Is anyone else telly-free?

Plan_for_Chaos

I won't single anybody out but it worth remembering that the cost of BBC Radio and the programmes broadcast on iPlayer is funded by the TV license fee. To listen and view these programmes without paying the fee is insulting to those who pay the fee - these services aren't free.

snowleopard61

Although I do pay the fee (since, as mentioned above, I do now have a TV, and when I didn’t it was pre-iPlayer etc.), I’m not in the least insulted if someone else chooses to watch catch-up content while not doing so. It depends what you mean by free: clearly, if you can access it without paying and without breaking the law, it’s free to you. I think it’s perfectly legitimate to take advantage of a legal loophole – while it lasts, as I’m pretty sure it won’t do so indefinitely.

As explained earlier in the thread, it’s no longer possible to buy a radio licence, so there is no way to pay for radio content without also paying for TV.

FrugalLina

Woo-hoo! I am learning so much on here - I now know how to use the Ignore User feature. Brill!

Plan_for_Chaos

FrugalLina wrote: »

Woo-hoo! I am learning so much on here - I now know how to use the Ignore User feature. Brill!

Part of being an adult is taking other peoples opinions on board and considering them, not spitting the dummy out when you don't agree with them. I find your remarks deliberately aggressive and confrontational, perhaps not against board rules but certainly against the spirit of the OS board.

Lizzieanne

Another vote for the radio - We have 3 DAB radios around the house and probably listen to them more than we watch the TV. BBC Radio 4 Extra is addictive!

pigpen

vax2002 wrote: »

You will need to read up on how to repel the TV inspectors, they will call regularly and many people have reported that letting them in resulted in summonses and false statements, the best policy is to chuck them straight out of the gate, thus removing any opportunity to get your name and start making up lies to get commission.

That is not so.

In 20 years I have had them round 3 times.. you let them in, they say oh yes.. no TV.. and go away.. they came twice in the old house and once here.. 6 years ago. Though I did offer to let them look in more than the living room as I have nothing to hide there was no reason to be rude to them. I also sent back licence reminders stating I don't have the means to receive a tv signal and I do not live stream... and I ring them when I receive the reminders to make sure their systems are correct.

If you refuse to let them in they will come back, they think you have something to hide... the last one who came said the previous house he had been to had 3 dishes outside and claimed to have no TV and refused to let him in... there are a lot of this kind of muppet about by all accounts.

They come armed with your name and personal details.. they are given a list of non-licenced addresses and told to call.. it isn't difficult... that info is all freely available.

Plan_for_Chaos wrote: »

I won't single anybody out but it worth remembering that the cost of BBC Radio and the programmes broadcast on iPlayer is funded by the TV license fee. To listen and view these programmes without paying the fee is insulting to those who pay the fee - these services aren't free.

The BBC don't mind people watching or the option wouldn't be there so anyone who pays the fee and is insulted by the service being available should take it up with the BBC not the people who use their services.

If you begrudge the fee get rid of the goggle box and watch it online.. be warned.. there are lots of spoilers in facebook statuses!!

mmmsnow

I love my DAB radio. When I lived alone, I had several - one in the kitchen, one in the bedroom and a portable one (all housewarming presents from different people). Unfortunately, I don't get very good signal here so I can only use one next to the window in the kitchen and even then, it's choppy. I do use the computer to listen to radio through iTunes but it's not the same

One of my friends recently bought one from John Lewis (a Pure One) for £30 so they've certainly come down in price since I last looked.

I don't have a TV and stopped paying the licence fee several years ago. I wrote them a letter stating that I didn't watch broadcast TV and they wrote back saying "Fine but we reserve the right to check up on you and treat you like a criminal" (I'm paraphrasing here!). I didn't hear a peep out of them until about 18 months later when two women turned up at my door at 8pm one night and wanted to see my TV (long story but they lied to me to get in the building and then into my flat). After making sure my TV wasn't connected to anything, they left and I haven't heard anything from TVLA since.

I really don't miss TV. The only thing I ever watched regularly on BBC was Dr Who - now I watch it on iPlayer.

Justamum

snowleopard61 wrote: »

Oh, and by the way Siobhan had a son called Ruaridh (sp?) and went off to Germany and brought the baby up on her own and Debbie knew but Jennifer didn't and then Siobhan up and died and left Brian to bring up Ruaridh and Jennifer took him on (Ruaridh, that is, she was already stuck with Brian) and is bringing him up (well, except he's now away at boarding school) and loves him and ... :rotfl:

But don't you find it annoying that Ruari had a strong Irish accent, despite being brought up in Germany, and after living with Brian and Jennifer since he was about 4, three years later he hadn't lost the accent!

However, what's the betting that when Phoebe gets back from her year in South Africa she'll have a strong SA accent.

snowleopard61

Justamum wrote: »

But don't you find it annoying that Ruari had a strong Irish accent, despite being brought up in Germany, and after living with Brian and Jennifer since he was about 4, three years later he hadn't lost the accent!

However, what's the betting that when Phoebe gets back from her year in South Africa she'll have a strong SA accent.

Yep, his accent was really unrealistic given the circumstances and time lapse (though I'm a sucker for an Irish accent in a man, and it was rather endearing in a little boy!).

It'll be interesting to see Phoebe's transformation - maybe she'll have had the radio equivalent of a head transplant like Lauren and Lucy in EastEnders (which of course demonstrates that I'm not averse to the odd TV soap ... slinks away in embarrassment).

FrugalLina

LOL, the accents always tickle me in the Archers, I bet Phoebe will have an SA accent which will magically fall away in a couple of weeks.

Just a thought about the licence police, I live in a rented house that has a dish outside (which obviously isn't hooked up as I had no desire to watch Sky), plus I think it does have an aerial on the roof - I am going to look so suss. Oh well, I have disconnected the Freeview box we are all digital here now, so no other means to receive TV.

And, I have just thought, although I don't watch much BBC TV, I do feel that I support the service by purchasing BBC books and videos (even if I do sell them on), so there are more ways to contribute than just the licence alone.

Back to the Archers again, I have found a great website that has the summaries of all the episodes going back years and I am currently reading 2009 (when Matt gets done for fraud, Usha gets mugged and Jack goes to the Laurels).

Hopefully I will be up-to-date enough to enjoy tomorrow's omnibus.