Why do we pay a TV tax?

nearlynew

Just one david attenborough type natural history series which sometimes take years to make is worth the licence fee.

Also, every top comedy show/sitcom that you could mention was made by the bbc

Kohoutek

ukcarper wrote: »

What particular programs

The Sopranos, The Wire, Flight of the Conchords, Curb Your Enthusiasm

ukcarper

StevieJ wrote: »

Bilko - having said that it was made 50 years ago :eek: oh and The Simpsons.

and was first shown on BBC

ukcarper

Kohoutek wrote: »

The Sopranos, The Wire, Flight of the Conchords, Curb Your Enthusiasm

How many of them are on Sky

kabayiri

I caught the highlights of the Sports Relief event on Friday.

But, even with the snippets I saw, you could see the quality of the production.

The ability to switch between comedic elements, and genuinely tragic stories shows the presence of skill in the program makers repertoire.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

ukcarper wrote: »

Arent they on free to air channels

Yes, but produced by HBO.

And a lot of shows end up on free to air channels eventually, but screen on pay channels first.

Rescue Me is currently showing on Quest, but I watched it all many years ago on Sky.

The new series of NCIS's spinoff NCIS LA are on Sky pay channels first, we don't get them on free to air until much later.

Nice_Username

Kohoutek wrote: »

The Sopranos, The Wire, Flight of the Conchords, Curb Your Enthusiasm

How many of them are high-quality educational, cultural or current affairs programmes? I thought that was the gripe here? They are populist dramas that anybody can make, no?

Mr.Brown_4

kabayiri wrote: »

The ability to switch between comedic elements, and genuinely tragic stories shows the presence of skill in the program makers repertoire.

Sorry but I find this stuff a bit puke making nowadays. The sad story followed by the uplifting moment, or whichever way around. Watched Crufts final last weekend and was surprised to see something like "Most Gallant Pet" or simliar. Basically consisted of four sick children, plus pets, and a squaddie with his bomb disposal pet. The most visibly sickest of the children's pet won the coveted prize. It was so much 2 up 2 down (Peter Kay) that it was unreal.

So. Make a comedy program and invite donations - fine. Make a program about human misery - and invite donations - fine. Combine the two into some sort of post apocalyptic gladatorial X Factor sick fest - I'm not so sure.

StevieJ

kabayiri wrote: »

I caught the highlights of the Sports Relief event on Friday.

But, even with the snippets I saw, you could see the quality of the production.

The ability to switch between comedic elements, and genuinely tragic stories shows the presence of skill in the program makers repertoire.

Good call, this was brilliant, well done BBC :beer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvvKUtHlDK8

Kohoutek

Nice_Username wrote: »

How many of them are high-quality educational, cultural or current affairs programmes? I thought that was the gripe here? They are populist dramas that anybody can make, no?

I don't know if people were talking specifically about high-quality educational, cultural or current affairs programmes, I wasn't responding to that, I was responding to the poster who talking about 'American rubbish'.

If we really want to get back on topic, the OP's original point was about the BBC's political bias.