Why do we pay a TV tax?

snugglepet20

Anyone who has ever had the 'pleasure' of watching the entirely commerically funded TV in the USA would hug the BBC with open arms. It is literally opening credits - 7 minutes of adverts - 4 minutes of show - 7 minutes of adverts - repeated until the end where there are adverts before and after the closing credits! An episode of Friends is on for an hour!

Having the BBC keeps the number of adverts on other channels down because they know they cannot take the p**s or people will switch over. Also the BBC funds a lot of programs that appeal to niche markets and would not be shown on commercial TV due to viewer numbers and the profitability of the adverts shown during them. Again see the number of cancelled US shows and the endless repeats of popular shows to pull in viewers.

TBH it is Sky that makes me mad not the BBC I pay good money and all they do is show repeats and 1 new program every 6 months, if it wasn't for the free broadband and Lost I would cancel it.

ukcarper

snugglepet20 wrote: »

Anyone who has ever had the 'pleasure' of watching the entirely commerically funded TV in the USA would hug the BBC with open arms. It is literally opening credits - 7 minutes of adverts - 4 minutes of show - 7 minutes of adverts - repeated until the end where there are adverts before and after the closing credits! An episode of Friends is on for an hour!

Having the BBC keeps the number of adverts on other channels down because they know they cannot take the p**s or people will switch over. Also the BBC funds a lot of programs that appeal to niche markets and would not be shown on commercial TV due to viewer numbers and the profitability of the adverts shown during them. Again see the number of cancelled US shows and the endless repeats of popular shows to pull in viewers.

TBH it is Sky that makes me mad not the BBC I pay good money and all they do is show repeats and 1 new program every 6 months, if it wasn't for the free broadband and Lost I would cancel it.

They also have the cheek to bombard you with adverts even though you have paid them

wigglebeena

snugglepet20 wrote: »

Anyone who has ever had the 'pleasure' of watching the entirely commerically funded TV in the USA would hug the BBC with open arms. It is literally opening credits - 7 minutes of adverts - 4 minutes of show - 7 minutes of adverts - repeated until the end where there are adverts before and after the closing credits! An episode of Friends is on for an hour!

Having the BBC keeps the number of adverts on other channels down because they know they cannot take the p**s or people will switch over. Also the BBC funds a lot of programs that appeal to niche markets and would not be shown on commercial TV due to viewer numbers and the profitability of the adverts shown during them. Again see the number of cancelled US shows and the endless repeats of popular shows to pull in viewers.

TBH it is Sky that makes me mad not the BBC I pay good money and all they do is show repeats and 1 new program every 6 months, if it wasn't for the free broadband and Lost I would cancel it.

Lost is the only thing that would tempt me to sign up for Sky. If I am representative then when it ends they are ****ed. As it is, I resolutely avoid being 'spoiled' and just act as if it doesn't exist in between box sets.

wigglebeena

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

From that I take it you have never been to China.

At the start of the Olympics the BBCs "coverage" was disgusting & they were lucky not to get kicked out of the country.

Disgusting in what sense? Should they kiss the a*ses of those responsible for Tiannamen Square? Seriously, I'm not getting it, spell out your meaning for the hard of thinking.

wigglebeena

OMG, had forgotten I wanted to say: on what planet are CSI and Desperate Housewives 'quality programming'?

I'm not anti-Yank - I love Big Bang Theory and Flash Forward to bits. But !!!!!!...

wigglebeena

Cleaver wrote: »

Stuff I watch / use / listen to on the BBC for a tenner a month:

• The current Sunday night show on the Solar System on the BBC1 is ace
• PM almost daily on radio 4
• Today on Radio 4
• Excellent footie coverage regulary on Five Live
• Tonnes of quality musical output like 6 music (please don't get rid of this)
• Charlie Brooker's Newswipe
• Question Time
• Newsnight
• QI and quite a few other comedies
• On the rare occassions they do buy american stuff it tends to be good: Seinfield, Larry Sanders, The Wire, Heroes, Mad Men etc.
• Anything with David Attenborough
• I use the website on pretty much a daily basis
• Moneybox on Radio 4
• Wake up to Money on Radio 4
• I use the iPlayer a lot and enjoy podcats on my walk home from work
• Match of the Day
• A load more I can't think of right now.

What do I watch on Sky?

• Football
• Er... that's it.

I think the BBC has a bit of lefty bias but who cares? I can see through that. When I go to my Nans I can happily read the Daily Mail and know that it's right wing. I am more than happy to pay £12 for the BBC. I'd pay up to £25 at a push I think.

One thing that always confuses me with people is when they say that they 'have to pay the TV tax'. If you think the BBC is cr*p then you obviously think Sky is worse, because it blantantly is. So surely you don't need a working TV? Just get a TV and a DVD player, because if you don't rate anything on the BBC then surely you can't get in to Sky? Unless you're the type of simpleton who enjoys 'Are you Smarter than this Stool Sample' or 'Ross Kemp Does Something Again' in which case I do understand why you don't like the BBC.

I would miss everything about Radio 4, including the stuff I don't actually like. (Why do people move in together and suddenly start listening to Radio 4? It's like the opposite of a mating call. You're mated, and suddenly your tuning hand starts pushing towards 92 - 95 FM.)

And if QI stopped being made, I'm not sure life in the Wiggler household could continue as we know it.

Seriously, I would never claim there is no bias in BBC management and production, but I would miss so much about it that any unrest and talk of abolishment does worry me. Although there are signs that they may well be destroying everything good about themselves from within (6 Music anyone?). So you haters may get what you want. Pause to feel a little sorrow for those of us who will feel the loss.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

wigglebeena wrote: »

Disgusting in what sense? Should they kiss the a*ses of those responsible for Tiannamen Square? Seriously, I'm not getting it, spell out your meaning for the hard of thinking.

How far do you want to go back?

How about the British murdering Irish?

Enlighten me on your period of judgement?


Edit: & also fill me in on your ideals of mixing politics & sport?

wigglebeena

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

How far do you want to go back?

How about the British murdering Irish?

Enlighten me on your period of judgement?

Still not with you. Human rights abuses not occurring within the last week mean we should pretend they didn't happen?

How about if they've been perpetrated by the very same government, and same individuals, whose a*se a broadcaster is supposed to be kissing?

1984ReturnsForReal_2

wigglebeena wrote: »

Still not with you. Human rights abuses not occurring within the last week mean we should pretend they didn't happen?

How about if they've been perpetrated by the very same government, and same individuals, whose a*se a broadcaster is supposed to be kissing?

Tiananmen Square was last week was it?

Work out what your arguement is & get back to me.

lostinrates

:oI adore radio four. I thought I was way to young, but cleaver is younger than me so I feel less embarrassed. Radio 2, 3, 5 have tried 6 and sometimes listen to ..um 7? I think, at night...stories:o:o

BBC4 has had some fantastic programmes recently. They aren't long enough, or in depth enough but they are better than any thing else on tv. as for all the American stuff...it eventually filters through to free to view or BBC. Having watched the Dimbleby thing on BB1 I've just switched over to heroes on BB3. I watched true blood when on free to view. To be honest, seeing everything first season on tv isn't a high priority for me. Often, seeing something a few months later lets you see whether you like it or have been media hyped.