TV Licence Public Opinion

The request was refused by British Broadcasting Corporation.

Dear British Broadcasting Corporation,

I am making this request under the terms of section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Every so often the BBC commissions polls/surveys to gauge public opinion on the TV licence fee and alternative methods of funding.

According to the BBC, its research shows that the TV licence remains the most popular funding model. However, research commissioned by bodies unconnected with the BBC oftens paints a different picture. For example, a recent ComRes survey for The Whitehouse Consultancy (dated 24th August 2015) indicates a majority in favour of scrapping the TV licence fee.

In accordance with the Act, please provide the following information:
- Complete research findings and methodology for EVERY opinion poll/survey commissioned by the BBC in relation to the TV licence fee or alternative methods of funding.

This includes any relevant poll/survey that has not been previously published by the BBC.

Obviously, any response will only include opinion polls/surveys commissioned for purposes other than journalism, art or literature (a favourite BBC get-out clause). I only require relevant information produced since 1st January 2012.

In accordance with section 11 of the Act, please provide your response in electronic format to the return email address associated with this request.

Yours faithfully,

Peter Jones
Lead author of the TV Licensing Blog:
http://tv-licensing.blogspot.co.uk

FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

Dear Peter

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as detailed in your email below. Your request was received on 25 August 2015. We will deal with your request as promptly as possible, and at the latest within 20 working days. If you have any queries about your request, please contact us at the address below.

The reference number for your request is RFI20151453.

Kind regards

The Information Policy & Compliance Team

BBC Freedom of Information
BC2 B6, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP

www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [BBC request email]

Tel: 020 8008 2882

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FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Jones

 

Please find attached the response to your request for information,
reference RFI20151453

 

 

Yours sincerely,

The Information Policy and Complaince Team

 

BBC Information Policy and Compliance

BC2A4, Broadcast Centre

201 Wood Lane

London W12 7TP, UK

 

Website: [1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi

Email: [2]mailto:[BBC request email]

Tel: 020 8008 2882

Fax: 020 8008 2398

 

 

 

 

 

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References

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1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi
2. mailto:[BBC request email]
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/

Dear FOI Enquiries,

I find your refusal to RFI20151453 a little convenient.

In that case, I shall refine my request as follows:

Please provide the total number of surveys/polls commissioned by the BBC that mention or relate to the TV licence fee in any way. Of those polls, please indicate how many have been published in the public domain and how many have not.

Again, I am only interested in those surveys/polls since 1st January 2012.

I trust you might be able to provide a more satisfactory response to that.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Jones
Lead author of the TV Licensing Blog
http://tv-licensing.blogspot.co.uk

FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

Dear Peter Jones

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as detailed in your email below. Your request was received on 27 September 2015. We will deal with your request as promptly as possible, and at the latest within 20 working days. If you have any queries about your request, please contact us at the address below.

The reference number for your request is RFI20151629.

Kind regards

The Information Policy & Compliance Team

BBC Freedom of Information
BC2 B6, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP

www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [BBC request email]

Tel: 020 8008 2882

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FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

Dear Mr Jones

Further to your email below, could we kindly ask you to provide clarification of any aspects of the “licence fee” that you are specifically interested in? Given that the subject matter remains rather broad – and therefore still open to interpretation - this will assist us in locating information that is relevant.

Kind regards

BBC Workplace and Information Rights

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Dear FOI Enquiries,

I thought my request was quite clear. Having re-read it I am still of that opinion.

However, in the interests of expediency, please just include surveys/polls that mention the words "licence fee" or "TV licence".

Again, I am only interested in those surveys/polls since 1st January 2012.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Jones

FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Jones

 

Please find attached the response to your request for information,
reference RFI20151629.

 

Kind regards

BBC Workplace and Information Rights
BC2 A4, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7T

 

[1]cid:image001.png@01D0DBF1.F71C1B40

 

 

References

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Peter Jones left an annotation ()

It's like pulling teeth.

Peter Martin left an annotation ()

To be fair, having teeth pulled is a still a voluntary (if unpleasant) act one can engage with or not. And often necessary.

The BBC is not, as it claims, 'vital', but is funded by compulsion and by law obliged to provided such information freely.

That they do not, at all times, speaks volumes.

Dear FOI Enquiries,

In accordance with section 16 of the 2000 Act please can you tell me the main BBC Divisions likely to hold the information requested in RFI20151629. I shall then further refine my request based on that information.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Jones