Is the BBC licence fee good value for money?

I FEEL compelled to defend the licence fee. For £157.50 a year, you get a range of TV channels that include sport, news, documentaries and dramas, most of which are excellent. I have a subscription to BT Sport that costs a similar amount, but only watch its club rugby coverage. I also have Sky, which costs more than twice as much as the licence fee. The shows are of similar quality to the BBC, but with adverts. Which is the best value? The BBC because of cost and content. The licence fee is excellent value.

RAY WILLIAMS, Worcester.

So many viewers are deserting the BBC because of its cheap, dumbed down, poor quality programmes. Its quest to attract younger viewers by broadcasting rubbish is driving away other viewers. The licence fee should be scrapped. Let the BBC sink or swim in the real world.

DAVID GORDON, Romiley, Cheshire. THE quality of political interviews on the BBC has deteriorated to a poor standard. I am not interested in continuous interruptions and the interviewer’s opinionated views.

KINGSLEY NOAD, Trowbridge, Wilts. EVEN in its present form, the BBC should still be regarded as good value for money. However, it is in a precarious position owing to its nonsensical race to the bottom over ratings. Cheaply made game shows and reality shows make it an easy target for criticism. It is desperate to attract young viewers, but they can only focus for two minutes at a time and prefer style over content. The director-general should take a radical approach and return to the BBC’s original mission to inform, educate and entertain. He also needs to bring on exciting new talent rather than relying on highly paid has-beens.