Life without television

[gamba]

I've now been without for a staggering 16 years - when I moved house and decided not to have an aerial fixed to the roof, and therefore not to bring the family TV with me.

I've no problem with people feeling that TV still offers enough as to be 'indispensable' to them (even if less so than once). What is almost on the point of goading me into an Harrrumph is when 'people', usually of about 25+, are totally incapable of comprehending how anyone could possibly exist without a television ... When a child came to my door recently, chugging or for some commercial purpose, her jaw literally dropped when I said I had no TV.

And, for the information of those who have no TV (and therefore pay no licence fee): I was reading the BBC's Royal Charter a week or so ago and discovered the joyous news that, if you live in the UK - you are almost certainly, officially, a licence fee payer, whether you have a licence or not

Charter, paragraph 57, 'Interpretations':

The meaning of “licence fee payer”

In this Charter, a reference to a “licence fee payer” is not to be taken literally but includes, not only a person to whom a TV licence is issued under section 364 of the Communications Act 2003, but also (so far as is sensible in the context) any other person in the UK who watches, listens to or uses any BBC service, or may do so or wish to do so in the future.

I did not know that

[In any case, common sense would tell us that since the population of the country is 60m + and there are only, give or take, 25m licences, less than half the population can claim to be 'a licence fee payer'.]

Also, antiquated & ancient people such as myself are exempt from paying for a TV licence.

[french frank]

Also, antiquated & ancient people such as myself are exempt from paying for a TV licence.

Yes, but it is paid by the government on your behalf. One of the Tory proposals was to get the BBC to foot the bill (or rather, not receive anything from over-75s). They didn't get that, but they did force the BBC to fork out for the World Service, formerly paid for by the FCO. And froze the licence fee.

[amateur51]

Yes, but it is paid by the government on your behalf. One of the Tory proposals was to get the BBC to foot the bill (or rather, not receive anything from over-75s). They didn't get that, but they did force the BBC to fork out for the World Service, formerly paid for by the FCO. And froze the licence fee.

You know, I knew that but when I read it again the thought went through my head 'that's what happens when the Philistines get in'!


Steve Hewlett was grilling the head of Channel 4 on Radio 4's The Media Show this afternoon, pointing out that his salary is in excess of £600,000, and that he took an £88,000 bonus when his station's ratings are on the slide. Hewlett also mentioned that the new BBC DG was likely to be appointed at a basic salary of £400,000 but your Channel 4 man had plenty of 'good reasons' why the two posts were not comparable

I like Steve Hewlett - he puts good boot in

[Flosshilde]

I always thought it was a digitised pond-skater...

So did I. Either that or a one-person rowing boat.

[Flosshilde]

And, for the information of those who have no TV (and therefore pay no licence fee): I was reading the BBC's Royal Charter a week or so ago and discovered the joyous news that, if you live in the UK - you are almost certainly, officially, a licence fee payer, whether you have a licence or not

Charter, paragraph 57, 'Interpretations':

The meaning of “licence fee payer”

In this Charter, a reference to a “licence fee payer” is not to be taken literally but includes, not only a person to whom a TV licence is issued under section 364 of the Communications Act 2003, but also (so far as is sensible in the context) any other person in the UK who watches, listens to or uses any BBC service, or may do so or wish to do so in the future.

According to a letter from the BBC in response to a FOI request in 2008, BARB estimate that 2% of households in the UK do not have a television.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/foi/classes/disclosure_logs/rfi20080397_percentage_of_london_households_without_tv_licence.pdf

[jayne lee wilson]

I never miss Newsnight - indispensible these dark days, or Radio 4 Any Questions (BBC 1 version a bit shallow & raucous), otherwise trawl about for BBC2/4 documentaries, some sport especially grand prix...

Soft spot for.... Snog Marry Avoid. Does get a bit repetitive though.

Scandinavian Crime Drama? Er... apart from the anti-fashion

Come on, own up to your guilty televisual pleasures...

[Budapest]

I stopped watching tv years ago; by that I mean that I didn't stop watching tv programmes (some of which are surprisingly good), what I stopped watching was tv schedules. You know, when you slump down in a chair and watch endless hours of mostly rubbish. Life's too short for that. We have two satellite systems set-up, English and French, because we let out the main house as a holiday rental. These satellite services provide thousands and thousands of different channels and are mostly mind rot.

Different strokes for different folks. I only use the satellite service for news channels - Al Jazeera, France 24, Russia Today, etc. For tv programmes I like watching, and of course radio programming, I use the internet.

[teamsaint]

I never miss Newsnight - indispensible these dark days, or Radio 4 Any Questions (BBC 1 version a bit shallow & raucous), otherwise trawl about for BBC2/4 documentaries, some sport especially grand prix...

Soft spot for.... Snog Marry Avoid. Does get a bit repetitive though.

Scandinavian Crime Drama? Er...

Come on, own up to your guilty televisual pleasures...

Mrs Teamsaint is with you on SMA....comedy gold !!

Footy and music for me really.
(plus a bit of Edge media on free satellite, which won't surprise some people ).

Am contemplating living without it, and just using internet.

[Frances_iom]

I've now been without for a staggering 16 years

catch is these young converts get too evangelistic in the cause !- not had a TV since I left student digs in late 60's - my father always refrred to it as the goggle box - a way of spending your life with any necessity of thought.

[Beef Oven]

Mrs Teamsaint is with you on SMA....comedy gold !!

Footy and music for me really.
(plus a bit of Edge media on free satellite, which won't surprise some people ).

Am contemplating living without it, and just using internet.

I watch Match of the Day during the football season and any decent boxing match (which is a rarity); plus, sometimes, about 1 hour per week if something interesting is on.

Sometimes I don't even switch it on for 6 or 7 weeks.

The money I spend on the licence is not as good value for me as it is for others, but I think we must consider the whole BBC output including the Proms!

As per Frances_iom, the TV was always referred to as 'the goggle-box' in my household!

[Lateralthinking1]

I've now been without for a staggering 16 years - when I moved house and decided not to have an aerial fixed to the roof, and therefore not to bring the family TV with me.

I've no problem with people feeling that TV still offers enough as to be 'indispensable' to them (even if less so than once). What is almost on the point of goading me into an Harrrumph is when 'people', usually of about 25+, are totally incapable of comprehending how anyone could possibly exist without a television ... When a child came to my door recently, chugging or for some commercial purpose, her jaw literally dropped when I said I had no TV.

And, for the information of those who have no TV (and therefore pay no licence fee): I was reading the BBC's Royal Charter a week or so ago and discovered the joyous news that, if you live in the UK - you are almost certainly, officially, a licence fee payer, whether you have a licence or not

Charter, paragraph 57, 'Interpretations':

The meaning of “licence fee payer”

In this Charter, a reference to a “licence fee payer” is not to be taken literally but includes, not only a person to whom a TV licence is issued under section 364 of the Communications Act 2003, but also (so far as is sensible in the context) any other person in the UK who watches, listens to or uses any BBC service, or may do so or wish to do so in the future.

I did not know that

[In any case, common sense would tell us that since the population of the country is 60m + and there are only, give or take, 25m licences, less than half the population can claim to be 'a licence fee payer'.]

These are useful facts should it come to the need to defend against any attempt to drop the licence. I might though be the only person in the country who thinks that everyone should pay something towards the BBC, including the over 75s and radio only people.

The definition of a licence fee payer including people who don't pay for a licence is not entirely without precedent. We have been told today that the unemployment figure has dropped but I would take that with a big pinch of salt. I along with probably many thousands - hundreds of thousands? - of others am unemployed but not defined officially by the Government as unemployed.

[Serial_Apologist]

Come on, own up to your guilty televisual pleasures...

I probably watch less telly now than at any time since I hired my first TV in 1982. In particular I avoid so-called talent competitions and comedy programmes (Have I Got News For You excepted), as well as cookery programmes and their corollaries, programmes about embarrassing bodies, fat issues etc.

I do admit to starting every weekday by watching The Wright Stuff on Channel 5. It sets me up for the day. Matthew Wright has a lively, on-the-ball approach to current issues, unafraid to tackle what's controversial while engaging lightheartedly with the everyday. His guests usually mix the few existent more intelligent articulate members of the celebritocracy with comedians, and there is always a good deal of banter and mutual joshing.

[amateur51]

Well, these are important facts should it come to the need to defend any attempt to drop the licence. I might though be the only person in the country who thinks that everyone should pay something towards the BBC, including the over 75s and radio only people.

The definition of a licence fee payer including people who don't pay for a licence is not without precedent. We are told that the unemployment figure has dropped but I would take that with a big pinch of salt. I along with probably many thousands of others am unemployed but not defined as unemployed.

I completely agree re licence fee, Lats - I'd pay it even if I only listened to radio

[Beef Oven]

I probably watch less telly now than at any time since I hired my first TV in 1982. In particular I avoid so-called talent competitions and comedy programmes (Have I Got News For You excepted), as well as cookery programmes and their corollaries, programmes about embarrassing bodies, fat issues etc.

I do admit to starting every weekday by watching The Wright Stuff on Channel 5. It sets me up for the day. Matthew Wright has a lively, on-the-ball approach to current issues, unafraid to tackle what's controversial while engaging lightheartedly with the everyday. His guests usually mix the few existent more intelligent articulate members of the celebritocracy with comedians, and there is always a good deal of banter and mutual joshing.

Could TVs still be hired as late as 1982?

[Lateralthinking1]

I completely agree re licence fee, Lats - I'd pay it even if I only listened to radio

That makes two of us then. Good. I am not draconian about it. I think a token amount would be sufficient for categories who currently receive it for free. (My wording was also a bit odd. I meant any attempt to defend against dropping the licence).