Do people today lack a sense of humour?

Bobsyeruncle said:
It's unfair as we have no choice when it comes to paying the license fee. We can't opt out of BBC channels in order to avoid the fee.
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Who uses no BBC services?

I'm currently watching the Beeb, during a break from processing, at the processing PC I have the radio on (BBC) and I'm keeping up to date with the football scores on the BBC website.
 
Phil V said:
Who uses no BBC services?

I'm currently watching the Beeb, during a break from processing, at the processing PC I have the radio on (BBC) and I'm keeping up to date with the football scores on the BBC website.
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Good for you. I'm not.:)
 
The other thing is that it is all very well to say that you don't want to fund the BBC but one also needs to consider the alternatives.

A strong publicly funded media outlet, (largely) free from political influence is one of the benchmarks of a free press society and without question a free press is more valuable than many people give it credit for.

If everything is private then you end up with a system like America which is full of adverts and massive political bias, so much so that it takes an hour to watch a 28 minute sitcom and most of the media is so skewed it's difficult to know what to believe.

Alternatively you could have much more state funded media, but we don't really want that or you end up like Russia, and I'm pretty sure no one wants that.

Lastly, even if you don't consume BBC media (although I'm pretty sure most people do) it is easy to overlook the levels of innovation that has led how we consume media across the whole sector and also they provided an even keel such that we can still, more or less, get political opinion from and part of the spectrum. Those things are easy to take for granted but don't happen by magic.
 
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Nawty said:
The other thing is that it is all very well to say that you don't want to fund the BBC but one also needs to consider the alternatives.

A strong publicly funded media outlet, (largely) free from political influence is one of the benchmarks of a free press society and without question a free press is more valuable than many people give it credit for.

If everything is private then you end up with a system like America which is full of adverts and massive political bias, so much so that it takes an hour to watch a 28 minute sitcom and most of the media is so skewed it's difficult to know what to believe.

Alternatively you could have much more state funded media, but we don't really want that or you end up like Russia, and I'm pretty sure no one wants that.

Lastly, even if you don't consume BBC media (although I'm pretty sure most people do) it is easy to overlook the levels of innovation that has led how we consume media across the whole sector and also they provided an even keel such that we can still, more or less, get political opinion from and part of the spectrum. Those things are easy to take for granted but don't happen by magic.
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Why can't we just have a choice?
 
Nawty said:
....so much so that it takes an hour to watch a 28 minute sitcom......
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How do you figure that?
Sitcoms in a half hour time slot on commercial channels are actually around 22 minutes in programme length because ad breaks are factored in when they're made.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Why can't we just have a choice?
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You have the same choice we do: we have no TV, don't pay a license fee, watch movies on Amazon and as of this past Sept don't use iPlayer. Could you not get most of the content you want via steaming? The commercial channels seem pretty happy to stream content in exchange for our email address and showing adverts.

ATM I still use the BBC weather and news sites because AFAIK they are free for all users, plus Radio 4 because I like to live a little dangerously. ;)
 
viv1969 said:
How do you figure that?
Sitcoms in a half hour time slot on commercial channels are actually around 22 minutes in programme length because ad breaks are factored in when they're made.
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If you watch USA programmes or programmes made for the USA market, they have many more breaks built into the structure of the programme than we use in the UK.
 
john.margetts said:
If you watch USA programmes or programmes made for the USA market, they have many more breaks built into the structure of the programme than we use in the UK.
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They do. But shorter breaks than ours.
I lived there. A half hour programme is still a half hour programme.
 
ancient_mariner said:
You have the same choice we do: we have no TV, don't pay a license fee, watch movies on Amazon and as of this past Sept don't use iPlayer. Could you not get most of the content you want via steaming? The commercial channels seem pretty happy to stream content in exchange for our email address and showing adverts.

ATM I still use the BBC weather and news sites because AFAIK they are free for all users, plus Radio 4 because I like to live a little dangerously. ;)
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Why should I have to give up my TV though?
I'm not anti BBC and do use their services, although not much, and therefore pay my licence fee, but I feel that we should have a choice.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Why should I have to give up my TV though?
I'm not anti BBC and do use their services, although not much, and therefore pay my licence fee, but I feel that we should have a choice.
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You have a choice, and you're choosing to use their services.

I choose not to have Sky, I don't pay for it. I choose to use the BBC and Virgin and Amazon, and I pay to use them.

Some people above have chosen not to use the BBC and don't pay them, I don't understand the confusion.
 
Phil V said:
You have a choice, and you're choosing to use their services.

I choose not to have Sky, I don't pay for it. I choose to use the BBC and Virgin and Amazon, and I pay to use them.

Some people above have chosen not to use the BBC and don't pay them, I don't understand the confusion.
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I have sky but we don't watch any BBC shows. But I'm not able to disable and not have them in my house and save the £120 a year. So it's not actually a choice unless I get rid of sky
 
Nuzik said:
I have sky but we don't watch any BBC shows. But I'm not able to disable and not have them in my house and save the £120 a year. So it's not actually a choice unless I get rid of sky
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Well that'll be to make sure the BBC can afford to pay Murdoch to carry the channels. In a complete reversal of the normal relationship between carriers and channels.

BTW I genuinely don't believe you watch, listen to, read no BBC content.
 
Phil V said:
You have a choice, and you're choosing to use their services.

I choose not to have Sky, I don't pay for it. I choose to use the BBC and Virgin and Amazon, and I pay to use them.

Some people above have chosen not to use the BBC and don't pay them, I don't understand the confusion.
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You didn't have to get rid of your TV because you chose not to use sky.
If someone choses not to watch the BBC to avoid the fee, they have to get rid of the TV.
It's not rocket science. Where's the confusion?
 
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Bobsyeruncle said:
You didn't have to get rid of your TV because you chose not to use sky.
If someone chosen not to watch the BBC to avoid the fee, they have to get rid of the TV.
It's not rocket science. Where's the confusion?
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I'm not confused.
:)
 
Phil V said:
Well that'll be to make sure the BBC can afford to pay Murdoch to carry the channels. In a complete reversal of the normal relationship between carriers and channels.

BTW I genuinely don't believe you watch, listen to, read no BBC content.
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I don't listen to radio I mainly listen to music from my past on CD.
I watch football on sky or stream online. I watch no soaps and only watch football and movies on TV other than that I'm playing games.
Kids watch Disney junior or movies and I got my wife off soaps a few years ago. I think the only free to view channel we watch is channel 5 for milkshake in the morning.

As for the web I'm sky sports as well BBC site is bloody s*** but I assume I don't need a license to view their website...
 
Nawty said:
.....(largely) free from political influence.....
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And with that we're already a million miles away from the BBC. If they matched that description I'd be happy to pay. Every state has it's propaganda, fine, I get that. I DO resent having to PAY for it though. At least in other countries it's free (well, from general taxation), but it's somehow extra painful having to cough up separately for that.
 
I always thought the licence was for having a receiver not paying specifically for the BBC. In the far off days of my childhood we lived in a flat and had indoor aerials, one for each of the two available channels.

No option to get rid of the BBC one thus avoiding the licence fee, seem to recall also needing a radio licence if you didn't have a television
 
tijuana taxi said:
I always thought the licence was for having a receiver not paying specifically for the BBC. In the far off days of my childhood we lived in a flat and had indoor aerials, one for each of the two available channels.

No option to get rid of the BBC one thus avoiding the licence fee, seem to recall also needing a radio licence if you didn't have a television
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That is true if you have receiving equipment then you have to pay.
 
andyscott said:
That is true if you have receiving equipment then you have to pay.
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Are you sure about this?

The following is taken from http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

'You don’t need a TV Licence if you:
  • never watch or record programmes on any channel as they’re being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, and
  • never download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.
This could be on any device, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder'.

The bold highlighting is mine. FWIW, we do not have TV.
 
MartynK said:
Are you sure about this?

The following is taken from http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

'You don’t need a TV Licence if you:
  • never watch or record programmes on any channel as they’re being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, and
  • never download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.
This could be on any device, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder'.

The bold highlighting is mine. FWIW, we do not have TV.
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The rules changed on Sept 1 2016.
If you watch BBC catchup on any device you need a licence...a loophole they had long sought to close.
 
I'm reasonably sure that andyscott *was* correct at one time: use of radio transmitting and receiving equipment all used to require licensing. Over the years there has been de-regulation, and now it's about what you receive and process, rather than equipment owned and used, hence if you have a B&W TV you may watch programs but not record them because recording is always in colour (conversion to mono is done locally by the TV set - this is a throwback to the old regs relating to equipment owned - it makes no sense to charge less for watching in B&W).

I also note that a license isn't required to listen to radio now.
 
It seems my knowledge is out of date although, you will be watched if you dont have a licence. Easy to check for your ISP if you have accessed the servers of iplayer I would imagine. Unless you use computer wizardry to hide. Same with through a sky box. They can probably tell, if you have switched on that channel, even flicking past it.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I'm reasonably sure that andyscott *was* correct at one time: use of radio transmitting and receiving equipment all used to require licensing. Over the years there has been de-regulation, and now it's about what you receive and process, rather than equipment owned and used, hence if you have a B&W TV you may watch programs but not record them because recording is always in colour (conversion to mono is done locally by the TV set - this is a throwback to the old regs relating to equipment owned - it makes no sense to charge less for watching in B&W).

I also note that a license isn't required to listen to radio now.
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I remember having a Black and White TV licence and you can still by one buy or renew one today !

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ236
 
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viv1969 said:
The rules changed on Sept 1 2016.
If you watch BBC catchup on any device you need a licence...a loophole they had long sought to close.
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As I understand it, it changed just as the students were going back to uni, to stop them from watching on lap tops etc ...
Purely coincidental no doubt ;)
 
Cobra said:
As I understand it, it changed just as the students were going back to uni, to stop them from watching on lap tops etc ...
Purely coincidental no doubt ;)
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Oh of course. :D
 
The current TV licence is for the reception of any Live broadcast TV signal, It is as explained to me by the authority for the TV being used as a recieving devise of tv signals broadcast. SO the ONLY way to avoid the fee is to not have ANY live transmissions being viewed in your home that includes watching sky, virgin or ANY live broadcast TV signal. Also applies to recording live tv on a HDD recorder.

The only way to avoid the fee legally is to use the TV as a monitor and watch DVD BDR or an online serviice and your own recorded video with a camera.....

So the fee is for using the equipment for recieving live TV signals, thats TV broadcast AT the time everyone else is watching on any channel - That was explained to me after I recieved a nasty letter from a house we used to rent out, when it was empty and had no tv in at the time.


From the website

Do I need a TV Licence if I don’t watch the BBC?
  • Yes – if you watch or record live TV on any channel, or through any provider.
  • No – if you don’t watch any live TV and you only ever watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer.

SO we have NO CHOICE to NOT pay the fee to the BBC even if we DONT watch or use their services BUT watch Live TV from any other national provider - not sure thats even possible as they all caryy bbc content?
 
I am correct in thinking that a Hotel still only needs one TV Licence even if it has a hundred rooms ?
 
Bringing this thread back on topic, it appears each episode of The Grand Tour contains a joke with reference to where the tent/studio is sighted. This particular episode was in Finland and Hammonds joke was majing reference to a Finnish ice cream advert.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Dyjq8jSFQ
 
nilagin said:
Bringing this thread back on topic, it appears each episode of The Grand Tour contains a joke with reference to where the tent/studio is sighted. This particular episode was in Finland and Hammonds joke was majing reference to a Finnish ice cream advert.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Dyjq8jSFQ
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So do we now need a new thread asking if people from Finland have a sense of humour?..............:)
 
nilagin said:
This particular episode was in Finland and Hammonds joke was majing reference to a Finnish ice cream advert.
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Puts a whole new perspective on it, does that ;)
 
I had two chocolate flakes and loads of chocolate buttons in my last birthday cake ....... ate the flakes and buttons and left the sponge


lack of sense of humour? ............... certainly more and more people, probably within a certain age group, seem to be far more "angry" these days ... about the past, (which they have not experienced), about the present, (because they feel hard "done to"), and about the future, (which has yet to happen)
 
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