Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Sandman on April 18, 2006, 04:13:35 PM
-
http://tinyurl.com/ostqn
Check out the patent:
An apparatus (270) and method is disclosed for preventing a viewer from switching from a channel when an advertisement is being displayed on the channel. The apparatus (270) and method comprises an advertisement controller (270) in a video playback device (150) that (1) prevents a viewer of a direct (non-recorded) broadcast from switching channels when an advertisement is displayed, and (2) prevents a viewer of a recorded program from fast forwarding the recorded program in order to skip past advertisements that were recorded with the program. A viewer may either watch the advertisements or pay a fee in order to be able to change channels or fast forward when the advertisements are being displayed.
-
Since commercial TV is driven by... err... commercials it does seem like biting the hand that feeds to bypass them, annoying though they may be.
-
Yep, those numbskulls are shaking in their shoes now that Tivo and DVR are mainstream. I myself don't even watch commercials anymore and I know I'm not alone. The networks are starting to get a little nervous.
We must enjoy it while it lasts. It won't be long before they'll find some way to take it away from us. Just like the stupid stuff you have to watch when you put in a DVD. Drives me crazy that I can't fast forward through the warnings and other junk that they make us watch.
-
On many of the DVD's, pressing the 'Menu' button will skip right over them to the main menu of the disk. Many publishers are dropping forcing you to watch previews due to the high number of complaints.
One question: Who would pay for a device which forces you to watch commercials or pay a fee to skip them?
-
Or why not pay a license fee like in the UK and have something like the BBC? No commercials, no problem.
-
Originally posted by Skuzzy
On many of the DVD's, pressing the 'Menu' button will skip right over them to the main menu of the disk. Many publishers are dropping forcing you to watch previews due to the high number of complaints.
One question: Who would pay for a device which forces you to watch commercials or pay a fee to skip them?
Not only that, my old DVD player's menu button couldnt bypass them. Last GE I ever buy for my living room! Bought a new Sony DVD player over the weekend, once previews start trying to play, hit Menu and there ya go.
Now if you could just can the fancy-dancy menu animations msot movies have.
-
You guys are missing the opportunity here. The patent is missing the critical third or fourth consumer option. They list watching the commercial or paying extra for the ability to switch channels, but they don't list turning off the tv or not buying it in the first place. Someone needs to patent THOSE options, and then sue phillips for infringement every time someone doesn't buy a phillips device.
-
ROFL! Good one eagl.
-
This is actually a good thing. If phillips has a patent on it, nobody that makes hardware I'd actually buy are going to be able to impliment it.
In all fairness, you did have to believe (in the back of your mind) that something like TIVO would drive them to this? Removing commercials from broadcast television was going to cause some kind of issues.
Off topic: I heard a rumor that Disney is going to start releasing their programming for free download with the understanding that there is a commercial at the beginning of it. That, to me, seems like the direction things will be moving to completely void/invalidate anti-piracy arguments of any kind.
-
One cold just as well ask why I would hardware with DRM built into it. Of course that little restriction has been helpfully protected by the Government..
-
The future of advertising:
(http://www.markenlexikon.com/images/news_007.jpg)
(http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/product-placement-am-idol-cups.jpg)
(http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/tv2/movies/wl508_risky_business_d.jpg)
-
People have been able to change the channel during commercials since the dawn of TV. Why is it suddenly a problem now? Runaway corporate greed, that's why.
The networks broadcast over public airwaves. They have no right to tell you when you can and cannot change the channel. CATV is another matter of course.
J_A_B
-
Originally posted by LePaul
Not only that, my old DVD player's menu button couldnt bypass them. Last GE I ever buy for my living room! Bought a new Sony DVD player over the weekend, once previews start trying to play, hit Menu and there ya go.
Now if you could just can the fancy-dancy menu animations msot movies have.
LOL, you bought an AV device from GE...sounds like you got what you paid for.
For the animated menus, hit the Next Chapter button. That works with most of 'em.
-
when I was in england I watched some BBC.... our commercials are better than that crap. People actualy pay the government for that?
lazs
-
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?
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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. :aok
-
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. :D
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.
-
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.
-
WTF is TV?
-
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.
-
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.
-
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:
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/gallery/images/four1_1024.jpg)
-
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.
-
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?
-
yes g-d sent tivo, like he sent mana to Moses,
but g-d also sent plagues & commercials
-
Coffee Darling?
-
Originally posted by SOB
You can see his right on top of things? What? Or did you mean "you're".
To borrow the immortal words of BGB........."Get over your life as a secretary".
;)
-
hang... TV is the thing that you hook your DVD player to.
brit humor is strange to me... it is like the silliest and worst slapstick stuff we had in the early sixties... then right when you are about to puke from it... they say something really clever...
At first you think it is worth it to watch and wait for the gems but really..... it isn't... after watching most of a series you realize that if you never see another one.... you won't miss it.
lazs
-
Different strokes lazs. I do not find Monty Python to be at all funny, but my Wife rolls on the floor laughing at them. Not a fan of slapstick, which seemed to be the bread and butter of Monty Python. Maybe I did not watch enough of it. But everytime I tried I just found it obnoxious.
On the other hand, there was a British comedy (precursor to 'Friends') we both enjoyed thoroughly. I cannot recall the name of it, but it was the funniest show I have ever seen.
Then Hollywood tried to create an American version of it, using the same exact scripts, and it was terrible.
-
it's like brit movies....
Snatch for example. i laugh out loud every time the scene comes up where the guy says
"why is the a gun in your trousers?"
"for protection"
"protection from who? zeee gremans?"
partly for the use of the word trousers, the "zee germans", and the whole delivery.
i think the difference in the types of comedy is the dialog... they seem to talk more eloquent or something, which makes some bloke saying ****e funnier sometimes.
-
Originally posted by Skuzzy
On the other hand, there was a British comedy (precursor to 'Friends') we both enjoyed thoroughly.
Just had a vision of Skuzz rushing around trying to grab a cool one and get the BBQ in 15 minutes before Friends starts....................... ............................. .......
.....................without tripping over a power cord. :rofl
-
I watched the first episode of 'Friends' and it was the last episode of it I watched.
Besides, I do not have to rush around to get the BBQ and beer handy. I have a PVR and the function is just peachy. :D
-
:aok
Wheeew........had me worried there.
-
Originally posted by Skuzzy
On the other hand, there was a British comedy (precursor to 'Friends') we both enjoyed thoroughly. I cannot recall the name of it, but it was the funniest show I have ever seen.
Then Hollywood tried to create an American version of it, using the same exact scripts, and it was terrible.
I believe your referring to Coupling. The British version is hilarious. My wife and I got a hold of a few seasons on DVD and couldn't stop laughing. You can still find the DVD's here in the states.
US version bombed big time. Showed like three or four episodes before it was pulled.
-
'Coupling', that is the one. Fraking hilarious. It could hnot have been cast any better.
I was not aware it was available on DVD. I gotta look for those. The U.S. version was terrible.
-
Originally posted by Saintaw
Coffee Darling?
Ahh...Cappuccino
-
'Coupling' was post Friends, IIRC. Almost sure of that. I thought it was far too derivative.
There are a few shows that are doing the rounds now that you might look out for. 'Extras' is by Ricky Gervais and is superb. Very different to 'The Office' but the same.
Look out for 'The Mighty Boosh'. It would never have been made by a commercial TV company - it isn't to everyone's taste, but has developed a huge internet following.
The BBC also does great factual programs. Michael Palin's various travels? BBC. Blue Planet with Richard Attenborough? BBC. Sir Richard has also just completed Planet Earth, a program that basically chronicled some of the most extreme - and beautiful - places on the planet. The photography is breathtaking.
In America, corporate media avoids risk taking, unless they are pretty damned sure they can mitigate it and see some sort of bottom line at the end. That's how the commercial world operates and that's fine. The BBC's stakeholders are the public principally, and it has a public service charter. Within that remit it can be very creative and back projects that on paper look shaky, but turn out to be huge successes. The Office was one such example.
I do like some of the big American series. The comedy is pretty poor however; apart from 'Seinfeld' and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' for some reason, which are excellent. Maybe it's the HBO connection since 'Band of Brothers' was excellent too. Generally, it is formulaic, tired and the series are just too long. Six well written, crafted episodes are much better than 24 mediocre ones. An episode of Fawlty Towers took on average 4 months to write.
As for American drama series, 'Lost' was good for about 12 episodes, then it just dragged, and the series finale was piss poor. 'Invasion' seems to be holding my attention more.
SOB - the BBC model could never just be suddenly adopted in the States, I agree. But living in the UK, I'm fortunate to have the best of both worlds. The BBC and my satellite commercial service with a gazzillion channels. The two aren't mutually exclusive.
It's strange, however, that with all that choice, the only things I generally watch are the BBC, or repeats of BBC programs like Blackadder etc and premium sport channels. ;) And the occasional History channel type thing.
-
'Coupling' certainly could be post 'Friends', but I found it much better and smarter than 'Friends'. The cast of 'Coupling' is what makes it good. They all play of each other really well. I really was sad to see it end.
I took a look at 'The Office'. Not my cup of tea. There was (is?) an American version of it as well. I think it bombed also.
In my opinion, our biggest problem lies with the way shows are rated/ranked. There have been many shows cancelled which I really enjoyed. Then we have all these incredibly stupid 'reality' shows. Sheesh.
I can count the TV series the Wife and I watch, on one hand. Each year there are fewer of them.
Right now, we watch more on the Sci-Fi channel than on any other broadcast station available.
-
I agree with you there, Reality TV is the worst form of entertainment in the modern age. Big Brother is a case in point. The Dutch have alot to answer for.
My girlfriend has started watching the Sci-Fi channel. I think she watches some crime thing on there.
-
Originally posted by Mustaine
it's like brit movies....
Snatch for example. i laugh out loud every time the scene comes up where the guy says
"why is the a gun in your trousers?"
"for protection"
"protection from who? zeee gremans?"
partly for the use of the word trousers, the "zee germans", and the whole delivery.
i think the difference in the types of comedy is the dialog... they seem to talk more eloquent or something, which makes some bloke saying ****e funnier sometimes.
Snatch and Lock Stock were good because of Guy Ritchie. Them being british does not change the humour that Ritchie wrote.
-
I loved the movie "snatch" and most of the british comedys.I think its the witty writing t
hat sets them apart from the garbage they produce here.
from snatch, one of my favorite lines
before Sol, Vinny, and Tyrone hold up the (unknowingly broke) bookies] Sol: What the f### is that?
Vinny: Heh heh. This, is a shotgun Sol.
Sol: It's a f###ing anti-aircraft gun Vincent.
Vinny: So, I wanna raise some pulses don't I?
Sol: You'll raise Hell. Never mind pulses:aok
-
The US version of The Office is still going strong, and pretty funny in its own right. Not nearly as painful as the British one, but that's what made the Brit one funny.
-
Originally posted by Jackal1
To borrow the immortal words of BGB........."Get over your life as a secretary".
;)
Does BGB not speaka ze engrish either? :p
-
Originally posted by Skuzzy
'Coupling' certainly could be post 'Friends', but I found it much better and smarter than 'Friends'. The cast of 'Coupling' is what makes it good. They all play of each other really well. I really was sad to see it end.
I took a look at 'The Office'. Not my cup of tea. There was (is?) an American version of it as well. I think it bombed also.
In my opinion, our biggest problem lies with the way shows are rated/ranked. There have been many shows cancelled which I really enjoyed. Then we have all these incredibly stupid 'reality' shows. Sheesh.
I can count the TV series the Wife and I watch, on one hand. Each year there are fewer of them.
Right now, we watch more on the Sci-Fi channel than on any other broadcast station available.
More and more, my wife and I just watch television shows on dvd. More often than not, it's an HBO or Showtime series. Recently had "Mind of the Married Man" in the Netflix cue. Really funny show and it lasted just one season.
-
Originally posted by Jackal1
Yea, yea................that`s the ticket. Government controlled programming.
It is not gvernment controlled. Check your facts before going nuts on the keyb. We also have the same kinds of channels in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and a load of other countires. They are not in the governments pockets and are just as critical of the government as any other channel.
Our 2 public channels have excellent shows and no commericals. One can actually see whole shows/movies/whatever or sporting events without beeing interupted all the time by freakin commercials. The channels that do get their cash from commericals do not take breaks in live sporting events either, but put them between shows or when there is a pause in the games. Only one of our channels have a few short commersial breaks in a movie.
-
Comon... when does US comedy have golden quotes like this guys (Lord Flashheart from Blackadder, BA#4 is esp good when hes a pilot in the Air Corp):
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/theatre/2003/02/images/rik_flashheart_150.jpg)
Lord Flashheart: Always treat your kite (thwaps blackboard) like you treat your woman! (thwaps downwards in spanking motion)
George: What? do you mean take her home to meet your mother?
Lord Flashheart: No! I mean get inside her five times a day and take her to heaven and back
Lord Flashheart: Goggles on, Chocks away, Last one back's a Homo! Hooray
Lord Flashheart: Now I may be packing the kind of tackle you'd expect to find swinging about between the hind legs of a grand national winner, but that doesn't mean I'm not sick of this damn war. The killing, the suffering, the endless poetry!
Captain Blackadder: Is that what you really think?
Lord Flashheart: No! now get back to your trench before I decorate that wall an interesting new colour called "Hint of Brain"!
From Blackadder Goes Forth
"Right, out your best booze and let's talk about me till the car comes!"
"Get the ***** with the wheels round here now or I'll fly back to England and give your wife something to hang her towels on!"
"If word gets back to England that I'm dead, two thousand girls would kill themselves, and I wouldn't want that on my conscience, Not when they ought to be on my face!"
-
Originally posted by Nilsen
It is not gvernment controlled. Check your facts before going nuts on the keyb. We also have the same kinds of channels in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and a load of other countires. They are not in the governments pockets and are just as critical of the government as any other channel.
So..........I guess the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport is just for show, huh? They don`t have to approve what and can be bought, sold, etc, etc.?
My bad. :rolleyes:
-
Originally posted by Jackal1
So..........I guess the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport is just for show, huh? They don`t have to approve what and can be bought, sold, etc, etc.?
correct. the station/s are independent.
-
Originally posted by Nilsen
correct. the station/s are independent.
Hmmmmmmm....that`s strange.
--------------------------------------
" The BBC announced today that a contract has been signed with Creative Broadcast Services Limited for the sale of BBC Broadcast Limited ("BBC Broadcast") with the approval of the BBC's Executive Board and the Board of Governors.
Completion of the sale is subject to approval from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. "
--------------------------------------------
There is very little in any country that is not controlled by government in some form or fashion.
Also it is pretty interesting to trace back and see just which companies are owned by who , down the line. Some you will run into a brick wall on. :)
-
Originally posted by Jackal1
Hmmmmmmm....that`s strange.
--------------------------------------
" The BBC announced today that a contract has been signed with Creative Broadcast Services Limited for the sale of BBC Broadcast Limited ("BBC Broadcast") with the approval of the BBC's Executive Board and the Board of Governors.
Completion of the sale is subject to approval from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. "
--------------------------------------------
There is very little in any country that is not controlled by government in some form or fashion.
Also it is pretty interesting to trace back and see just which companies are owned by who , down the line. Some you will run into a brick wall on. :)
Ok Im not sure about the BBC, but our NRK channel/s are owned by the government (thats us), but not controlled by it. Our broadcasting company is independent in regards to programming or _any_ political influence. Ofcourse any corporation that is not run by a computer has people in it with various political views, but the board and staff is made up of so many different people that it would be impossible to force any views on the population without some or alot of trouble.
The one fundamental point of having NRK (our BBC) is to guarantee the population atleast one independent and critical set of channels that are not under the influence of any political party in power or commercial interests.
-
Ok.. so the government doesn't control it...
If you go and buy a TV and turn it on and tell everyone..... who arrests you the TV police? Where do they put you.... TV jail?
I watched the BBC and it was all either the most boring sports man has ever devised or some head shot of someone talking endlessly.
I would rather pay for cable or watch regular TV for free and get the occassional gem like the shield or rescue me or some of the cartoons like southpark and the simpsons.
There is more good TV on than I care to watch. I mostly watch DVD tho and not many hours of that.
If the news that is BBC is what is making the politics of england then I really don't want any part of it. If the BBC is having any affect at all on your politics then you can keep it.
lazs
-
If you do not pay your license here nobody will arrest you. The bill will go through the same routine as any other unpayed bill.
What you feel about the BBC shows really doesnt matter, cause you dont have to watch it. Personally I try to get a few mins of news from BBC and our other sources each day and I like that its not interupted by ads all the time. If i want to watch good movies, I either see whats on our channels or select any of the movie channels we have. My DVD collection isnt that big, but most movies made are junk anyway these days.
-
Originally posted by Nilsen
Ok Im not sure about the BBC
Fair enough.
Now, if I may, I wish to borrow your lines..............
Check your facts before going nuts on the keyb.
:)
In all fairness we have such things as the FCC, etc.
Also like I said if it is possible to trace back down company lineage it is very interesting to see who actual owns or is affilated companywise. And, like I said, on some you will run into a brick wall when this is attempted.
Sometimes independent is not as independent as it appears on the surface. :D
BTW..........the large was on the original post for a reason. :)
-
Originally posted by Jackal1
Fair enough.
Now, if I may, I wish to borrow your lines..............
:)
In all fairness we have such things as the FCC, etc.
Also like I said if it is possible to trace back down company lineage it is very interesting to see who actual owns or is affilated companywise. And, like I said, on some you will run into a brick wall when this is attempted.
Sometimes independent is not as independent as it appears on the surface. :D
sorry for beeing harsh.. im having a bad day at work. sometime its a bicth having family for for/with you
-
Originally posted by Nilsen
sorry for beeing harsh.. im having a bad day at work. sometime its a bicth having family for for/with you
Hehe. Not a prob. All in fun.
Not having such a great day myself.
-
nielsen... are you saying that no one has ever been jailed for not paying their TV tax?
lazs
-
Originally posted by lazs2
nielsen... are you saying that no one has ever been jailed for not paying their TV tax?
lazs
not here as far as i know. a bill is a bill
-
you are talking about in england tho right? seems I had read about some woman who was jailed a few years back. What do they do in england if they catch you?
What if you don't pay the "bill" (tax)? I mean... it is your TV and you are simply turning it on. How is a TV different from a radio say in that it captures a signal that is in the air.... the air that belongs to everyone?
lazs
-
Originally posted by lazs2
you are talking about in england tho right? seems I had read about some woman who was jailed a few years back. What do they do in england if they catch you?
What if you don't pay the "bill" (tax)? I mean... it is your TV and you are simply turning it on. How is a TV different from a radio say in that it captures a signal that is in the air.... the air that belongs to everyone?
lazs
i will have to leave that up to a brit. i think i hear beetle comming along
over here you would not get jailed
-
Originally posted by Jackal1
Hehe. Not a prob. All in fun.
Not having such a great day myself.
thank cod its friday
beer in the fridge, ice in the freezer and a new brand of whisky is looking at me from the shelf
-
An old brit show called "The goodies".. was cool.
-
Originally posted by lazs2
you are talking about in england tho right? seems I had read about some woman who was jailed a few years back. What do they do in england if they catch you?
What if you don't pay the "bill" (tax)? I mean... it is your TV and you are simply turning it on. How is a TV different from a radio say in that it captures a signal that is in the air.... the air that belongs to everyone?
Lazs, we've done this to death in other threads. I could post a link to the TV licensing website which describes the penalties for nonpayment of the TV licence fee. It's a maximum fine of £1000, but a fine of £150 is more typical. There is no jail sentence.
However, if you were to disobey a Court Order to pay the fine, you would be in contempt of Court. That is an entirely different offence. You would be given every chance to rethink your position, but if you resolutely refused to comply with the Court's order to pay up and could not show a case of financial hardship, you might get a short jail sentence - something like 2 weeks. But look on the bright side - you'd have TOD to look forward to, after your release.
For those interested, this whole business was discussed in the Mydavis thread - http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=169122 - I can't be arsed to type it all out again here. :rolleyes:
As to the cost of the licence, at £126.50 a year or £10/month (=$18 USD/month) it's exceptional value. If you would look to this thread (http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174278), in which American guys are discussing their cable TV costs, you'll see that many are paying $100 every month! :eek: One guy in there pays over $150 every month!! :O
And, before any smart alec asks how man channels I get, I don't equate the number of channels available to the quality of service. I agree with Dowding. I watch the 5 main channels, and for a small one-time fee I could get a decoder box which, I believe, would open up about 30 additional channels. I even have a satellite dish (put there by previous house owner) but I don't use it.
Lazs, the British way is the best way. We have more choices. Over there, you either pay your cable fee, or else you get no TV, or one channel with lousy reception, which is what I got in Concord, some 34 miles from where you live now. But here, we have a third alternative: We can watch TV and not pay the licence fee, taking that chance that we won't get found out! Go on, admit it, Lazs. That's the option you'd like best - kind of like not wearing your seatbelt, you chancer! ;) :lol
Skuzzy, PLEASE don't clip this one! Or we'll never get Lazs, jackal et al to understand! I've been nice this time. :) :) :cool:
-
Originally posted by beet1e
Over there, you either pay your cable fee, or else you get no TV, or one channel with lousy reception
"Over There" was a series on Iraq. :)
From where I am I can throw up a 20 buck antenna and get 11 channels crystal clear. With a rotor I can get more.
-
Originally posted by Jackal1
"Over There" was a series on Iraq. :)
From where I am I can throw up a 20 buck antenna and get 11 channels crystal clear. With a rotor I can get more.
I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Lazs. By "over there", I was referring to Concord, a town that Lazs knows and is less than 40 miles from where he lives. Owing to the surrounding high terrain I could get only ONE tv channel. You're not privy to this conversation, so p... er, go forth and urinate.
-
Originally posted by beet1e
I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Lazs.
Yea, but I was talking to you. :)
You're not privy to this conversation
I think you will notice that is not correct. :rofl
so p... er, go forth and urinate.
Constipation or something else? :D
-
beet... the government finds you in contempt of court for not paying a fee by.... A "private" company? you are saying that your BBC is a private company? You are ok with debtors prison?
your way is far worse. you have to pay no matter what... there are no alternatives but to risk having your government throw you in jail if you don't pay.
Here... we can grab programs out of the air for free or pay and watch any program in the world. We can also steal the service with an illegal hookup if that is what you would like to do.
I would not do that because that is simply dishonest and can't be rationalized. They provide a service and charge to hook it up to your TV.
We are right back where we allways were... the "fee" is a tax and the government enforces it for the BBC.
lazs
-
Originally posted by lazs2
We are right back where we allways were... the "fee" is a tax and the government enforces it for the BBC.
We're only back there because you never read/assimilate material that's been put before you, but instead persist with your "TV tax" troll. If you REALLY want to know about the history of the BBC, go to the BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk instead of busting my chops about it. In there, you will find everything you could possibly wish to know - how the company was set up, how it developed, how the licence fee is spent. I've already provided links explaining what happens if you get caught without a licence. I'm not going to type it all out again.
All I know is I'd rather pay £10 a month for the tv licence than $150 a month to a cable company, which is exactly what some Americans are doing, as you would see if you followed the links I provided.
-
Originally posted by beet1e
We're only back there because you never read/assimilate material that's been put before you, but instead persist with your "TV tax" troll. If you REALLY want to know about the history of the BBC, go to the BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk instead of busting my chops about it. In there, you will find everything you could possibly wish to know - how the company was set up, how it developed, how the licence fee is spent. I've already provided links explaining what happens if you get caught without a licence. I'm not going to type it all out again.
All I know is I'd rather pay £10 a month for the tv licence than $150 a month to a cable company, which is exactly what some Americans are doing.
"Some Americans" being the key word. I pay nowhere near that for cable. For those that are doing it, they are doing it by choice for extended entertainment. Same as renting DVDs, etc. Big difference.
as you would see if you followed the links I provided.
If all your links were actualy followed, the intardnet would come to a grinding halt. Google has a brown out every time you participate in a thread. :rofl
-
Originally posted by Jackal1
If all your links were actualy followed, the intardnet would come to a grinding halt. Google has a brown out every time you participate in a thread.
Oh I wouldn't worry about that. There's no chance of the end user submitting that many hits because of limitations created by their own service providers. Where I live, I get a 1MBit connection. In Scandinavia, 10MBit is possible, so yes - if everyone had a connection like that, there could be bandwidth problems.
But in certain backward areas, they still have.... d-d-d-d-dialup! :rofl "Some Americans" being the key word. I pay nowhere near that for cable. For those that are doing it, they are doing it by choice for extended entertainment. Same as renting DVDs, etc. Big difference.
I looked at that cable cost whine thread again, and out of about 25 people who replied, I counted 8 who were paying $80/mo or more. Plus there were many others who were paying far more than I pay.
-
Beet, you're not stupid enough to believe that the programming available in the U.S. for $80 - $150 is comparable to the programming received in the U.K. for $10 license fee. Comparing apples to oranges in a failed attempt to prove your point, you're either trolling or you've momentarily slipped your head up your ass.
-
Originally posted by beet1e
Oh I wouldn't worry about that. There's no chance of the end user submitting that many hits because of limitations created by their own service providers. Where I live, I get a 1MBit connection. In Scandinavia, 10MBit is possible, so yes - if everyone had a connection like that, there could be bandwidth problems.
But in certain backward areas, they still have.... d-d-d-d-dialup!
Limitations? Where I live, I get a 1.5 Mbit connection because I'm trying out DSL at the moment. I'm not very happy with it though, since it's too slow (never thought I'd find 1.5 Mbit slow!), so I'll be switching back to the 6 Mbit Cable Intardnet.
My stepdad still uses dialup, and I can barely stand it when I visit, but for him it's cheap and goes as fast as he needs it to, to check his email and do his banking.
-
Originally posted by beet1e
But in certain backward areas, they still have.... d-d-d-d-dialup!
Yes and in certain areas of the backwoods, such as the lake area I live in, we consider it quite sufficient and also a nice trade off for not having to endure pompous, whining little pests. :rofl
At any time wireless and satellite are available.
Your point?
I looked at that cable cost whine thread again, and out of about 25 people who replied, I counted 8 who were paying $80/mo or more. Plus there were many others who were paying far more than I pay. [/B]
[/QUOTE]
And once again , your point is what?
Like I said those that pay the price in the U.S. do it of their own free will for extended entertainment same as renting DVDs.
So now we are down to $80, huh? Another bid for Beetle equality maybe?
I don`t pay that much. What I do pay, I pay by choice.
-
Originally posted by SOB
Beet, you're not stupid enough to believe that the programming available in the U.S. for $80 - $150 is comparable to the programming received in the U.K. for $10 license fee. Comparing apples to oranges in a failed attempt to prove your point, you're either trolling or you've momentarily slipped your head up your ass.
Difficult to make a like for like comparison, SOB, as many of the guys in the Cable thread also get their Intardnet service with the same package. We have that here too - a company called NTL seems to lead the field in that.
Like I said, I could get around 35 channels for the same TV licence fee of ~$17/month. But I'm not really interested in the number of channels because I know I'd end up watching only 4-5 anyway. That has been Dowding's experience. ^
EN4CER summed it up in that other thread when he said "$105 for Optimum Online IO - 300+ Channels - mostly crap tho. HBO Package etc. plus Optimum Online." Personally, I'd rather have 6 good channels for $17/mo than 300 channels of crap and a few sweeteners for $105/mo.
Jackal! Yes, I pay that TV licence fee of my own free will. If I chose not to pay it, I would also choose not to use the TV. But in your case, if you chose NOT to pay your cable company, the choice not to watch the TV would made for you. :D
-
Originally posted by beet1e
Jackal! Yes, I pay that TV licence fee of my own free will. If I chose not to pay it, I would also choose not to use the TV.
There is no choice. You pay or in violation of your laws. Simple.
But in your case, if you chose NOT to pay your cable company, the choice not to watch the TV would made for you.
Wrong. Here, I`ll help you out again since you find it so difficult
From where I am I can throw up a 20 buck antenna and get 11 channels crystal clear. With a rotor I can get more.
You really should look into the scroll method. Try A windows tutorial perhaps. :)
-
Originally posted by SOB
Beet, you're not stupid enough to believe that the programming available in the U.S. for $80 - $150 is comparable to the programming received in the U.K. for $10 license fee. Comparing apples to oranges in a failed attempt to prove your point, you're either trolling or you've momentarily slipped your head up your ass.
Momentarily??????
The clock stopped. :rofl
-
EN4CER summed it up in that other thread when he said "$105 for Optimum Online IO - 300+ Channels - mostly crap tho. HBO Package etc. plus Optimum Online." Personally, I'd rather have 6 good channels for $17/mo than 300 channels of crap and a few sweeteners for $105/mo.
The choice is not between 105 USD a month or 17. Cable and satellite rates vary with the package, by region and service provider. I can guarantee you that I don't pay anywhere that much even if I combine my DSL, phone and satellite together. Like Jackal said for the cost of a good antenna you can get quite few channels.
OTOH You either pay or violate the law.
We have 'state sponsored TV' in the form of PBS which receives money from the federal government and through fund raising and donations.
-
Originally posted by Bruno
We have 'state sponsored TV' in the form of PBS which receives money from the federal government and through fund raising and donations.
Yes, I used to watch the PBS stations when I lived in the US. They were the only ones worth having, IMO. I don't really have an issue with the TV licence fee - it's such a paltry amount that I don't even think of it. There are plenty of other payments we have to make - both here and in the US - which are compulsory, like income taxes and property taxes, that $17/mo is just loose change.
Hey jackal - I've just been reading in this thread (http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176318) that dildos are banned in Texas. So how come you're allowed to live there? :rofl
-
You see US people bash their media all the time for being biased (CNN - Communist News Network) etc. but bash europeans for having a publicly funded, unbiased news. It's the same old superiority complex bashing that these boards are filled with.
I feel sorry for most of you people, really.
-
Originally posted by beet1e
Hey jackal - I've just been reading in this thread (http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176318) that dildos are banned in Texas. So how come you're allowed to live there? :rofl
If that`s the best you can do.................give it up.
BTW.......your facts are incorrect as usual.
You sure spend a lot of time worrying and whining about Texas....well the U.S. in general, but Texas really gets your envy goat to humpin.
Someone who comes to a U.S. based board to whine about the U.S. on such a constant level as yourself is a big enough tool, but someone who comes to a U.S. based board owned by a Texas company to whine about Texas is the true ultimate. True colors/shine through. :)
Your interest in dildos does seem to fit though.:rofl :aok
-
beet... it is easy to make an apples to apples comparisson. You buy a TV and in order to turn it on you have to pay a tax. Once you have paid the tax you get to see some crap BBC stuff that is broadcast over your airwaves.... If you want anything other than that you pay additional fees to cable or satalite companies and get HBO or whatever.
We buy a tv and turn it on for free (except the power to run it) normally, doing so would get you about 2-5 commercial channels VHF including very boring NPTV (BBC like) and maybe a couple more UHF. If we want more we pay a fee and hook up to cable or satalite and pay for a basic fee between $30-150 dollars including internet.
Why not just scramble the BBC crap and sell the descrambler for those who owned a TV and wanted to get it?
And... If you go to jail for "contempt of court" for a court ordered payment of a tax/fee on TV then it is indeed your government enforcing the tax by rule of force.
lazs
-
Lazs, you have not read my earlier posts carefully enough.
beet... it is easy to make an apples to apples comparisson. You buy a TV and in order to turn it on you have to pay a tax.
No, it will function perfectly well, whether or not the licence fee has been paid. I watched TV without paying a licence fee for about four years during my poor years. I lived in a succession of shared dwellings back then. I don't even know if anyone paid for a TV licence where I lived, but what I do know is that at no time did the landlord come to me and demand my share of any TV licence fee. And I never paid...:p If you want anything other than that you pay additional fees to cable or satalite companies and get HBO or whatever.
No, I have already told you, about three times actually, that with a decoder box, you can get an extra ~30 channels. There is no additional licence fee, and no additional monthly charges for having one. And... If you go to jail for "contempt of court" for a court ordered payment of a tax/fee on TV then it is indeed your government enforcing the tax by rule of force.
No-one is "forced" to pay for a TV licence - if you have no TV you don't need a licence. Non-payment of fines is handled the same way whatever the offence - same as it is in the US. Or are you telling me that in the US, the payment of fines for minor offences, such as parking violations, is voluntary?
Let me ask you something - if you refused to pay for your electricity - including that used to power your TV, would the electricity company lie down and take it, or would they disconnect your supply and initiate proceedings to recover the debt?
-
beet.... you were a criminal who simply did not get caught. You could buy a TV but if you turned it on you risked prison.
I have read what you write... It does not change what I say. The truth is that you are paying a tax or you can't even turn on your TV without it being a criminal act. You have allready bought the TV and the electricity to run it.
If you want any worthwhile TV you can hook up to a satalite or cable just like us no? Can you get HBO say?
the electric company will simply shut off your electricity if you don't pay. we do not have any debtors prisons left from english tradition other than court ordered and taxes.
And that is my problem with your system... turning on the tv sets both of those in motion.
We never agree because we don't agree on the concept of freedom... you feel that any government control that you personaly don't mind in the past and right up till this moment in time is not really.... really what? a governmment restriction on your freedom? on anyone elses in your country?
Socialists have allways seemed very short sighted to me... they think only of themselves and of the minute they are living in.
lazs
-
Originally posted by lazs2
beet.... you were a criminal who simply did not get caught. You could buy a TV but if you turned it on you risked prison.
No, we (ie. all the people living in the house) risked a fine, or maybe it was the landlord's responsibility to cover it out of the rent we paid. Whatever, it would have been such a piffling amount between 4 of us that we wouldn't even notice. Given the choice of paying the fine or facing the consequences of non-payment, most people would pay the fine. There was never any risk of prison. The truth is that you are paying a tax or you can't even turn on your TV without it being a criminal act.
And in California, I do believe you have to register your vehicle and pay a tax which is a proportion of the value of the car before you can drive it. Of course, this does not mean that the car won't start until you have paid. Over here, the equivalent of the California vehicle registration is the tax disc - about £120 for me annually. There is no registration fee as such, but in CA I'd have to pay thousands of $$$ to register the car or face arrest. If you want any worthwhile TV you can hook up to a satalite or cable just like us no? Can you get HBO say?
Like I said - and this is now the FOURTH time - with a decoder box, you can get an extra ~30 channels. There is no additional licence fee, and no additional monthly charges for having one.
I don't know whether HBO is available in the UK. We have SKY Broadcasting - a satellite service, and I do have the dish for that, but I don't subscribe to the service. I'd rather purchase DVDs on eBay or Amazon, and sell them on afterwards.
Debtors Prison? Oh puhleeeze - you're about 300 years behind the times. I can remember going on a school field trip to York in 1966, and one of the attractions was the Debtors Prison. (I chose the other alternative, which was the Railway Museum) The Debtors Prison is a museum, Lazs. Don't be paranoid! Here's a link for you: Debtors Prison, York (http://www.hud.ac.uk/news/05_01/history/phil.htm)we do not have any debtors prisons
Neither do we, except places like York. ^ If you're ever over here again, I'll take you there. Socialists have allways seemed very short sighted to me... they think only of themselves and of the minute they are living in.
From what I've seen of you in the gas price whine threads, you're a closet socialist yourself, what with all your pissing and moaning about all the (capitalist) profit being made by the evil oil companies, whose products you continue to buy, thereby INCREASING said profits.
-
well... we see it differently... I see that if you are commiting a crime that you are a criminal...
UI see that if not paying a fine puts you in jail then you are risking jail by not paying the tax.
I base freedom on what I can do not on what I might want to do at this moment in time.
you somehow see those things as much less black and white.
And... I am not at all moaning about profit being made on fuel..... I am the anti socialist where as you are the supreme socialist.... you want to increase the price of fuel by adding even more harmfull taxation... I want it to rise based on demand.
lazs
-
Originally posted by lazs2
well... we see it differently... I see that if you are commiting a crime that you are a criminal...
Lazs, when I moved into the house I shared in SW London in 1976, the last thing on my mind was whether anyone had bought a freaking TV licence. :rolleyes: Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory in California, as it is here, but you have said you don't wear yours. Does this make you a criminal? If you get stopped, do you get fined? Do you pay these fines, or do you risk jail by not paying? And... I am not at all moaning about profit being made on fuel..... I am the anti socialist where as you are the supreme socialist.... you want to increase the price of fuel by adding even more harmfull taxation... I want it to rise based on demand.
I don't like paying for road fuel any more than the next man. And I haven't proposed any new fuel taxes. But guess who has? HangTime! He wants an export tax and huge tariffs! I guess that makes him a socialist. :lol Check him out: http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176340 you somehow see those things as much less black and white.
I guess we must be talking about TVs again - you're right, mine is colour! ;)
-
Originally posted by J_A_B
People have been able to change the channel during commercials since the dawn of TV. Why is it suddenly a problem now? Runaway corporate greed, that's why.
The networks broadcast over public airwaves. They have no right to tell you when you can and cannot change the channel. CATV is another matter of course.
J_A_B
yea..it really takes away from the clever commercials that you dont mind watching.
-
I have currently 1742 tv-channels available on my box. For 25 of them I pay a fee to the provider, the rest are free.
The only prob with this amount of channels is that you easily spend the whole night just browsing through them.