Part 11/12:
For American audiences, the idea of a government-mandated license fee, with associated jail time for non-payment, seems extraordinary. The most comparable situation might be the satellite "black box" era, where illegal TV decoders were commonplace, and enforcement was strict. However, in the U.S., the emphasis has always been on voluntary subscription models and ad-supported free over-the-air TV.
In contrast, the UK’s model remains heavily reliant on a mandated fee that funds the BBC's broad portfolio, which many now see as outdated amid a rapidly changing media landscape.