digital tv (tongue-in-cheek)

[Spycam]

Have you noticed recently you get settled down to watch the adverts and
then a programme comes along to spoil it []

[Spitfire]

Too true Roy. We now tend to record ITV stuff on the V+ box. A `one hour`program can then be viewed in well under 50 minutes (without interuption).
The box has the facility to rewind live content. Roll on the day when you can fast-forward it.

[Spycam]

It is possible, now, to blank the adverts automatically.
But of course, "they" won't allow it...whoever "they" are.

[Ant]

No adverts = no money = no new shows

In a way, a necessary evil

I do agree though that one of the best things to do is watch it on a play back feature then you can skip them or they are cut out already

[anacortesdamp]

When we first came to the US, I was suprised to find that the advertisers actually paid for the shows to be produced and, in many cases, had quite a say in their content.

It used to be, in the UK, that the Program Companies (Granada, Westward, etc) had total control over program content and just sold the advertising spaces. Is it still that way?

Of course, the new "reality" programs with no script, invented in the UK (thanks a lot!!)are really cheap to make and idiots are falling over themselves (quite litereally sometimes)to get on the show and demonstrate to the world (at least those who watch) just how dumb they are, for next to nothing. If it wasn't for the fairly good dramatic shows, particularly the British ones on Masterpiece Theatre every Sunday, New Tricks on Saturdays and Doc Martin on Thursdays, we'd hardly watch anything except the news, (+football, baseball and Corrie, for Eileen).

There are somtimes some decent documentaries, but they're not very long seasons. One we enjoyed last season was History Detectives. Occasionally we'll watch "Bones" and "Criminal Minds".

Our national broadcasts recently went to digital prgramming and even more recently, our cable provider went to its own encrypted digital. Now the remotes we have to use are for the tuner/descrambler provided by the cable company and we can no longer use our analog VCR, because the cable boxes don't show what channel they're tuned to except on the TV you're controlling. Not that there's that much we want to record any more!

I'm thinking of getting a USB tuner so I can watch programs in the den on my computer while Eileen's watching something else in the living room. Even though we don't watch much, it's amazing how often what I want to watch and what she wants to watch are on at the same time!

Frank

[sandyship]

How I agree with you Frank. re- reality Tv. I have never got into this trash and can't see why people watch them. Maybe it is small things amuse small minds syndrome... don't want to sound too pompous.!!!!
I have very few programmes these days that I want to watch. but must admit to a weakness for Corrie... and I like the current event and docos that we have over here. this is real Tv about real happeningts around the world.

[noel]

Umm, I don't think one or two of our numbers who enjoy things like BB would agree with you on that Sandy. And I can assure you they certainly aren't small minded people.
As for me, well I'm really enjoying I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. But getting back on track I find I usually watch BBC or switch over when the irritating adverts come on commercial channels. Sky channels seem the worst to me for adverts.

[Spitfire]

Noel, Don`t get me wrong -I`m not trying to be funny, or anything, but you are the ONLY person I know who admits to LIKING `Get me out of here`. You don`t go as far as voting , do you?

[noel]

No I don't vote, I object to the charges. Viewing figures hit a peak 10 million this year, so clearly I'm not alone.
Now X-Factor I would take issue with, that's purely about Simon Cowell's inflated ego and 3 minor personalties acting as judges. But that pulls in even higher viewing figures.

[anacortesdamp]

I can't believe that you folks in the UK have to PAY to vote on these stupid shows. It would never work in the US. If they didn't have a toll-free number there'd be no voting at all!


Frank