As already stated. It covers the cost of the BBC channels. the website, the local radio stations, the national radio stations etc. It is 140(ish) quid a year. If it stops people from having to watch crappy commercials in the middle of shows.
I hate commercials to, but why pay not to have commercials when you can just change the channel or get up and do something productive for 2 minutes... FOR FREE.
You are focusing on one part. It pays for the local radio stations, a lot of which carry live commentary. It pays for each national radio station. It pays for the BBC website. It enables one broadcaster to be free from commercial interference in it's editorial decisions. Supposedly.
I can see how it would be useful to some of you guys. I've probably visted the BBC website 3 times since last summer. I can stream games. Dont really listen to the radio because of the crap they put on there, and commercials can be avoided without having to pay a damn thing.
Admittedly the TV licence is more of a tax than a 'licence'. It's not as if there any tests to determine whether it is safe for you to watch a television set. Although given the persistent popularity of 'reality' TV, its an idea worth exploring... In theory it's a sensible way to fund public service broadcasting. The BBC is freed from the need to chase ratings and advertising revenue, and only those who actually watch television have to pay for it. In practice the BBC is still judged on it's ratings, and consequently wastes money producing content better suited to private channels.
Fair enough, but you seem to assume that everybodys boy hood club is an English team. No offence taken BTW.
This won't stop players from getting to Europe. Most South American and African players don't sign directly from overseas to the Premiership anyway. Manchester United bought Anderson from Porto, not anywhere in Brazil. Tevez and Mascherano were two high profile exceptions. Even Arsenal, famed for unearthing gems, usually buys players from clubs in France and elsewhere, not directly from Africa. So I wouldn't worry so much about it. IF a club like United wants to buy a player, they have the resources to give him basic conversational english over the course of a summer or loan spell. And unless said players is retarded, he should be able to pick up the basics. This isn't an Oxford entrance exam mind you.