So! What Is Your Excuse For...

[1ozzy]

... being on AB at this time of the day?

It's about 2:15pm here.
The domestic stuff is done.
I don't feel like mucking around with wood or metal.
My pastime is restoring old bits of furniture.
The family is out, my time is mine, but I'm feeling lazy.

That's my excuse.

[trt]

Watch Aus get stuffed by NZ!

I'm off to bed.

[Jackdaw33]

It's 4.15 here. Really should only be 3.15 but we've just put the clocks forward one hour. Got up to go to the loo and realised I hadn't shut down my computer so thought I'd have a look in whilst I have a smoke before going back to bed.

[1ozzy]

You're off to bed Trt?
Does that mean Oz has been stuffed by the Kiwis?

[1ozzy]

I think the "Stones" got it wrong when they sang "Time is on my side".
Enjoy your smoke Jack.

[Buenchico]

>>>What Is Your Excuse For...

Ruddy silly question!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/31429012

[1ozzy]

I lower my head in shame Chris...
...Not being a cricket fan I had no idea.

I guess someone from the other side of the world was needed to point out that bit of important info to me ;-)

Thank you.

[Buenchico]

I'm listening to it on the radio at the moment because the TV coverage is on (subscription-based) satellite TV. I might still spend £7 on a day pass for a day pass which would enable me to watch it (via the internet) on my telly. However I'm not sure if I'll be able to stay awake long enough to get full value from it!

[1ozzy]

I'm too much of a tight wad to pay for tele.
I just ignore all the free to air stuff.

[Buenchico]

Apart from the cricket, I'm not a sports fan and I've never actually paid for any sport yet.

However, like many Brits, I've got a 'Now TV' box that turns a 'normal' telly into a 'smart' one. It only costs a few pounds to buy and the basic services it offers (such as 'catch up' services) are free. However I also pay £7 per month to get lots of extra channels (including loads of classic comedy). Despite that, I still watch very little telly! (I'm a radio fan really). It's that box that has an option to pay per day, or per week, to access lots of sports channels.

[1ozzy]

We get free to air, or we pay lots for sport, documentaries and American re-runs.
One day we may catch up with the rest of the world, but I won't hold my breath 'til then.

[1ozzy]

I'd better get going Chris.
My youngest son (soon to be eighteen) just walked home from a local Rugby League carnival. Over the last ten minutes there have been 4 young ladies knocking on the door and they are all inside.

Geez, the girls of today are like bloodhounds, they have followed his scent ;-).

(I'm jealous, this never happens to me;-)

[Buenchico]

It's not so different here. A terrestrial aerial gets you these channels:
http://www.freeview.co.uk/whats-on/channels

A satellite dish & box (without a subscription) gets more channels (but some of the best terrestrial ones are missing, so you still need a terrestrial aerial as well to get all the free channels that are available):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free-to-air_channels_at_28%C2%B0E

However adding in subscription TV services, via satellite or cable, can cost a lot of money. The full Sky TV satellite package (with all the entertainment, movie and sports channels) costs £75.75 (= Aus$145) per month but sports fans might still not be able to see their favourite events unless they pay a further £13.50 (= Aus$26) per month to subscribe to BT Sport (which holds the exclusive rights to broadcast many major events).

[Buenchico]

>>>I'm jealous, this never happens to me;-)

Rubbish!

I'll bet that the young ladies are actually into older men and are only using your son's presence as an excuse to be close to you ;-)

[waterboatman]

Morning all. Pat to view TV is a rip off. Can't be doing with it. I've got freeview and freesat. That's it. I would like to see more rugby and cricket, but sky has cornered the market. i pay enough for my TV licence and object most strongly to paying more.

[1ozzy]

I reckon some of those, or equivalent may be on offer in the cities out here.
We live in the "middle of nowhere" NSW.
Cable, not an option doesn't exist, satellite dish, purchasable at a cost, but tied into a contract from the supplier, showing crap unless you pay the extra charge to get something interesting.
No way will I shell out money for something I may not enjoy.

[Buenchico]

I'm with you on that, Boaty, but I do quite like the way that Sky allows you to get a day's access, allowing you to watch a single event (such as today's World Cup Cricket Final), for £6.99 or a week's access (including, say, a 5-day Test Match) for £10.99, without even needing a satellite dish, yet alone a Sky subscription. I've not actually used it yet (because I'm not a great sports fan) but it's clearly useful for people who only want to see one or two major events each year.

[1ozzy]

We don't pay a TV licence out here Boaty. What is free is free.
But if we want more then we pay through the nose.
The majority of people that subscribe to the service are the unemployed.
They seem to be the only ones that can afford it.

[waterboatman]

That's not bad Chris.but it is still extra cost that I think is wrong. But them I'm a tight fisted git. ;o}

[waterboatman]

Yes. Strange that isn't it oz.

[Buenchico]

When I was briefly in Oz (30 years ago), 1ozzy, I found Auusie TV quite interesting. For example, I was amazed to see a programme that was showing in the UK as early Saturday evening family viewing flagged as 'Over-18s only'. ("The A-Team").

Further, while watching a game of Australian Rules Football, I was equally amazed to see that the whole of the Under-15 game that preceded it was shown as well.