I will happily describe myself as a television addict, but I have noticed someting lately. I have stopped watching televsion. At least, I no longer watch the box the way I used to in the past. I tend to watch a specific scheduled programme. I won't watch hours and hours of content as it seems like a waste.

Why? I think that the output of the two main BBC channels is very poor. The output of the other three commericial is also very poor. The quality of programmes that slowly gone down hill since 2000. It was in that year that Big Brother was first broadcast, and that was the dawn of reality TV on our screens. In 2000, it was seen as an experiment to see what would happen if a group of strangers lived together with cameras watching their every move. Since then, we have had I'm a Celebrity, The Apprentice, Survivor, Towie, Made in Chelsea and Love Island. All of of these programmes thrive on exaggeration, sensationsal storylines and drama. They are no where near reality. This decline in quality has affected all of the broadcasters, especially the BBC.

The BBC is funded by the licence payer, and yet we are being provided with a very poor product. The schedules are awash with repeats, tired formats that should have been scrapped ages ago. There is a collective sense of complacency within programming throughout our television. I have often wondered if television executives actually watch television. I doubt it.

Programmes like The Apprentice and Question Time are well past their sell by date. Anyone looking for any intellectual debate about religion or philosophy should look elsewhere. You will not get that on the BBC. You will planty of lifetstyle programmes about property, cooking, gardening and antiques. If you want a serious arts programme, forget it! Why should I pay for such a mediocre product when I can watch Netflix or You Tube?We are constantly told that the BBC needs money as its a cherished cultural institution. It could start by cutting back on the amount of executives that it has in place. How many layers of management are there?

I do not think that the licence fee is sustainable in the future. Yes, we need a public sector broadcaster that is not government controlled. We also need quality programmes that are not aimed at the lowest common demoninator. The BBC has been dumbed down despite being such a cultural icon in Britain. Time of look at its funding and also the quality of its content. At the moment, we are being shortchanged.