New TV Licensing rules are just about right

Obviously, it is not as simple as that.

But a loophole in the law has been changed and now just about everyone needs to have a licence.

And about time too!

Ever since the BBC launched its iPlayer service, alongside other television companies doing something similar for their programming, it has been possible to watch just about anything you want on mainstream television without having to pay for a licence.

No need for a television.

If you owned a computer, tablet or anroid style phone of any description you had full, free-to-view access to all the mainstream television programmes.

You could watch them live, download things you want to watch later or even use a “catch-up” service for interesting items you had missed.

And you didn’t need a licence to do it.

I don’t for a moment image that the good old BBC has been missing out on millions because of it.

And I am not necessarily defending the BBC for either the quality or quantity of its programming.

But it has always been another of those cases of why should the majority of people have to pay to do something while a minority can get away with it for free?

In the interests of being fair, the situation had to be resolved.

The only other choice was to make it free for everyone and then allow the BBC to take about 25% airtime out of every single programme it broadcasts to allow for yet more adverts for sofas which were cheaper on Monday this week than they would have been at any other time in the year.

The TV Licence costs around 40p a day and provide 24/7 access to programmes.

I believe it is a small amount to pay when compared to some of the satellite and cable providers out there who give you access to hundreds of channels, of which you watch about three.

People will complain about the new rules, but as far as I can see they are just about right.