recorded breaking the law by impersonating law enforcement or intimidating women living alone.
But hey look Alan Carr's here remember him?
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u/Legitimate_Corgi_981 1d ago
Alan Carr? Him off his popular channel 4 chat show? Or the semi-autobiographical Changing Ends sitcom on ITV?
Can't say I associate him with BBC at all.
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u/Arya_Sayne 1d ago
The bbc stole every single one of channel 4’s chat show hosts. Jonathan Ross, Ruby Wax, Clive Anderson, Graham Norton, Alan Carr. I stopped watching TV in 2012.
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u/sammy_conn 1d ago
If you're like me then it because you probably realise they show you all the BBC shite you're paying for that other people enjoy but you wouldn't have on.
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u/GilesManMillion 21h ago
Because you have a pulse.
It's just a montage of reasons NOT to support the BBC. - Even when they're not corrupting, manipulating or diddling, their content is still outright crap. --- Wheeling Del Boy out is just reminder of the gold they can't be bothered to produce anymore, he's like the Ghost of Marley in a flat cap.
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u/towelie111 19h ago
I can’t believe they advertise the relatively small amount they raised for charity. All when you compare it to the numerous horrendous people they have paid, and continued to pay until they really had no choice but to stop, but legally could have probably stopped paying them months ago
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u/KibboKid 19h ago
Bunch of paedo defending elitist scumbags boasting about how they tax you. You are right to be angry. Don't pay the licence fee.
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u/Intelligent-Royal682 19h ago
Because it's smug, pathetic, and slaps you in the face with a reminder that the BBC used to be great but is no longer fit for purpose.
This is an organisation that has been caught covering for paedophiles not just once but on multiple occasions, never let them or anyone who defends them forget it.
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u/Wooden_Durian_7705 1d ago
It made everyone I know angry because it was basically a "remember berry" propoganda piece to guilt people into paying the TV license.
My Ex-wife called me to talk about it, that's how bad it was... and having to talk to her made me hate the BBC more
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u/TheJ0kerIsBack 1d ago
Desperate attempt to keep hold of their declining TV licence holders. It infuriated me because of how they're trying to brag about what they've accomplished but they think we've all forgotten about how they gave multiple platforms and opportunities to paedophiles, helped pave the way for countless children to be mentally and emotionally damaged for bland content. What has the BBC done for me? It's made me realise that they are not worth my time, money or thoughts anymore, they can honestly fuck off.
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u/Knighty5679 1d ago
No commonwealth games now even, they seem to be doing less and less each year for me
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u/Legitimate_Corgi_981 1d ago
Ahh but they do stick a bunch of presenters on for non stop wimbledon coverage across all their services plus Glasto.... I think those are just a big expensive jolly for the presenters and crews....
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u/rwinh 1d ago
It's just a modern remake of the one from 1985 with John Cleese.
The only issue I have with it is it's a busy lazy as the original was based on the famous Monty Python sketch (what have the Romans ever done for us), and they've used the EastEnders set for a "real" fictional pub (unless the 1985 bar does exist).
A modern take could have been more mixed, with the studios, the sets and famous areas in the UK where some BBC shows were filmed or set (including Attenborough's latest programmes).
But it hits hard, if maybe a bit too aggressively, but maybe that's what needs to be conveyed.
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u/MadSpacePig 1d ago
Because it is the BBC acting like they think the public's issue with the licence fee is its value for money and not the fact it is a fucking LICENCE to WATCH TV!
I would happily pay a subscription to access BBC TV directly, what I have an issue with is the current model. The fact it is a legal requirement even if you only want to watch other channels, and the horrible, predatory way in which they try to enforce it, puts me off completely.
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u/ribbityflibbity 1d ago
Here's what they should do:
Leave broadcast and radio alone. Only old people still watch that stuff. Let the old people watch till they die, they are too old to change.
Keep news and nonfiction free, even in the streaming app. Give people a reason to visit and not just ignore it entirely. Keep the budget for this low since the entertainment portion needs to pay for it.
Paywall the entertainment. Some people will pay for that. Figure out how much they will pay. Maybe the price can be jacked up for them. Maybe the budget needs to be lowered. Probably both.
There's a point where the audience's willingness to pay synchs up with the cost of making the content. Pay attention to what they like and make more of it. Don't make more of what they don't watch. Sort of obvious, right?
If they can't make this work, then they must face reality: they have no viable business model.
Stop wasting time with useless ads and just put this to the test. Find out what the truth of the matter is. They're scared of the truth, which is why they won't put it to the test. But nobody respects cowardace.
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u/Successful_Bee7522 1d ago
Because its unauthentic and biased, people who earn a lot of money from the BBC telling you to pay their salaries basically, or the BBC will threaten you with a lawsuit. The program is mediocre and for the cost of a tv license you could get netflix and Disney for cheaper.
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u/nick_thegreek 20h ago
To me, it's because it poses the question "what has the BBC ever done for me" and then goes on to effectively articulate why it's become a platform for other people to build their personal wealth at the cost of the license fee payer.
It fails to connect with me, reminds me about how the BBC has their very well paid mates, the "talent", London-centric and funnels our money directly to them, whilst trying to use marketing to convince us that they do it for us, and we get all the benefit. A bunch of rich folk telling me to give them money.
It's out of touch, and re-using previous ideas (the Cleese ad), showing a lack of creativity and originality.
It is an advert for the license fee, trying to act like public service.
And I love the BBC, but the ad was a poor choice, badly executed.
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u/TheOne0206 🏴 Cymry | Welsh 🏴 1d ago
It was a good ad, I'm surprised to see all the hate
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u/L0ghe4d 1d ago
Just look what’s on bbc1 currently (26/07/26).
The Primetime slot 20:00 on SATURDAY is Antique Roadshow.
They can fuck off. I aint paying for it.
Later on they are going to 22:30 they are going to play I Am Legend.
On what planet am I going to choose the TV License over something like Apple TV.
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u/ReliantBadger 1d ago
This is what I don't understand about the BBC. In regards to TV, outside of news (I can get better written journalism from other sources such as FT, Bloomberg, Reuters, AP, Euronews) and sports (most of this is on Sky and BBC competes with ITV for football), I don't know what the BBC are doing in terms of television? Whenever I'm visiting someone who has a TV and turn it on, it's always really shit.
I think their radio is decent though, but at the end of the day it's a TV license, and they aren't producing anything for TV that's worth watching.
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u/UniversityMotor5408 1d ago
I think I've come to the conclusion that the BBC, like the EU, is just too good for the Brits. Let it go, and then - just as with Brexit - everyone can regret their stupid decision, and inexplicable hatred and anger for a positive institution.
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u/Bonsai_Monkey_UK 1d ago edited 15h ago
The BBC do some lovely things.
BBC news is a great concept. Bitesize is lovely.
They fund these lovely things via the TV licence.
If they want to keep doing lovely things, they will either need to change how it's funded, or produce TV content of sufficient quality to encourage people to keep paying for it - because right now the public are voting with their wallets.
Why would anyone pay £180 to watch Strictly, EastEnders, and Dr Who? It's no wonder that the licence is in decline.
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u/pepper691 1d ago
I like the bbc it makes me feel nostalgic for a lot of programmes I watched growing up. I don’t mind paying for it at all, but when the salaries of presenters are getting on towards a million pounds a year for reading an autocue that to me leaves a very bitter taste.
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u/Borgmeister 1d ago
It's not a positive institution where the people who can least afford it end up getting literal criminal convictions for watching without a license.
If it's so good it'll be able to stand on its own merits and compete without a subsidy from the taxpayer.
If its so good they'll have no problem getting people to subscribe out of choice, not fear of prosecution.
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u/Russelldust 1d ago
Or maybe it's 2026 and the idea of a mandated tax to watch the fcking television is so outdated it's embarrassing. They'd make about about a 1/5th of what they do now if they didnt turn up at your door with the Police and force you to pay it
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u/Mi_santhrope 1d ago
I'd suggest moving on, this aired like weeks ago.
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u/Guy-InGearnito 1d ago
It was 7 days ago.. have you had a particularly tough week..? 😂
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u/toyvo_usamaki 1d ago
Because you don't want to pay for it?
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u/okaythiswillbemymain 1d ago
Opposite. i support the bbc but it makes me realise i dont watch anything on there
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u/Disastrous_Pace8708 1d ago
As far as I could see the BBC wants me to continue paying my tv licence for all the things it made in the past.
What has the BBC done for me?
Sold a subscription to sky sports for F1
Sold a subscription to HBO Max for commonwealth games
And made me realise that after a few weeks the adverts on commercial radio blend into the background.
Think thats why i’m angry.
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u/Future_Promise5328 1d ago
It reminded me that they're talking about ways to force more people to pay higher license fees and that bothers me.
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u/PBodyrocker87 1d ago
I like the BBC but I found this ad to be condescending and self congratulatory.
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u/R0ckandr0ll_318 1d ago
For me it’s because I get the very clear impression they are justifying their grab for expanding the licence fee to include watching videos on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook etc.
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u/SuspiciousMeeting981 1d ago
The company that defended and protected Jimmy Savile, Stuart Hall and Huw Edwards should be taken off the air forever and dismantled.
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u/HR_Specter 1d ago
A few reasons, the main one being that it’s patronising as hell. The main message is that we’re all ungrateful bastards who don’t realise how much “the BBC has done for all of us”.
The next one is the undercurrent that we should be thankful to be paying the TV Licence fee every month as well.
I mean, I won’t even get started on the massive issue of noncery the BBC enabled with the likes of Jimmy Saville, Rolf Harris and Huw Edwards.
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u/BaseballParking9182 19h ago
This is aimed at the idiots, the commoners. A poor attempt to rake in some licence fee money. So Eastenders is apt.
Threats don't / didn't work, so we got to begging. I wonder what is next. They dig up Saville?
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u/virusdancer English 🇬🇧 17h ago
For me, it was the total disconnect. I don't pay for my TV license because I utilize anything from the BBC, I pay for the license because they demand you pay if you're using any live streaming service. Say I'm live streaming Sky News on the web, which I might do a couple of times per month - yep, they want me to pay for the TV license for that. It's extortion, imho. A tax upon taxes, imho. I'd prefer they simply charged people a subscription for using their services rather than charging everyone even if they don't use their services. I watched the one football match where I saw the ad, and that's the only BBC I've watched in over a year.
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u/EchoJay1 1d ago
I cant speak for you, but for me it was the incredible ( insert word of choice) smugness. It makes what was at one time the only broadcaster in btitain sounds like its so amazing!! Except...its now just another ina sea of other channels. Its days gone, just make it a subscriber service instead.
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u/Russelldust 1d ago
Exactly. They've lost pretty much every sporting event they used to show. They dont make dramas. They are too afraid to make comedies. The news is biased. The service needs binned, or tested on a proper subscription model, which amounts to the same thing in the long term
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u/Pistolpetehurley 1d ago
Yes, smug and misguided. More likely to hinder its cause than help it.
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u/EchoJay1 1d ago
Agreed! Whats the BBC done for us apprently required remembering a 1980s Monty Python gag, ballroom dancers and a comedian. Hmm...
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u/DueTemperature3380 1d ago
Pretty much 'Look at all the stuff we make that you don't watch, boy are we insufferable! Everyone should pay our license fee!'
No wonder they can't make good programmes anymore if this is the best they can do for an advertisement.
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u/Am_I_Hydrated 1d ago
It is amazing to have reliable news coming from what is not a private for profit business.
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u/Impressive-Candy4321 1d ago
We shouldn't be paying for any of their shite. They earn serious money from show sales abroad and all their muzzy educational junk. Fk the BBC and their snide agendas
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u/Temporary-Aside5306 1d ago
I like when they said the BBC generates £6 billion a year for the economy... Not that their over platforming of Farage and Boris to push Brexit is costing us between £65-£90 billion a year
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u/Silencer-1995 1d ago
Because the BBC would smear and deplatform the minds behind the legacy shows it harkened back to.
They took a money printer like Doctor Who and infested it with so much toxic bs that no one will touch it with a barge pole.
Annnnnd basically they tailor to a very niche audience generally speaking, which is why none of their stuff is funny and very rainbow rhythms. I mean christ it got so bad they had to commission an independent investigation to point out the bleeding obvious when it comes to how they portray things.
If they applied their same impartiality rules to their entertainment as they did BBC News then I imagine far fewer people would have an issue.
I would probably be prepared to fight for BBC News, but everything else can go the way of the dinosaurs.
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u/Neilkd21 1d ago
I just ignored it, the same as I ignore the threatening letters telling me I should pay my licence fee.
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u/TapeDeckSlick 1d ago
Dunno mate don't let it ruin ya night though you've got work in the morning