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Special Episode of the Sceptic: Andrew Orlowski on the Truth About AI, Musk vs Ofcom and How Trump Is Shattering Liberal Delusions

by Richard Eldred
7 February 2025 7:00 AM

Welcome to this Special Episode of the Sceptic, with Andrew Orlowski, business columnist at the Telegraph and writer for publications including the Critic, Spiked and UnHerd.

Host Laurie Wastell and Andrew discuss Andrew’s work writing on business and technology, AI and whether it’s all it’s cracked up to be, the strengths of British innovation and why we fail to commercialise it, why the Left sneers at business, how Net Zero and mass low-skilled immigration are damaging our productivity and the rent-seeking of Amazon and Big Tech. In the premium section, they discuss why the policy-making class needs more engineers, whether the Conservative Party has a future, the impact of Trump 2.0 and Elon Musk’s coming war with Ofcom.

Donate to the Daily Sceptic to access our premium content. Follow Laurie on X. Follow Andrew on X. Subscribe to the Daily Sceptic YouTube Channel. Produced by Richard Eldred. Filmed at the Westminster Podcast Studio.

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7 Comments
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amanuensis
amanuensis
2 years ago

The problem is that it isn’t a ‘BBC licence’. It is a complex fee that allows people to ‘watch live TV by any source, or any BBC programme by any source’.

I’m sure everyone would be absolutely fine with needing TV licence to watch BBC content, but no fee for anything else. Well, the BBC wouldn’t be fine with this, because if it was done this way their income would drop to near zero.

We’ll probably get the worst compromise, where the BBC ends up being funded entirely via taxation (perhaps by introducing an internet tax). Certainly, the last 3 years have demonstrated to government that the BBC is rather important in terms of controlling the masses.

Last edited 2 years ago by amanuensis
147
-1
transmissionofflame
transmissionofflame
2 years ago
Reply to  amanuensis

Exactly. I suspect of lot of people who say they think the license should be scrapped just want more “free” stuff, so they are happy for the BBC to continue, funded by the taxpayer. They’d probably vote to get rid of TV commercials, too, as long as it was all still free.

18
-25
Smudger
Smudger
2 years ago
Reply to  transmissionofflame

You can have free TV by simply not paying the licence fee which millions do already. Let those pay who want to do so.
Most people I talk to want rid of the licence fee because they are sick and tired of BBC Leftisht bias which it spews forth on a daily basis.

10
0
Benthic
Benthic
2 years ago
Reply to  amanuensis

I thought all of the TV channels were good at promoting the government agenda during covid and for the climate Ponzi scheme.

109
0
JXB
JXB
2 years ago
Reply to  amanuensis

The BBC already is funded by taxation, that is what the licence fee is – an hypothecated tax.

It is in fact a broadcast receiver licence required to watch ANY broadcast radio and tv. To start with there only was the BBC so it made no difference. In fact to begin with two types of licence: radio receiver licence; tv licence. The latter evolved into joint radio & tv licence, although those with no tv still had to buy a radio licence. Finally the radio licence was abolished as everyone just about, had a tv.

It means we pay twice in some cases: one to receive the broadcast, second time via advertising revenues passed on in the price of goods, or via subscriptions for satellite or streaming involving live content.

It really would be very simple to encrypt the service and charge a subscription, but then that would mean competition for the licence fee money. There has been no excuse since post-1945 for BBC to be funded via a receiver licence fee when advertising could easily have funded it, and in more recent times encryption and subscription.

Truth is, the Government doesn’t want to lose control.

87
0
Paul B
Paul B
2 years ago
Reply to  JXB

As taxes go it’s the kind I mind the least, extremely easy to avoid entirely.

38
-3
MichaelM
MichaelM
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul B

How do you do that? Asking for a friend…

11
-1
Paul B
Paul B
2 years ago
Reply to  MichaelM

You don’t pay – If anyone knocks at your door, say “no thank you” and close the door on them. If you don’t like the threatening letters you can sign a declaration online and they will most likely leave you alone for 2 years.

29
0
DevonBlueBoy
DevonBlueBoy
2 years ago
Reply to  JXB

Exactly so

4
0
EppingBlogger
EppingBlogger
2 years ago
Reply to  amanuensis

Nit picking. It’s a poll tax.

13
0
Dr G
Dr G
2 years ago
Reply to  amanuensis

In Australia, the ABC derives all of its funding from general revenue.
Even though they act as a megaphone for our extreme left wing parties, our “Conservative” government gave them a hefty pay rise before the last election, only for the ABC to then actively campaign against them.
I suspect you will be in for a similar future if and when the licence fee is scrapped.
Makes not a shred of difference.

16
0
Benthic
Benthic
2 years ago

I think that the BBC should be behind a paywall and so those who want to quaff of the Kool-aid can fill their boots. However I am afraid that the license fee will be cancelled and put on to general taxation.

Last edited 2 years ago by Benthic
74
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Marcus Aurelius knew
Marcus Aurelius knew
2 years ago
Reply to  Benthic

…and become even more of a government propaganda tool….

Best just get rid of the BBC.

If it moves, tax it.
If it keeps moving, regulate it.
If it stops moving (e.g. the BBC) subsidise it!

Last edited 2 years ago by Marcus Aurelius knew
48
0
Benthic
Benthic
2 years ago
Reply to  Marcus Aurelius knew

Here is a list of BBC and labourites in their revolving door jobs:

Chairman – Gavin Davies – later a labour advisor.
Chairman – Sir Micheal Lyons – previously a labour council chief.
Ex Director General – John Birt – Labour advisor.
Ex Director General – Greg Dyke – Labour donor and candidate.
Caroline Thompson – previously Roy Jenkin’s aid.
Head of Political research – Bill Rush – Labour spin doctor.
Deputy head of PR – Catherine Rimmer – Labour spin doctor.
Director of Strategy – Ed Richards – Labour spin doctor.
Head of Radio – James Parnell – Labour Minister.
Head of Northern Ireland News – Tom Kelly – Labour Spin doctor.
Scottish News editor – Tim Luckhurst – Labour Spin doctor.
Political News editor – Joy Luckhurst – Labour Spin doctor.
Political Editor – Andre Marr – Student labour organiser.
Home News Editor – Celia Barlow – Labour MP.
Head of European Affairs – Chris Bryant – Labour MP.
Newsnight producer – Phil Woolas – Labour MP.
Foreign Correspondent – Martin Sixsmith – Labour Spin doctor.
Current affairs reporter – Ben Bradshaw – Labour minister.
Current affairs reporter – Lance Price – Labour Spin doctor.
Question time editor – Gill Penlington – Labour researcher.
News reader/ Labour expense swindler – Denis MacShane.

Not up top date I hasten to add.

Last edited 2 years ago by Benthic
67
0
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
2 years ago
Reply to  Benthic

Bloody hell.

29
0
Paul B
Paul B
2 years ago

Dr John completes his red pill journey on the jabs as Andrew Bridgen speaks in Parliament to a bunch of rats leaving a sinking ship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvSHD_n3Lyg

57
0
Mark Nind
Mark Nind
2 years ago

I decided at the beginning of the Covid plandemic to cancel the TV License. Not regretted the decision. Have not missed the blatant propaganda or social programming. Easy solution to this is to choose to stop paying. Unfortunately that would not be the end of the BBC as the Government would still want its propaganda to continue.

67
0
zebedee
zebedee
2 years ago

I cancelled mine during the pandemic.

Don’t watch any live broadcast TV, not even GB News or Talk TV over the internet, or use iPlayer. Do stream live radio though. So I’m completely legit and not missing it.

45
0
stewart
stewart
2 years ago

I don’t think this say so much about the BBC as it does about people’s general tendency to want things without having to pay for them if they can.

That’s why we have constant deficits and ever bigger debts.

Ask people whether they want to abolish the BBC. Not the fee. The BBC. I bet the results aren’t quite the same.

3
-32
Dinger64
Dinger64
2 years ago
Reply to  stewart

If you had the choice to pay or not would be fine like any pay to view channel!

18
0
MichaelM
MichaelM
2 years ago
Reply to  stewart

I would be happy to do without the BBC, but I quite like watching live sport on Sky, BT Sport and Amazon Prime. Very painful to have to pay the TV licence…

23
0
Paul B
Paul B
2 years ago
Reply to  stewart

Not a massive fan of paying the children struggle session brigade

7
0
DomH75
DomH75
2 years ago

Just switch it to subscription with a pay wall. Tell everyone that their present licence fee will be treated as subscription until it runs out and they have to resubscribe at the end of their year. Within 12 months, everyone what wants the BBC will have a licence. Radio is more complicated because we messed up the move to digital. Best option is to announce that radio is covered by taxation for five years, in which time, internet radios go on the market with trade-in deals for old radios. After five years, the BBC TV subscription covers BBC radio as well or you can get a cheap radio-only subscription.

The move could literally be completed within three months. All the many court cases involving non-payment can be scrapped immediately, Capita can be got rid of and the TV Licensing organisation can be shut down or turned into a subscriptions department.

The BBC itself will have to absorb some shock and will have to slim down its empire, but that’s good for the entire business.

30
-1
EppingBlogger
EppingBlogger
2 years ago

Come on Reform Party – get a move on!

Start speaking with conviction.

27
-2
BurlingtonBertie
BurlingtonBertie
2 years ago
Reply to  EppingBlogger

Reform Party is controlled opposition. Tice is part of the Establishment.

10
0
Lockdown Sceptic
Lockdown Sceptic
2 years ago

If 100% wanted to scrap it politicians would still keep it

Stand in the Park 
Make friends & keep sane 

Sundays 10.30am to 11.30am
Elms Field 
near Everyman Cinema & play area
Wokingham RG40 2FE

9
-1
RTSC
RTSC
2 years ago

If that 91% stopped paying the BBC’s Poll Tax then before you could say “redundancies all round” at Broadcasting House, the Government would have come up with an alternative means of funding their Propaganda Broadcaster, and the BBC would have accepted it.

The solution is in the hands of that 91% ….. but not enough are prepared to do it.

13
0

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