For our $240+ per year We still get mind-numbing ads, just not on a few channels, which include a pre-school channel, a kids channel and a channel dedicated to showing you crusty old farts taking a nap in Parliament.
It's time to scrap the license, a couple of years ago I'd of argued against, but the BBC is crap, and only going to get worse. They're obsessed with ratings as much as the commercial stations (if not more so), and their conduct has hit an all-time low. I don't watch BBC stuff anymore so why should I pay for it?
BTW (and getting slightly more on topic) why would the majority of people need to get a TV licence for that screen? Most people have licences already.