Philips hates consumers

[Boroda]

Originally posted by capt. apathy
if they are going to 'lock you in' for the commercials, then the commercials would have to have some sort of identifying signal sent with them to activate the lock.  right?

It's simple: during the commercial breaks the channel logo in the corner of the screen disappears. For about 10 years now we have special devices sold here that automatically switch channels when commercials begin. You only have to set up a channel logo area for every channel so it will switch when image in this area changes.

15 years ago we didn't have commercials on TV too... I really miss Soviet TV sometimes. We have many old Soviet shows now on Zvezda channel, compared to modern crap it's absolutely great (I mean documentaries and such stuff and not news programms about harvest in Uryupinsk or another Party congress with that brainless dummies reading 2 copies of their speech because someone left both in their folders).

Originally posted by capt. apathy
seems like it would be a very short matter of time before someone figured a way to use that signal to tell the TIVO unit to not record the commercials with the rest of the show.

Didn't someone already make such stuff? I thought that TIVOs are wide-spread, so there must be some nice hacker-community with unofficial patches/firmware upgrades like for sat TV.

[Jackal1]

Originally posted by Dowding
Or why not pay a license fee like in the UK and have something like the BBC? No commercials, no problem.

Yea, yea................that`s the ticket. Government controlled programming.

[Mustaine]

what happens when you accidently turn the channel to an infomrecial? those things run a long time, and there is no real programming between. you'd be stuck on that channel for hours.

[Dowding]

Yea, yea................that`s the ticket. Government controlled programming.

Your ignorance on the matter is showing. For a government controlled entity (which it isn't), it seems to have been a thorn in the side of the government - remember the whole Hutton enquiry?

Besides, the actual programming on the BBC is better than the tripe we see imported from the States 90% of the time. The BBC has no shareholders and so is able to take risks; that is key to creativity. It also does not have to always be mainstream as a result. Some of the best comedies in the world were commissioned and produced by the BBC, for instance.

But thanks for "The Worlds's Craziest Car Chases 14" all the same. Can't wait for the next one - I'll content myself with "Extreme House Makeover - Uncut" in the mean time.

[Bruno]

Besides, the actual programming on the BBC is better than the tripe we see imported from the States 90% of the time. The BBC has no shareholders and so is able to take risks; that is key to creativity. It also does not have to always be mainstream as a result. Some of the best comedies in the world were commissioned and produced by the BBC, for instance.

Most of BBC programing is poor, at least what I was able to watch. Don't sell us on some nonsense about how 90% of Ami television is stuff like 'The Worlds's Craziest Car Chases'... No here watched that crap when they put it on TV 10 years ago. They import to your country because its cheap.

I don't watch TV in general because its too boring but the amount diversity and the range of programming in the states is much better then what you get on state funded television. Laz is right some of the commercials you see here were far more entertaining they what I able to stand watching the BBC.

America has 'public television' (PBS) that receives both federal and private funding. Most of it is crap that no one watches.

[Jackal1]

Originally posted by Dowding
Your ignorance on the matter is showing. For a government controlled entity (which it isn't), it seems to have been a thorn in the side of the government - remember the whole Hutton enquiry?

Besides, the actual programming on the BBC is better than the tripe we see imported from the States 90% of the time. The BBC has no shareholders and so is able to take risks; that is key to creativity. It also does not have to always be mainstream as a result. Some of the best comedies in the world were commissioned and produced by the BBC, for instance.

But thanks for "The Worlds's Craziest Car Chases 14" all the same. Can't wait for the next one - I'll content myself with "Extreme House Makeover - Uncut" in the mean time.

Ummm hmmmmm. I can see your right on top of things.

[SOB]

You can see his right on top of things?  What?  Or did you mean "you're".

Dowding-  Suddenly switching to the UK's model isn't any kind of answer.  Both systems will have their advantages and disadvantages, and they both have their share of good programming and crap.  Of course, I really like Doctor Who, so what I consider to be good programming might be suspect.  

Now, on to something important.  Is there a device out there that will cause the local NBC station to actually show the regularly scheduled programming instead of pre-empting it with the worthless Portland Trailblazer's games?  Maybe when they're sold, the new owner will move them somewhere else and lower Portland's crime rate a bit.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Bruno
Most of BBC programing is poor, at least what I was able to watch. Don't sell us on some nonsense about how 90% of Ami television is stuff like 'The Worlds's Craziest Car Chases'... No here watched that crap when they put it on TV 10 years ago. They import to your country because its cheap.

I don't watch TV in general because its too boring but the amount diversity and the range of programming in the states is much better then what you get on state funded television. Laz is right some of the commercials you see here were far more entertaining they what I able to stand watching the BBC.

America has 'public television' (PBS) that receives both federal and private funding. Most of it is crap that no one watches.

Good post, spot on.

[Hangtime]

WTF is TV?

[fartwinkle]

I remember when cable tv first came out and there where NO commercials at all
on any channels.

Kinda makes you wonder why we pay direct tv and other providers a monthly service fee to just have to sit thru commercials all night.

And yes TIVO is a god's send.

[SOB]

I would imagine we do it so that they can afford to have satellites in orbit and provide good looking content to your living room.

[Vulcan]

Comon... the BBC brought us:
 - Allo Allo
 - Open All Hours
 - Black Adder
 - The Office
 - Red Dwarf

...and much more

I've yet to see anything american top these lads:

[Bruno]

And yes TIVO is a god's send.

TIVO is for suckers. A home built PVR can do everything TIVO can without the monthly subscription.

[fartwinkle]

Originally posted by SOB
I would imagine we do it so that they can afford to have satellites in orbit and provide good looking content to your living room.

Ok so then why do they need the commercials?
Oh I know GREED!!!!!!

Its the same crap when I go to a movie i have to sit thru countless commercials and popcorn adds for cripes sake I paid to see the movie not chevy commercials and the like.

Oh and on the subject of commercials am I the only one that wants to start killing people everytime one of those ignorant azzed earthlink commercials comes on?

[Debonair]

yes g-d sent tivo, like he sent mana to Moses,
but g-d also sent plagues & commercials