Just had a letter from the TV Licensing people, which instructs me to pay them £160 for the privilege of watching television.  What`s disappointing is that, as an elderly pensioner struggling to survive on a fixed income in these difficult economic times, I thought that having passed 75 six years ago I wouldn`t have to pay it any more.  Seems I was wrong.  

So although I should know better I`ve taken to watching Newswatch, which is a 15 minute programme which comes on at 7.45 each Saturday morning - hardly prime time viewing - and is presented by one Samira Ahmed who not long ago filed legal proceedings against the BBC under the Equal Pay Act which was found in her favour, a settlement was reached with the BBC although no figure was made public despite it being public money.

Anyway, yesterday`s edition of Newswatch contained criticisms from viewers about such things as the BBC reporting on the American Presidential election, their reporting on the corona virus `gaffs` by the Prime Minister and a junior minister (Gillian Keegan?) and reporting on the recent ant-lockdown demonstrations. On the first issue the main criticism was that the BBC reports concentrated on the `rows` between Trump and Biden rather than reporting anything about the broader issues covered in what was admittedly a pretty chaotic `debate.`

On the second issue about the lockdown demonstrations, where the criticism centred around the notion that the demonstrations had been largely ignored by the BBC, up popped an American sounding gentleman who apparently heads up something called the BBC Anti-Disinformation Unit. (No I hadn`t either.) It seems their role in life, according to the gentleman who popped up,  is to counter the disinformation/misinformation that might be found on social media, etc., counter conspiracy theories, debunk rumours and "hunt for the truth without telling people what to think."  This from an organisation accused of political bias, left wing leanings and a London centric metropolitan fixation came across as priceless.

In regard to the specific points raised by viewers, BBC News issued `statements` claiming that it was `valid` for them to concentrate on the shouting match between the presidential candidates and that it was not unreasonable for them to report on the Prime Minister and junior minister`s lack of detailed knowledge; that it was not the BBC`s intention to `trip them up` but rather it was important to ask the questions;  in other words, everything they did was fine so no further questions, m`lud.  The BBC, of course, are never ever wrong.

Now in a former life, whenever a mistake occurred - and of course they did from time to time - I always found that it was best to admit it, explain how it happened and put it right.  If only the BBC could admit that now and again they get things wrong.

But at the end of Newswatch we were told the good news that the BBC will retain the red button service, following complaints that it would be withdrawn to save costs.  Pity they didn`t also announce that us octogenarians would not have to pay the licence fee after all.  If only !

Now where did I put that letter?