Phil’s Diary - [Blog @ http://www.philsdiary.net/]
I do dislike it when organisations claim that crime is costing them money. This example is the BBC complaining that license evasion costs them £200m/year.
In my opinion this is rubbish. It doesn’t cost them anything at all. True they don’t get the income, they’re missing out on a wedge of the pie. But it’s not actually costing them anything.
If we allow this sort of reasoning, then the simple fact that I’m not doing X, Y and Z (pick anything you like that might make me some more money) is costing me money. So because I have the potential to make money, not carrying through the actions that could make it, is costing me. Hmmm, I don’t think so.
As far as I’m concerned material loss is the only thing that is costing anyone anything.
Before I finish though, I’d better point out that I don’t condone license evasion, I have a TV license myself. What I do object to though is mislabelling of wrong-doing.
Posted by Phil on December 18, 2002 07:46 AM | Categories:
All future cashflows can be discounted back to the present time to give a present value. Therefore if the bbc are relying on license fees which do not actually happen, then their present value of income is reduced, hence the word "cost" which signifies that immediate difference in funds at this present time today.
I would like to point out that I don't agree with tv licencing and good luck to all who avoid funding this politaical organisation that calls it self the bbc!
Posted by: Andy Van Buiten at November 16, 2003 4:55 PM
So if no one pays the licence it is still not costing them anything. It's only depriving them of income. I agree the term 'costing' is wrong.
Your argument "simple fact that I’m not doing X, Y and Z ... is costing me money" is different. You should argue that "you'r doing X (or Y..) for ten people and only eight of them pay". Which suddenly sounds different.
What is also galling is that those not paying are most likely to complain.
Posted by: sjon at December 20, 2002 8:03 AM
I don't condone the license lol. But hey it's cheaper than the fine. God bless the nice License man who saw the obvious blonde attributes of my housemate and gave her half an hour to leg it into town and buy one (so much for their on the spot fine lol)
Posted by: Me at December 18, 2002 12:47 PM