Seriously thinking of ditching the TV ?

[briantrumpet]

32 years for me without TV & licence. Watched a couple things on iPlayer (e.g. HIGNFY) when you could, legally, and nothing since you had to have a licence. Buy the odd box set DVD to watch while I'm practising the trumpet, but otherwise it's the wireless (in both senses of the word - radio via the internet).

When I did have a licence, I'd switch things on out of habit, then switch them off again, as they were tosh. Can't watch TV news, as it's pernicious, filling your head with all the worst things in the world relentlessly.

I've had a couple of free Prime trials, but when I have tried watching stuff, most of it again is formulaic tosh, and I can't be bothered to carry on with it.

 

[bitsandbobs]

Well this thread is a great example of why CycleChat is (gonna be generous here) a bit shoot these days.

 

[briantrumpet]

Well this thread is a great example of why CycleChat is (gonna be generous here) a bit shoot these days.

Cos we can't talk about Celebrity Traitors?

 

[stephec]

I hate having the TV on for the sake of it and don't understand why people do.

That sounds just like the MIL, 'we'll have to watch this as there's nothing else on.' 😂😂😂

 

[Drago]

Cos we can't talk about Celebrity Traitors?

What on earth is this traitors malarkey? Clearly a TV show - I figured that much out - but what do they do on it?

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good morning,

It’s not a patch on Star Madiens from 1976 and being shown again on Freeview.

It’s also possibly the root cause of the BBC’s quality problems.

It’s a flagship entertainment program, but the BBC also regard it as inherently news, like Strictly Come Dancing the BBC have so much invested in it that they don’t have the discipline to treat it as just another TV program.

The really brave decision would be to cut back and go back to broadcasting between 4pm and 11pm and have that content on their streaming service.

Forget about programs that just exist to fill airtime just make good programs but make them available to everyone in the way and at the time they want to watch.

I have recently watched Blakes 7 on DVD and the special effects are truly dire, even in comparison with the original Star Trek which was 10 years older. But can you imagine the BBC producing a program in which the hero was framed by the state for child sex offences today?

Bye

Ian

 

[briantrumpet]

What on earth is this traitors malarkey? Clearly a TV show - I figured that much out - but what do they do on it?

I assume they trait.

 

[Drago]

But can you imagine the BBC producing a program in which the hero was framed by the state for child sex offences today?

Ironic, considering the number of documentaries and docudramas about BBC slebs that turned out to be filthy perverts.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I find much of the content available unappealing

The content has improved since the 1990s

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I don't no whether I'm just being nostalgic and seeing things through rose tinted glasses, but I feel TV was so much better back in the 70s/80s than what it is today.

Just watch Dave and Gold for all your favourite 1970s programmes

 

[briantrumpet]

Just watch Dave and Gold for all your favourite 1970s programmes

Most of them are deeply cringeworthy now, not so much for the on-a-budget sets, but for the outdated attitudes prevalent.

That said, 'I Claudius' still stands out for me as an absolute classic that's not been surpassed, despite the cardboard sets and the large crowds being about 20 people and a soundtrack of a football match. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if it had had a bigger budget it would have been a less effective drama: as it was, all the focus was on the characters brought so alive by fantastic actors, nearly all of whom stole the show. I think even now older schoolchildren (I was about 13 when I first saw it) would get the drama, whereas if you showed them most 1970s sitcoms I enjoyed they'd go "Eeewwww!"

 

[Drago]

Most of them are deeply cringeworthy now, not so much for the on-a-budget sets, but for the outdated attitudes prevalent.

The repeats of Upstairs Downstairs godown well with Accy.

Im more a Terry and June chap myself.

 

[Mike Ayling]

Imagine the increase in licence fees if Donny T sues the BBC's asses. OTOH there may not be a BBC after that.

 

[Drago]

Imagine the increase in licence fees if Donny T sues the BBC's asses. OTOH there may not be a BBC after that.

Oh dear. How sad. Never mind.

I know its a far, far smaller scale, but C4 is owned by the government and shows that output of a consistently high quality, including multiple award winning films made under their auspices, can be achieved without strong-arming those that dont use the service into paying.

 

[AndyRM]

Oh dear. How sad. Never mind.

I know its a far, far smaller scale, but C4 is owned by the government and shows that output of a consistently high quality, including multiple award winning films made under their auspices, can be achieved without strong-arming those that dont use the service into paying.

You make a good point about C4, which often seems to be forgotten.