All posts by MikeB
Below are all of MikeB's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
KMJ,Derby: David's idea simply do not add up - as has been shown clearly, subscription services need to be policed, at a cost much higher than a flat fee. It must also be pointed out that Sky's fees are also not income based, and that the general licence fee also now pays for the license fees of the over 75's.
As for the idea that the licence fee should be top sliced amoungst the PSB's - why? Firstly, this would be a constant weapon at the head of the BBC by any government (be nice to us, or face a 20% cut next year..this is pretty much what happened to PBS in the States).
Secondly - why should we pay for a reasonable level of broadcasting quality and social value , when broadcasters should be doing that anyway? Sky New's isn't PSB (although its not bad), its a loss leader to say to people that Sky isn't just about imported shows and sport.
Viewers already have to have a basic level of PSB services, no matter what the broadcaster, so paying broadcasters who have to do it anyway (and in the case of Sky, have actually made money from a service that their customers would have wanted anyway) makes little sense.
Catch up TV is much more popular than even a year ago, but slow broadband speed, older equipment, existing habits, and the fact that most TV is still watched live would preclude subscription, at least until an efficent and cost-effective model can be found.
There is one other reason not to have adverts on the BBC - the other broadcasters would hate it. There is only so much advertising revenue (although there has been steady growth overall), and much of it has gone onto the net (the tipping point was in 2009). Even though revenue has increased post crash, and market share continues to be about the same UK ad spend set to hit record £14bn | Media | theguardian.com , TV will face problems from the increasing non-linear viewing habits we've developed (PVR's fast forward ads, we are watching more online, etc)
Connected TV: what are the TV advertising developments and the policy challenges? - Newsletter Analysys Mason Quarterly - News | Analysys Mason
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Why would I want, as a commercial broadcaster, to have to fight for revenue with the BBC? Its a big brand, which already advertises on its overseas services (such as BBC America), with a huge reach, popular programmes and a massive back catalouge. Much better for them to do their own thing, and use the spinoff of talent, etc to help your own programming. Yes, Sky would like a version of the USA's PBS/NPR, but for most of us, we would lose far more than we gained, included the commercial broadcasters.
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Rob Mitchell: Could you check which transmitter your using? You should be getting BBC's Central News, since the Oxford transmitter is only 8km away!
If you look at the Digital UK tradeview link, you can what might be happening. When a box tunes itself, it will often start with the lowest RF frequency, and then go up from there. Sandy Heath is on channel 27, and Hannington is on 45. Niether of these are very good for you. Oxford is on 53. Try manual tuning, and hopefully you should get Oxford and all your channels.
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Briantist: I suggested this habit of not using HD a little while back, but had the perfect example on Christmas day at my inlaws.
My father in law has a Panasonic HD recorder, and was setting it up to record the Queens Speech. He put on BBC1, and I reminded him that he could record it in HD. He said it was fine. I asked him if it was through habit that he used BBC1, and not the HD channel, and he said it was just that.
Its going to take time to get people to think HD automatically - so thats why there is a 'nag'. Far from forcing people to use HD, it just to remind them that they have something they've paid for, and which gives them a better picture.
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Pete: Since most of the people sent one didn't seem to need one in the end, the fact that you were not sent one possibly indictes that the problem is elsewhere.
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Charles Stuart: To be honest, your TV is over 5 years old, and Panasonic is unlikely to be supporting this model any more with updates.
Its certainly too old to have a USB or ethernet connection. I just wouldn't worry about it.
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frank: Why are you emailing this website? This is an independent website run by Briantist, which has nothing to do with the Movie Mix channel. If you want to contact the channel, then you Google to find out their email address.
Geoff Bunyan - you seem to be even more confused - Briantist is merely pointing out the BCAP code that governs sub-titles. He's not 'defending' a position, just pointing out what the code does say (or not say in this case). He of course has nothing to do with Movie Mix either, and thus has no influence with the channel whatsoever.
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Brian Wright: I was showing some people 22in TV's this morning, and they had not problem telling the difference between SD and HD - have a look for yourself.
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Charles Stuart: I agree with KMJ - your TV is fine, and unless it goes wrong or you decide it needs to be changed, its OK (as I said, I just wouldn't worry about it). And I'm speaking as someone who sells TV's!
The reason your Youview box gets software updates is that its a much newer machine, where software patches and updates are useful, and of course its connected to the internet, which makes such things possible automatically.
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Charles Stuart: OK - if you want to replace one, start with the size. A 32 these days is fine about 1.5m from the viewer. A 40/42 should be about 10ft.
All TV's from the four major brands should have Freeview HD, Full HD, be smart (at least Iplayer) and have wifi. A Panasonic E6 with 100hz screen in a 32in is about £350, and a 42in version is £499. The more you pay, the better the picture (higher refresh rate), but the sound will be flat generally.
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Saturday 4 January 2014 9:39PM
jb38: Your quite right about the effects of 4G, but the one thing that tends to occur (looking back at the threads) is that when people suggest 4G as the root of their problem is that it almost always isn't!
Almost every time, its something else, and all too often a problem within their own system (OK - at least the ones who report back). Since a 4G filter has been fitted, all I'm saying is, it the most likely problem?
Even loft aerial systems can fail (corrosion, etc) but we both agree that no matter how unlikely it is, at least it should be eliminated, so that the problem can be identified.