Do you subscribe to cable or satellite TV? - Page 5

GeoffC · 09-04-2010, 01:53 AM

sometimes the hassle of having to prove one doesn't have a TV is not worth it, it's easier to buy the licence !

SameOldStory · 09-04-2010, 10:43 AM

Thanks, Geoff. I now recall that all radios, and then TVs, had to be registered in the UK. This was something done in WWII, wasn't it? Or was it started as a luxury tax? Or do I have it all wrong?

bevdeforges · 09-10-2010, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

Thanks, Geoff. I now recall that all radios, and then TVs, had to be registered in the UK. This was something done in WWII, wasn't it? Or was it started as a luxury tax? Or do I have it all wrong?

It's actually quite common throughout Europe. The government has always controlled the key media for communication - the press, then radio, then television. Commercial radio and television is actually a fairly recent phenomenon over here (well, in the last few decades).

The tv tax is to support the government run channels (which used to be all of them) - even though they now carry advertisements just like the commercial channels do.

kacir · 09-10-2010, 03:34 AM

I subscribe to satelite.
The reason? Discovery channel, Discovery (world, science, history, travel & leisure, ...), Viasat Explorer, Viasat History, National Geographic, various cooking channels, ... and other things in English.
I do not care about TV Shows or Sport.

kacir · 09-10-2010, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

Thanks, Geoff. I now recall that all radios, and then TVs, had to be registered in the UK.

Who, do you think, pays for high quality programs BBC has? Taxpayers.

In my country, if you have electricity at home, you automatically pay special tax that pays for state-run TV channels and radio stations. Independent "commercial" TV and radio stations are relatively new thing here.

Ea · 09-10-2010, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevdeforges

It's actually quite common throughout Europe. The government has always controlled the key media for communication - the press, then radio, then television. Commercial radio and television is actually a fairly recent phenomenon over here (well, in the last few decades).

The tv tax is to support the government run channels (which used to be all of them) - even though they now carry advertisements just like the commercial channels do.

No advertisements here. I wouldn't call it "government controlled" radio and TV though - it's "public service" - that's the point of it, to provide a wider variety of news and entertainment than a commercial channel might.

ardeegee · 09-10-2010, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

Who, do you think, pays for high quality programs BBC has? Taxpayers.

They also pay for low quality programs that the BBC has.

kennyc · 09-10-2010, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

I subscribe to satelite.
The reason? Discovery channel, Discovery (world, science, history, travel & leisure, ...), Viasat Explorer, Viasat History, National Geographic, various cooking channels, ... and other things in English.
I do not care about TV Shows or Sport.

Yep, that's the only reason I'm still a DirecTV customer....but I think I'm about to drop that as well...

kennyc · 09-10-2010, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

They also pay for low quality programs that the BBC has.

and to think in the USA our money just goes to low quality politicians!

Bilbo1967 · 09-10-2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

and to think in the USA our money just goes to low quality politicians!

Oh, we've got plenty of those as well

View Poll Results: Do you subscribe to cable or satellite television?
Yes, I enjoy watching cable TV shows.	20	29.41%
Yes, because the reception is so poor where I live that I can't get anything without it.	7	10.29%
Yes, I wouldn't, but other members of my family insist upon it.	1	1.47%
Yes, for another reason (please state).	10	14.71%
No, I'm not very interested in television.	15	22.06%
No, cable TV is just too expensive!	6	8.82%
No, for another reason (please state).	9	13.24%
Voters: 68. You may not vote on this poll

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09-04-2010, 01:53 AM	#61
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	sometimes the hassle of having to prove one doesn't have a TV is not worth it, it's easier to buy the licence !

09-04-2010, 10:43 AM	#62
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	Thanks, Geoff. I now recall that all radios, and then TVs, had to be registered in the UK. This was something done in WWII, wasn't it? Or was it started as a luxury tax? Or do I have it all wrong?

09-10-2010, 03:34 AM	#64
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,463 Karma: 10684861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	I subscribe to satelite. The reason? Discovery channel, Discovery (world, science, history, travel & leisure, ...), Viasat Explorer, Viasat History, National Geographic, various cooking channels, ... and other things in English. I do not care about TV Shows or Sport.