Is anyone else telly-free?

SailorSam

I don't watch a lot of Tv but think i'd miss it if i had to give it up. I only have the freeview channels.
I listen to radio all day from first thing in the morning Radio Merseyside which is a good mixture of music and chat

shebrett

I would love to get rid of the TV but the OH would rather give up breathing. Poor hubby, where we are at the moment the freeview signal is so rubbish so we have about 3 channels or 6 on a good clear day, one of the regulars is DAVE... I am at my limit of top gear!

building_with_lego

I grew up in a TV- free home, with all the associated "don't you miss it?" and "what do you DO then?" questions from friends. My parents' opinion is that there are better things to do than sit around on your @rse all day- there were no computer games for the same reason. I don't think it's unrelated that my reading age and general knowledge were always far more advanced than my peers'.

Once I moved out I binged on TV- barely turned it off- as I liked the background noise; now I'm a mother I again have Radio 4 as the background noise and would be quite happy to lose the telly (£61 per month for Sky HD plus license) but OH just loves his sport. I'd miss Holby and QI but they're on iplayer...

And my parents? Still TV free, still hassled by the licensing people (to the extent that they've contacted the local police superintendent about it) but very taken with iplayer and catchup websites!

Stephen_Leak

I, too don't have a television. It's £120(?) per year saved, and is (with the notable exceptions of Martin's appearances, which, I'm afraid, aren't quite worth £120 a year on their own) "chewing gum for the mind.

What little television I've seen recently (usually some variation on "pro-celebrity cosmetic surgery" not only makes me wonder how anyone could have thought it was a good idea, but also how their bosses, who should know better, did as well. I can only presume that they all drive BMW's, because they can't spell Porsche.

redlady_1

And everything seems to be repeated over and over again. No new material. Dont get me started on the TV Nazis!!!! :mad: They don't appear to have grasped the concept that humans can function without a TV and therefore send threatening letters at every available opportunity. I am just waiting for them to turn up on my doorstep.

BWL - what was the outcome of your parents contacting the police please?

hannahO_2

Got rid of my TV nearly 10 years ago. I realised that a lot of brain washing was happening and whole lot of [EMAIL="!!!!"]!!!![/EMAIL]. Just watch few catch ups and YT.

Justamum

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

How shocking. I might have to go and have a lie down now as I feel a bit wobbly.

I'm shocked at that too! How can anyone not like the Archers?

Edinburghlass_2

Wouldn't be without my TV, I have heard James Martin on the radio but its not quite the same as watching Saturday Kitchen

ceridwen

Hmmm...the comments on here and that I've seen on some other threads re TV Nazis (ie people being chased about paying a tv licence fee) has got me wondering.

I've been tv-free for a while now (only watching the once in a very blue moon tv programme I'm interested in on Iplayer) and its a bit of a "badge of honour" in my circle to proudly proclaim oneself tv-free - but I've only had a initial letter, followed a year or so later by another letter and certainly havent been hassled. No-one else I know has been hassled either. The TV Licencing people just accept what we say from what I can see. So - I'm wondering if theres some sort of post code lottery going on here - in some postcodes one doesnt get hassled, in some the exact same people would be hassled?

Just a thought as to what might be happening here.....

LondonDreamer

ceridwen wrote: »

Hmmm...the comments on here and that I've seen on some other threads re TV Nazis (ie people being chased about paying a tv licence fee) has got me wondering.

I've been tv-free for a while now (only watching the once in a very blue moon tv programme I'm interested in on Iplayer) and its a bit of a "badge of honour" in my circle to proudly proclaim oneself tv-free - but I've only had a initial letter, followed a year or so later by another letter and certainly havent been hassled. No-one else I know has been hassled either. The TV Licencing people just accept what we say from what I can see. So - I'm wondering if theres some sort of post code lottery going on here - in some postcodes one doesnt get hassled, in some the exact same people would be hassled?

Just a thought as to what might be happening here.....

I've been sent about four standard letters in the eight months I've been in this flat (SW London). Plus a special one when I purchased our TV, since the details were passed on to licencing. I finally got a confirmation letter from the "I don't need a licence" declaration though, so it might slow down.