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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

#51

Post by tobylane »

mhh__ wrote: post #21
myrandomcomment wrote: post #4

I have said this before and I will say it again...Dear BBC, please allow the rest of the world to pay for a subscription to the iPlayer. Just take my money, really, please?

Britbox is supposed to be that, I think, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the BBC cannot legally sell iPlayer subscriptions as easily as you'd think because the BBC's copyright library (especially music) is unbelievable [1] compared to most other organizations, so they'd have to make multiple versions of everything on their books to deal with licencing issues. Lots of British shows get their soundtracks neutered…

I’m surprised to hear that, because my understanding is that all the major broadcasters have a blanket licence to play all music (from major record labels). They can just stick a top 40 hit in the background of a soap without planning for it. Maybe that doesn’t apply to something as primary as the shows theme song.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#52

Post by Veen »

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.

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

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#53

Post by chrisseaton »

Veen wrote: post #52
chrisseaton wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

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.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#54

Post by CodeGlitch »

LatteLazy wrote: post #48
CodeGlitch wrote: post #9

With Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, YouTube, etc. the BBC have a hard time justifying the license these days. The only exception would be live sporting events, which is something I don't watch. Given I only watch about 1 hour of "TV" a day I was very glad to stop my license last year. It will not be missed.

Respectfully, you're not just wrong, you're wrongly wrong. The nature coverage on BBC is an order of magnitude better than anything else on TV. The science coverage on BBC is better than anyone else on TV. The news coverage on BBC is better than anything else on TV. And that's just the starters. The podcast revolution were in right now? Brits have had that since the 70s with radio 4 producing great audio programs. Ev…

Thanks for your response - feel free to rant.

I agree with what you said, but given there's only so many hours in the day, and I only watch TV to "switch my brain off", I didn't feel it worth the cost given that Netflix et al fills that hole just fine- for far less.

To get my science / nature / news I turn to podcasts.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#55

Post by Veen »

CodeGlitch wrote: post #49
chrisseaton wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

No idea what any of those shows you listed are. My interests are science, history, computing, polictics - and there are numerous podcasts covering these subjects. To name just a few in case anyone is intersted: * Dan Snow's History Hits * Triggernometry * Lex Fridman Podcast * Atomic Hobo * Jason Scott Talks his way out of it * Darknet Diaries * Omega Tau * Rob Reid After On * Anatomy of Next * page 94 - Private Eye…

> No idea what any of those shows you listed are.

They are almost exclusively BBC Radio 4 programs, many of which are available as podcasts. I can heartily recommend The Moral Maze and In Our Time.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#56

Post by Veen »

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…

> That's what they want you to think. In practice it never really happens. Too expensive. Hence the spam.

It happened to me. A very nice man knocked on the door and delivered a speech about the licence fee. I told him we just use the TV to watch Netflix and Amazon Prime. He filled in a form and we haven't had one of those annoying letters since.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#57

Post by CodeGlitch »

chrisseaton wrote: post #50
CodeGlitch wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No idea what any of those shows you listed are. My interests are science, history, computing, polictics - and there are numerous podcasts covering these subjects. To name just a few in case anyone is intersted: * Dan Snow's History Hits * Triggernometry * Lex Fridman Podcast * Atomic Hobo * Jason Scott Talks his way out of it * Darknet Diaries * Omega Tau * Rob Reid After On * Anatomy of Next * page 94 - Private Eye…

> No idea what any of those shows you listed are ... My interests are science, history, computing, polictics Well I don't know what to say apart from that absolutely astounds me. They're the background noise of many British homes and you're severely missing out if these are your interests. For example, In Our Time alone is 900 45-minute episodes each about an individual topic of science, history, maths, politics, art…

In Our Time does indeed sound very good - I'll have to check it out - thanks.

> And have you really never heard of the Today Programme or are you exaggerating for effect?

I've heard of it - never seen an episode so couldn't say what it was about (although the name probably gives it away). Traditionally I've not really watched much "broadcast" TV, even as a kid. I spent most my childhood in front of a computer...

> ...but you don't have to, for radio.

True, but does feel like free-loading a little?

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#58

Post by chrisseaton »

CodeGlitch wrote: post #57
chrisseaton wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> No idea what any of those shows you listed are ... My interests are science, history, computing, polictics Well I don't know what to say apart from that absolutely astounds me. They're the background noise of many British homes and you're severely missing out if these are your interests. For example, In Our Time alone is 900 45-minute episodes each about an individual topic of science, history, maths, politics, art…

In Our Time does indeed sound very good - I'll have to check it out - thanks. > And have you really never heard of the Today Programme or are you exaggerating for effect? I've heard of it - never seen an episode so couldn't say what it was about (although the name probably gives it away). Traditionally I've not really watched much "broadcast" TV, even as a kid. I spent most my childhood in front of a computer... > ..…

I would very strongly recommend you invest a day or two in trying Radio 4 - just put it on in the background all day, and see what you find.

Re: TV detector vans once prowled the streets of England

#60

Post by Symbiote »

CodeGlitch wrote: post #49
chrisseaton wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

No idea what any of those shows you listed are. My interests are science, history, computing, polictics - and there are numerous podcasts covering these subjects. To name just a few in case anyone is intersted: * Dan Snow's History Hits * Triggernometry * Lex Fridman Podcast * Atomic Hobo * Jason Scott Talks his way out of it * Darknet Diaries * Omega Tau * Rob Reid After On * Anatomy of Next * page 94 - Private Eye…

> No idea what any of those shows you listed are. My interests are ..., politics

_Today_ and _PM_ are amongst the most influential media in the UK. Not knowing about them is almost wilfully ignorant -- other media will report that "on the _Today_ programme this morning, Minister for Vaccines, Nadhim Zahawi, said…"

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