People of Today, Asks Good Questions...
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Why should cable TV users pay licence fee?
Wed, Feb 13, 2008
The Straits Times
IN THE days before cable TV networks were available in Singapore, a TV licence fee was collected from every household with a TV set at home, whether householders watched local TV programmes broadcast on Channel 5 and Channel 8 or not.
Today, many of us subscribe to cable TV networks which also provide these local channels. I am also a cable network user and since I started paying property tax, I have obediently paid to the Media Development Authority (MDA) my TV licence fee, which is conveniently included with my property tax in one bill when both are due.However, this is without truly understanding exactly why TV licence fee is collected from every household with a TV set.
Does TV licence fee collection still apply when we watch local channels on cable TV networks?
Don't the cable TV network providers already pay TV licence fees for the right to broadcast local channels on their networks?
If a cable TV network provider has the right to broadcast these local channels on its network, should the MDA still collect the TV licence fee from every household with a TV set?I called the MDA to get a clarification but the answer I got from the officer who took my call was that 'every household with a TV set in Singapore must pay the TV licence fee'.
But she could not explain the reasons for doing so.
I am also curious what happens to the money collected since local TV channels do not seem to have improved or provide programmes of better quality - and I don't mean just high-definition TV quality.
I hope the MDA can explain and clarify.
Daniel Ang
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like that say, we should pay the licence fee to starhub instead of MDA?
It's a very valid question by the author though
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... but the thing is, Daniel Ang should know better than to ask MDA, because the automated humans they've placed behind their telephones would not know what else to say besides the scripted response handed to them...
... he could have done better to direct the question at the "government"...
... the people should starts to ask MORE questions - in fact, ask PLENTY QUESTIONS...
... because the way the "government" forces their policies down our throats are very QUESTIONABLE...
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those that answer phones are just the "frontline defence". Their boss will only choose to reply to certain questions.
I know cuz I have frens who worked in such jobs before.
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Actually, you still pay for the licence because your tv is still capable of tapping the airwaves for the shows.
The day you get a TV that ONLY accepts digital input is the day where your case actually holds merit. For now, it would be hard to convince anyone that you would not tap into the analog airwaves should starhub suddenly goes down.
It's much like ordering newspapers. You may get all your news online, but as long as the newspapers are still being delivered, you still pay for it. Due to the public nature of over the air broadcast, having a TV capable of recieving the broadcast is pretty much equivilent to the ordering of newspapers.
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Hey, if people stop paying their TV license fees, we will get Huang Feihong reruns on TCS 8 every fortnight.
Worse if they start showing VR man again on TCS 5.
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Originally posted by gigabyte14:
I say fail lah.
The number one principle in the media industry is that image is everything.
And this is one video that destroys the whole image.
And where are the hot babes and hunks?
Where?