I'm Thinking Of Cancelling

[SomeGuy99]

Hey, I can't blame you. There are only a few things I watch on TV ATM, such as So You Think You Can Dance, the news, etc. But not much. So if you're happier without it, hey.

It's not so much I'm happier without it, I just can't be arsed/bothered. And I thought to myself 'hey, I'm still paying money. Maybe I should just cancel the licence?'.

I remember kids at school who didn't have a TV at home, and thought they were weird. Well, television was better back then (more money to make programming etc, actual semi-alternative stuff on Ch4 etc.). Now I just fail to see the point! I would rather television became awesome again, but it feels like the whole thing is dying off and being replaced.

 

[tsh]

I was under the impression this is the main way in which to access Iplayer from Linux?

No, the BBC put a stop to that, or at least did a 'cease and desist'. The linux solution is now AIR, so pot luck if you are running 64 bit (or ARM).

 

[SomeGuy99]

I was under the impression this is the main way in which to access Iplayer from Linux?

No, the BBC put a stop to that, or at least did a 'cease and desist'. The linux solution is now AIR, so pot luck if you are running 64 bit (or ARM).

Craig was right, they are in love with Apple. <_<

Plenty of BBC stuff runs Linux, you'd think they'd give a little back. The Iplayer servers themselves are bound to be Linux.

 

[Nintendo]

I wish they had XXX porn on free-to-air.

 

[SomeGuy99]

I wish they had XXX porn on free-to-air.

Are you on the internet at all? I have a surprise for you!

 

[Tom`]

I'm a rather law-abiding person; I live in the US. This was the first I'd read about this licensing scheme - between this (vans that drive around looking for illegal TVs?) and the ever-present panopticon of the CCTV cameras everywhere over there, I can almost begin to understand where some of the ranty libertarians over here are coming from.

 

[SomeGuy99]

I'm a rather law-abiding person; I live in the US. This was the first I'd read about this licensing scheme - between this (vans that drive around looking for illegal TVs?) and the ever-present panopticon of the CCTV cameras everywhere over there, I can almost begin to understand where some of the ranty libertarians over here are coming from.

Two things you may not know:

There aren't really any detector vans, or at least there's probably one that's real. It's propaganda to scare people.

A lot of council CCTV cameras are switched off by default until somebody reports a crime. They then switch them on to get a remote view of the situation. It's pretty useless to be honest.

However:

They will just assume you're watching television and harass you with letters and threats until you admit the truth. If you're not actually watching television, it's a hassle.

We do have at least one town with CCTV cameras that can speak to people (a human on the other end). For example 'You there! Pick up that litter!'. That's just scary.

 

[gruso]

The concept of TV licenses makes my head spin a little too, but I guess it's a good way to fund the BBC. In Australia we've got the ABC, which is like a mini BBC. It's funded by the public (through taxes, so not a great deal different to the BBC I guess), it's commercial free and give us awesome radio stations like JJJ (national "youth" network, the only major station playing non-shit music in the country).

These days the only broadcasts I watch are a bit of motorsport on OneHD, and a select few series procured via The Internet.

 

[absolofdoom]

Bittorrent is my TV.

 

[id10t]

I have to admit I hate the vast majority of the UK output
soaps, "reality" show, public voting competitions - arghhh!

BUT, I am still ok with giving the Beeb my license fee for
no ads, and BBC3/4 documentaries
eg. The Atom, The Cell, Absolute Zero, Story of Maths,
and a ton of other really good science and history stuff.

I can't see that stuff being invested in commercially, unless
the Discovery Channel, and NatGeo cough up.

 

[Ravnos]

The concept of TV licenses makes my head spin a little too, but I guess it's a good way to fund the BBC. In Australia we've got the ABC, which is like a mini BBC. It's funded by the public (through taxes, so not a great deal different to the BBC I guess), it's commercial free and give us awesome radio stations like JJJ (national "youth" network, the only major station playing non-shit music in the country).

These days the only broadcasts I watch are a bit of motorsport on OneHD, and a select few series procured via The Internet.

The CBC in Canada is funded by tax money too, but there are still commercials. Aside from Hockey Night in Canada and a couple of news shows, nobody really watches it. It's mostly just a shitty parade of bad Canadian shows that even the Canadian networks are too embarrassed to fund (and they will air some bad stuff in the name of meeting Canadian Content requirements), and/or promote some multicultural utopia that Ottawans want everyone to buy into. See "Little Mosque on the Prairie" for an example of both. Occasionally there's something really good on the channel, like Kids in the Hall or Twitch City, but it's pretty rare and nine times out of ten it just gets cancelled anyway. There was some decent children's programming but when Mr. Dressup died even that went all to hell. CBC Radio is much better, but it's kind of pretentious.

If it's not apparent, I really hate the CBC and wish it was more like the BBC. Brits, I know it's not perfect, but your public television is some of the best around. The CBC would never fund anything like Dr. Who or Life On Mars, or any of the brilliant documentaries you guys get.