BBC TRUST FREESAT CONCLUSION.

AS DESCRIBED BY THE BBC TRUST IN APRIL 2007.

Percentages by country of those responding to the proposition "Licence fee payers should have a choice". Wales: 100%; Scotland: 100%; Northern Ireland: 100%; England: 95%; Overall: 95%; No location:87%.Sample of comments from those who believe Licence Fee payers should have a
choice
“Of course. Subscription-free should also mean no need to buy smart-cards or any other
means by which start-up revenues are generated.”
“Yes - of course they should. Terrestrial, satellite and broadband (IPTV) should all be made
available.”
“Yes, if possible. It is fairly annoying that the licence fee is funding services which I cannot
receive, although I appreciate it is a small proportion of the fee.”
“Yes this is very important ... particularly to keep the existing trust in broadcasters such as
yourselves”
“Yes. Sky's monopoly represents very poor value for money.”
“yes, and the free licence age could be lowered from 75 to 65 in graduated steps if
necessary, to show that the BBC, is doing it's bit ,to help pensioners have a better quality of
life, and be able to enjoy ,what after all, has the potential to be ,one of the finest services inthe world.”
“Yes. The existing freesat is dependent on the goodwill of Mr Murdoch - and that may not
last. It is not commercially prudent to be beholding to Sky, who have their own agenda
which may be at odds with the interests of the BBC and licence payers.”
“Yes; more use should be made of other media, e.g. broadband internet (I accept that thereshould be some mechanism limiting access to licence fee payers). The BBC should also
consider the possibility of licence fee payers to access and watch TV listings they have
missed on-line (similar to the "listen again" feature employed for radio broadcasts)”