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TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

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Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#101

Post by matthiasv »

Tomte wrote: post #92
sleavey wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In Germany, the situation changed a few years ago, every household has to pay now, even if they don't own a television or radio. This was literally the first piece of mail I got when I moved to Germany: a letter demanding I pay for the TV networks I don't watch. I didn't even own a TV by that point, nor would have understood much of what was being said! A German explained to me once that the forced payment by non-w…

The trick is to watch the smaller "third programmes" or the programmes with special focus, not the big two (ARD and ZDF). Then you'll see a plethora of really well-made documentations about regions in Germany, regions in the world, culture, archeology etc. The third programmes are also where new comedians, hosts and artists are given a chance to refine their show concepts and prove themselves.

> The trick is to watch the smaller "third programmes" or the programmes with special focus, not the big two (ARD and ZDF).

To be fair, The Big One is actually just all "third programmes" with some additional programming such as news.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#102

Post by foreigner »

IshKebab wrote: post #40

> To encourage compliance, TV Licencing regularly sends sternly worded letters to those who have let their licence lapse or have not purchased one. This is an understatement. It would be fairer to say they constantly spam you with scare mail. > In the event this fails, they may arrange a visit from enforcement officers. That's what they want you to think. In practice it never really happens. Too expensive. Hence the…

It happened to me too. I didn't own a TV at the time and explained that at the doorstep. I invited them to come inside and look around the house to confirm, but they declined.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#103

Post by camkego »

jansan wrote: post #86
Nextgrid wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the main question is whether the detection technology was real and worked as expected or they were just decoys.

It would be much easier to spot a TV flickering through a window. My guess is that's what they did, and then claim that they had detected it with their super duper high-tech antennas.

I believe the technology used to detect the signals as described in the article was also used during World War II to detect radio transmitters of spies and other operatives. It’s very real technology.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#104

Post by anon1385 »

chrisseaton wrote: post #36
CodeGlitch wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've not listened to the radio in 10+ years - my audio consumption is all from Podcasts, which IMHO blows any radio out of the water. It's not live but I don't need it to be.

> Podcasts, which IMHO blows any radio out of the water Can you please share which breathtaking podcasts you're listening to, because I've never found anything even close to as good as landmark BBC radio shows like Today, PM, Today in Parliament, In Our Time, The Moral Maze, Blood, Sex, and Money, From Our Own Correspondent, The Essay, and Night Tracks.

'Today' is tabloid bilge and has played a big part in the dumbing down of political discourse in the UK. It's hard to take any of the rest of your recommendations seriously when they start with Today.

Certainly there are other BBC programs that are better, and a small number that are very good, but at this point I honestly don't think they are enough to make up for how awful BBC News is and how much damage it's doing to UK society. In the past I would have made excuses for the regressive way the BBC is funded, but it's really hard to do that now.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#105

Post by ohazi »

lqet wrote: post #38

> The United Kingdom is somewhat unique in the world for requiring those households which view broadcast television to purchase a licence for the privilege. I know at least three countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) which do the same (edit: according the Wikipedia [0], such a fee exists in basically every European country, Japan, Israel, South Korea and Namibia). In Germany, the situation changed a few years…

> no way for them to prove I was actually owning a television

(Emphasis mine)

This "playing fast and loose with language" that they do (and that you inadvertently did too, just now) makes me so irrationally angry.

Why would the burden of proof be that low? They need (should need?) to prove that you received broadcast television, not that you simply owned a TV.

We hear these stories about TV detector vans as if finding a TV set was ever sufficient evidence.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#106

Post by jamienicol »

chrisseaton wrote: post #53
Veen wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I listen to most of those too, but as podcasts. The BBC has a very good selection of Radio 4 podcasts.

> I listen to most of those too, but as podcasts I don't understand what practical difference you think that makes... it's the same shows, made by the same people, how you listen to it doesn't make any difference.

Especially since listening to the radio doesn't require a TV license anyway, so it's not like only watching catch-up TV to avoid needing one.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#107

Post by sjwright »

rtkwe wrote: post #46
zapdrive wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't it make sense to just add the license fee/tax at the source of sale, just like electronic waste recycling fee etc.

Only for one time fees, most TV Licenses style taxes are recurring. If you try to base it off an 'expected lifetime' you're just guessing how often people will replace the TV and either get under or over charged based on how long they keep devices.

Perhaps you could make it mandatory for a voucher good for 1 year of license to be sold alongside every TV. You can then credit that voucher to your household account.

(If you bought more than one new TV per year, your TV license account would be in perpetual credit. I don't see that as a problem.)

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#108

Post by Judgmentality »

dsnr wrote: post #97
sleavey wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In Germany, the situation changed a few years ago, every household has to pay now, even if they don't own a television or radio. This was literally the first piece of mail I got when I moved to Germany: a letter demanding I pay for the TV networks I don't watch. I didn't even own a TV by that point, nor would have understood much of what was being said! A German explained to me once that the forced payment by non-w…

> A German explained to me once that the forced payment by non-watchers is justified as it benefits society as a whole. Do they really believe these things? This is the Kool-Aid you have to drink as a society, in order not to go crazy when you pay for things you never use and benefit from. If you ever move out, make sure to let them know, otherwise they will keep hunting you for ever.

> Do they really believe these things? This is the Kool-Aid you have to drink as a society, in order not to go crazy when you pay for things you never use and benefit from.

It's the same argument for taxes, isn't it?

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#109

Post by varvar »

sleavey wrote: post #80
lqet wrote: post #38

> The United Kingdom is somewhat unique in the world for requiring those households which view broadcast television to purchase a licence for the privilege. I know at least three countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) which do the same (edit: according the Wikipedia [0], such a fee exists in basically every European country, Japan, Israel, South Korea and Namibia). In Germany, the situation changed a few years…

> In Germany, the situation changed a few years ago, every household has to pay now, even if they don't own a television or radio. This was literally the first piece of mail I got when I moved to Germany: a letter demanding I pay for the TV networks I don't watch. I didn't even own a TV by that point, nor would have understood much of what was being said! A German explained to me once that the forced payment by non-w…

The funny thing is that as long as you render any kind of services on any level, they are inevitably to society, you're already benefitting it. Society has exploited your skill, and you have benefitted its members with your services, and for that you get paid.

Nobody owes "society" past that point, but it's extremely profitable in the West, specifically, to double tax people with guilt trips into having artificial indebtedness to "society".

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#110

Post by KnobbleMcKnees »

4ggr0 wrote: post #93

A bit off-topic maybe, sorry. I am not from the UK, but quite a large chunk of things I watch on YouTube are british panel shows. I'm just in love with them. Which seems funny to me, because as a non-uk twenty year old, I don't think that I'm the target demographic for these shows. "8 out of 9 cats does countdown", "Would I lie to you?" and of course my favourite, "Taskmaster". Thanks for all of these great shows. "B…

Taskmaster is a fantastic program that everyone should watch at some point. The premise, the tasks, the twisted comedy of the hosts. It's perfect.
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