One option given by a Tynwald select committee looking into the future of public services broadcasting is to stop paying the licence fee.

This would mean good bye to accessing BBC television and radio here in the island.

We went to Strand Street in Douglas to find out what people thought about this idea.

’It would be a shame to damage the BBC as paying the licence fee is its only source of income,’ said David Power, 66, from Douglas. ’The BBC are arguably the best station to watch with what they provide.

’To be fair, Manx Radio and our stations are good. I think Manx Radio are just as good as Radio 2 - the presenters are good and the content is good.’

He explained that he regularly listens to the BBC’s Radio 5, Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music.

Barry Hand, 44, from Douglas, said: ’There was a suggestion that we get a much more limited service than what people in the UK would get from the BBC. We get less TV and radio stations that we can access and I think we’re having to pay the same amount for that service and surely we should be getting the same service.’

He said he would ’really miss the documentary side’ of the BBC if the idea came into action.

’I do follow the news daily so if I couldn’t access the BBC News daily I’d feel a little bit cut off because I don’t really like to use the other providers.’

His friend Ian Tait, 59, from Douglas, said: ’It would mainly be the documentaries. Attenborough, I mean [those documentaries are] just brilliant. However, I could access it online but I prefer just being able to flick the telly on and sit down with the wife and watch it there.’

Sandra Smith, 48, from Peel, said she wouldn’t miss the BBC too much.

’Just Doctor Who and that’s about it,’ she said. ’I don’t watch a lot [of television] with work and everything else. I listen to radio stations that are from here in the island.’

She added that if there is anything she needs to know about what’s happening outside the island someone will tell her.

Douglas resident Judy Openshaw, aged 75, said: ’I watch all the soaps on the BBC. We do get a lot of repeats, but we do get new dramas from them and they are top class.

’I don’t listen to the radio now, but I used to when I went into work.’

Andy Openshaw, 42,from Douglas, said: ’I would miss Doctor Who and the dramas. The BBC show a lot of repeats, which is probably not worth the amount they’re paid.

’It’s the negative news that they put on about the Isle of Man. It feels like the BBC has a vendetta against us.’

He spoke in particular about the BBC’s Panorama documentary on the Paradise Papers.

’It seems like they do one side and not the other,’ he said.

Karl Dobbin, 36, from Braddan, said: ’I don’t think I’d miss the BBC, but it would be a shame to see them stop broadcasting here. I watch Match of the Day and The Apprentice. We have Sky and Netflix so it’s easy to catch up and watch other things.’

He added that he listens to Manx Radio on Sunday mornings.

’I prefer it to Radio 1. It’s more interesting and more local. I think we are covered pretty well with news and there’s a bit of everything for everyone.’