TV is rubbish: premium-rate rip-offs, deafening noises, endless repeats etc.

[solvitquick]

Just interested whether anyone agrees that UK TV is going down the drain fast and hardly worth watching. My reasons for asking:
(a) The epidemic of mainly-daytime PREMIUM PHONE RATE "COMPETITIONS" which, in my opinion, are simply a means of holding an unlicenced lottery disguised as a test of skill. A TYPICAL "skill" question (invented by me as an example): "Which is the capital of England - (i) Paris (ii) London or (iii) Moscow?". Such insults prey on the poor, aged, sick and honest-out-of-work in society just for their money as well as shortening programme length and costs. I do not believe that "free "internet entries win, it's just another cop-out from the lotttery law. Stats please TV moguls.
(b) NOISE IN OUR LOUNGE. Do programmes DEAFEN you with deliberately increased sound from "audience roars of applause", adverts and "musical band" intro's to celebs or contestants etc.?
The mute and off-buttons are the most valued items in our home!
(c) REPEATS of programmes made years ago, many so old they render wide-screen TV sets worthless thro' their ancient 4x3 format.
(d) ADVERTS AT LEAST EVERY 10 MINUTES, including the BBC which keeps telling us of forthcoming programmes, again shortening the real length of programmes and hence production costs.
(e) PROGRAMMES ACROSS THE BOARD WHICH ASSUME WE ARE ALL STUPID PLEBS who are bored by good documentaries, progammmes on science, engineering, literature, art, history, culture etc.
Apparently we prefer goggling at self-promoting "celebrities", seeing people humiliated on "game shows", talentless shouting youth groups, disgustingly violent movies and the modern equivalent of circus "freak-shows" showing sufferers of disfigurement, dwarfs and the bearded lady(?)! (Illegal in circuses now).
Oh, (f) Of course WE DO NOT STAY AT HOME ON WEEKEND EVENINGS SO DON'T NEED QUALITY TV as we are too busy wining and dining on our millionaire incomes!

[EcclesCake]

Perhaps you should pick up a TV magazine at the weekend and set your digibox to record programmes of interest. You can then fast forward through the bits not of interest.

I recognise some of you points but certainly not all of them.

[Ann]

Well I tend to agree solvit, but maybe would not have shouted the facts like that:)
It's the constant adverts and competitions on Daybreak breakfast show that irritate me the most, I watch BBC Breakfast but switch over when political or boring interviews are on. Every time I switch over, I can guarantee it is showing adverts or competitions, I would love to know exactly how much of the actual programme is Daybreak!

[VHG]

>>>TV is rubbish

A rather blanket statement.

A few years ago we only had one or two or three channels, and no video, so you had to watch what was on, you had no choice.

I am sure there was plenty of rubbish on then but we just had to accept it.

Now, if you have the right equipment, we have hundreds of channels.

Yes some are rubbish, and many programs are rubbish, but there are still many many excellent TV channels and programs around.

BBC1 and BBC2 still show some terrific nature programs, documentaries, and so on.

BBC 3 and BBC4 are also very good. I probably watch more on BBC4 than any other channel.

There are also many documentary channels (again if you have the right equipment). I have Sky and can chose from about 30 documentary channels. Yes there are adverts, but if you record it you can fast forward through the adverts.

Also with Sky I have Sky Arts1 and Sky Arts 2 which have a whole range of programs about music, art, culture and so on. And not just "high brow" stuff but programs about pop and rock music, highlights from rock festivals and so on.

I think also the quality of many programs (the acting, sets, etc) is excellent compared to what we used to watch. If you watch some programs from the 60s or 70s the sets are awful and the production values are far below what we accept nowadays.

I think nowadays you do need a "hard disk" recorder like with Sky or Virgin, or a PVR ifs you watch Freeview or Freesat. You can then select the programs you want to watch and then record them over the week, then watch them at your leasure when nothing else is on.

We have a wider choice than ever, and still have many quality programs and quality channels, but it now takjes a bit more effort to sort the good from the dross.

[quizzywig]

British TV is so much better than the utter rubbish that US puts out. That's why we don't bother with Sky!

[solvitquick]

Dear EcclesCake - yup fair idea but is like reducing choices back to analogue days but more hassle? Probably go for hard disc or digibox in time but my female partner cannot understand technology. She cannot even operate our current TV-linked DVD/CD player so no good to her. Also our preferences often clash at same time. But ty my favourite cake.

[emmie]

i agree much of it is rubbish, repeats which all channels seem to be guilty of. However there are any number of programmes which can be educational, entertaining, you just have to be choosy.

[solvitquick]

Important point for Dear Ann86 about me "shouting". One of AB's very few weaknesses is lack of emphasis like bold or italics or even spell-checker. So rules are not same as e-mail. But my apologies dear.
Yup, Ann, you so right about Daybreak, although I think your criticism could apply to many more progs?
Well done dear, you have identified a point I missed - the cunning way "different" channels use same time slots for ads although maybe its coincidence as advert time seems longer than prog time.
Love to you for sensible comments which do not involve throwing stacks of money at an insoluble problem.
Will addresss other ABers comments later if poss.

[solvitquick]

Oops, a general point. I believe TV has been a great and educational addition to everyone's life. My complaint is only about its progressive abuse.
Ty em10 for reminding me, Well done Clark Gable look-alike (lol).

[solvitquick]

Or maybe Fred Astaire (?)

[emmie]

not Clark Gable lookalike that was him. I have had a facelift though.

[craft1948]

I don't even switch the TV on on a Saturday, and Sunday it's off until Downton time..................

[emmie]

Mr Astaire now, at least till i find something else.

[dave50]

Yes channel 4 are the worst culprits for always having young audiences (never anyone over 30) screaming and whooping at everything.

[emmie]

There have been any number of very good programmes on, of course it is dependant on taste.
Brilliant drama on Kenny Everett the other evening, should win all the awards for the actor portraying him
Homeland which many on here seem to like
Once Upon a Time, which i and a few others followed avidly.
Downton Abbey
Some good quiz show, The Chase and Only Connect, not to
forget Mastermind and University Challenge
Documentaries on wildlife, and Coast,
Excellent music on BBC4, usually very mixed bag, something for everyone.

[Tizzi24]

I agree with VHG, there are a lot of good programmes on TV, much better than "the old days". I don't have Sky, only Freeview and there is plenty to watch when you ignore the dross.

[boxtops]

solvit you can do italics, I can't remember how as it seems superfluous to me, but there is a tutorial somewhere.

We pick and choose our programmes, there is a lot we watch on travel and history, we just turn it off if there's nothing we like.

[boxtops]

.. and PS we only have Freeview too.

[Essell]

I have to agree with much you say. My pet hate is the shrinking of credits to display details of forthcoming programmes, or drowning out of theme music while someone with a nasal drone and smarmy voice tells you about the next programme - or both. All for a minute of time.

[solvitquick]

Aaw, can't answer everyone but ty all for respectable debate. Sorry VHG for "blanket" statement - not so - just my bullet points to identify my examples. Expanded on e.g. by Ann86.
Vital to chose Favourites to avoid over 90 channels, but not so easy for non-techies.
More channels do not mean more choice (of quality progs) as demoed by intro of digital. Hence no Sky for us - over £20 per month for even More Rubbish!
Well said quizzywig! When on many business trips to USA, I only switched hotel TV on for 10mins on 1st visit. Masses of channels and all rubbish.
Loved Steve_5's rawplug example - well said, pmsl.
Yup em10, agree wth what you say but it all takes time and some of your examples existed on analogue including Original Kenny Everett. Your images great pmsl. My fav new quiz: Pointless - so I am not slagging off all new progs.
Well said all notably craft1948, dave50 and Essell for specific points. Sorry if I do not mention all but ty EVERYONE for great reading.
Unlike many I WILL chose best answer but very difficult as quality of comments all so good.
Time to close it now maybe?