Total votes
5-11 voters
11-18 voters
Whether it’s the famous clock strikes on the six o’clock news, Line of Duty or Radio 1, most people in the country will have some connection to the BBC. In 2022, the BBC celebrated 100 years of broadcasting.
The growth of the BBC has followed right alongside the country from the 1920s to the present day. It wasn’t straight into the Archers, but not far off. It has weathered the mass consumption of television as well as the invention of the internet.
But there have been questions about the BBC and particularly the way that it is funded and its ability to be impartial.
As its Centenary celebrations approached, our voters explored the BBC’s memorable history and its mission to act impartially and in the public interest. They considered how far the BBC has achieved this aim and whether the licence fee expectations are justifiable for each household.
“It is too expensive. The cost of living is too high so it will help people pay for food, clothes and other things if they didn't have to pay for the TV.“
“The BBC is a reliable, neutral voice. It has been around for so long and most people trust it.”
“The BBC needs to use its funding better, however it is a good resource and we should keep it. They have a responsibility, as a public owned service to use its platform for the public good.”
Conor O'Grady
Digital Manager, Cartoon Network
In the 2020/21 academic year, we asked voters “Will cinemas disappear in your lifetime?” This VoteTopic took place at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic when cinema all but vanished due to lockdown restrictions.
Like with the BBC, young people on the whole voted that cinema would remain and highlighted the merits of having the cinema as an option. The comments described cinema as an experience that can’t be replicated by the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime at home.
Equally, this week our ‘No’ comments explained that the impartiality of the BBC and its ability to cater to all ages made it stand out from its competition.