[UK] TV licence iPlayer rules come into force

[astral276]

A slight apology to the BBC. I thought the revamp of 'Goodnight Sweetheart' (part of the Landmark Sitcom Season) tonight was excellent; I hope it turns into a series rather than a one off.

Maybe it worked because they used the same cast (probably lucky they were all still alive) and scenarios rather than trying to totally reinvent it. Most of the sitcom revamps make me wonder why they bothered and leave a bad taste in the mouth.

It was interesting to see how the actors have aged over the years, though Emma Amos seems to have worn the best.

[Gill]

A slight apology to the BBC. I thought the revamp of 'Goodnight Sweetheart' (part of the Landmark Sitcom Season) tonight was excellent; I hope it turns into a series rather than a one off.

Maybe it worked because they used the same cast (probably lucky they were all still alive) and scenarios rather than trying to totally reinvent it. Most of the sitcom revamps make me wonder why they bothered and leave a bad taste in the mouth.

It was interesting to see how the actors have aged over the years, though Emma Amos seems to have worn the best.

I enjoy programmes of the Goodnight Sweetheart era and loved the re-runs.

But tonight lacked something although it did have its funny bits. A one hour episode would have been better than 30 minutes and how come Reg looks the same as he did in the 40's but younger/same age as Gary in the 60's?

Hopefully Micheal will also be better in the new series (if there is one) now he has got over the 'newbie' nerves.

As for having 'worn the best' Mel, makeup, clothing, hair and clothes make all the difference to how a woman perceives herself either on TV or in reality. In the GS situation Yvonne has plenty of money and can spend, spend, spend and has a heart that beats, yet Phoebe owns a pub, watches the pennies but has a heart of gold with much love to give.

I will look forward to the return series to see the outcome.

[tony41]

Let them advertise, simple solution.... or not.
They would need decent programs to watch to make the adverts viable
I watch very little on BBC, I tend to watch Channel 4 and Channel 5 these days.
Channel 4 news is excellent.
Channel 5 The Wright Stuff is the best morning program.
Just my opinion, others will differ

Oh, no! We need channels untainted with adverts. However, I do agree that Channel 4 News is excellent.
Most of my watching is on BBC. Often the excellent documentaries on BBC4 and BBC2.

[cambrensis]

I didn't know that!

Neither did I! And I've been around for well over 70 years! Wonder who dreamed that one up....

[Gill]

This might sound like splitting hairs but unlike commercial stations the licence money goes to the government pot and is then paid to the BBC...so it is actually government funded as a government entertainment department if you like.

Since it is government funded the BBC is often referred to here as the British Brainwashing Corporation

Full description here http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-i...pay-for-top13#

[cambrensis]

They would need decent programs to watch to make the adverts viable
I watch very little on BBC, I tend to watch Channel 4 and Channel 5 these days.
Channel 4 news is excellent.
Channel 5 The Wright Stuff is the best morning program.

Too wright!

I saw my first commercial TV programme in the late 50's, a very good production of "The Bridge at San Luis Rey" which was totally destroyed by the very last line being cut to go to commercials!

And who is naive enough to believe that commercial TV is "free"? (I know you did not say that but...)

I've not heard of public panels commenting for the commercial stations as we do for the Corporation; I've been involved for over 50 years with that as have many thousands of others around the country.

The one thing that does annoy me about current BBC broadcasting is that because they sell on so much of their output to other providers,often commercial stations, the programmes are "sliced up" to allow for their commercial breaks and the first few minutes of each new slice is wasted giving a resumé of what has been said so far. Why? - because the commercial breaks play havoc with the attention span of the commercial audience!

[cambrensis]

Still, it is funded voluntarily, regardless of what fare they serve. Thanks for the info.

You do realise, I take it, that PBS is an "enabler", i.e. it is not a TV station, has no transmitters and no studios? Most of the "voluntary funding" comes from the many small commercial TV stations around the U.S. which give transmitter and broadcast time to the PBS.

It's the only thing I watch regularly from the US though. I rarely understand the adverts on the Big Five (though it is true i miss the point of most here as well! )

[cambrensis]

We are going to register her at this address.....don't know how long that will take though

If she is registered with your doctor, that should be enough. She isn't old enough to be on the voter's register which is currently being updated. School/college will work equally well.

[astral276]

The justification for the BBC being funded from public licence fees rather than from advertising revenue is that it can remain impartial - as it does not have to keep its sponsors happy to remain economically healthy. Clearly that doesn't work as the BBC is probably one of the most biased media/news outlets there is.

[moonwitch]

If she is registered with your doctor, that should be enough. She isn't old enough to be on the voter's register which is currently being updated. School/college will work equally well.

The problem we are having is that Sharn goes to the same school and GP as she did when she lived with her mother...oh well