On Wed, 19 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver"
<G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

>In message <qf2cnagL_IaIOir5nZ2dnZfqnPth4p2d@brightview.co.uk> at Wed,
>19 Jul 2023 10:04:22, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> writes

>>I think the likes of Mr Murdoch who has wanted to take down the BBC
>>probably for longer than I have been alive, simply because it exists,
>
>Well, initially, because it was direct - and better - competition to
>their newspapers. (I don't remember whether, when ITV came in, they were
>against that too.)

I think this partly answers your remark:

STV started in central Scotland in 1957.

Googling (and of course, OSEAA) "STV licence to print money" produced
this:

"Behind the business was the Canadian media mogul Roy Thomson, who
owned a string of newspapers, including The Scotsman. The huge
popularity of the station led to an unfortunate remark that haunted
the company for a long time. Commercial television in Scotland was "a
licence to print money".

That was from Roy Thomson's obituary.

On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 7:54:23 AM UTC, Paul Herber wrote:
> On Wed, 19 Jul 2023 21:35:18 +0100, Penny <sp...@labyrinth.freeuk.com> wrote:
> >On Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:55:35 +0100, john ashby <johna...@yahoo.com> a
> >gribouillé dans la poussière...
> >>On 19/07/2023 12:54, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> >>> In message <u98b24$23coo$1...@dont-email.me> at Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:40:20,
> >>> The existence of the latter (and Escape to the country) bemuses me - who
> >>> are they aimed at? Surely there can't be that many viewers with the
> >>> money to either property speculate, or buy ¾-million pound rural homes.
> >>> (And if it's redecorating tips for the first one, surely a more honest
> >>> such prog. would be more appropriate.)
> >>
> >>I refer to such programs from Changing Rooms to Grand Designs as
> >>Property Porn and they appeal to a similarly situated demographic, the
> >>house owning or buying equivalent of incels.
> >>
> >>Oops, which umrats have I now offended?
> >
> >I'm not offended either.
> >I've enjoyed a spot of property porn
> Reminds me about this gravestone as well ...
> https://www.dropbox.com/s/kslijmgno4xjys3/20230719_114330.jpg?dl=0
> Someone has to.
>
>
<grin>

N.

On Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 9:43:54 PM UTC, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> In message <527eb607-d567-4545...@googlegroups.com> at
> Tue, 18 Jul 2023 13:57:12, Nick Odell <nick...@bigfoot.com> writes
<snip>
> >The only reason I make a fuss about not paying for a television licence
> >is because the rules make very clear that I shouldn't have to do it and
> >as I've said before, I'd be very happy to pay for BBC Radio.
> I think you're a small minority there. (Not that that makes it an
> invalid position, or you weird.)
> >
> >There has been talk about a BBC tax. I'm sure certain publications
> >could get very worked up about that and start mumbling about the Poll
> >Tax etc. If the law were changed and the BBC became one of those things
> >that you paid for whether or not you used it.
> In practice, it more or less is, for most people: I suspect the
> proportion without a licence is fairly small, though is probably
> increasing at the moment, to the point where I think continuing the
> current weird system might imperil the BBC (more than it already is
> imperilled).
<snip> >
I think you might be surprised at how many people are ditching their TV Licence these days. About 700,000 in the year to 2022, 500,00 in the year to 2023. That's according to sources like the Daily Express but I think they've taken the numbers from various editions of this: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8101/

Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who don't want to watch TV at all but the hundreds of thousands who no longer watch live TV (or iPlayer) and stream from Netflix and Amazon Prime, etc instead.

Nick
nickodell49@yahoo.ca

On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:06:36 -0700 (PDT), Nick Odell
<nickodell@bigfoot.com> a gribouillé dans la poussière...

>Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who don't want to watch TV at all

I've been meaning to ask if you ever watch TV. I think you might enjoy the
TV version of Annika (Strandhed). In which she's been seconded to
Scotland's Marine Homicide Unit.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 08:54:20 +0100, Paul Herber <paul@paulherber.co.uk> wrote:

>On Wed, 19 Jul 2023 21:35:18 +0100, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:55:35 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com> a
>>gribouillé dans la poussière...
>>>On 19/07/2023 12:54, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>>>> In message <u98b24$23coo$1@dont-email.me> at Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:40:20,
>>>> The existence of the latter (and Escape to the country) bemuses me - who
>>>> are they aimed at? Surely there can't be that many viewers with the
>>>> money to either property speculate, or buy ¾-million pound rural homes.
>>>> (And if it's redecorating tips for the first one, surely a more honest
>>>> such prog. would be more appropriate.)
>>>
>>>I refer to such programs from Changing Rooms to Grand Designs as
>>>Property Porn and they appeal to a similarly situated demographic, the
>>>house owning or buying equivalent of incels.
>>>
>>>Oops, which umrats have I now offended?
>>
>>I'm not offended either.
>>I've enjoyed a spot of property porn
>
>Reminds me about this gravestone as well ...
>https://www.dropbox.com/s/kslijmgno4xjys3/20230719_114330.jpg?dl=0
>Someone has to.

The name on the gravestone is
R.E. Bilton
Regulating PO RN

--
Regards, Paul Herber
https://www.paulherber.co.uk/

In message <c8aaf11c-fb9e-4b34-8a37-8fc0991f87e7n@googlegroups.com> at
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:06:36, Nick Odell <nickodell@bigfoot.com> writes
[]
>I think you might be surprised at how many people are ditching their TV
>Licence these days. About 700,000 in the year to 2022, 500,00 in the
>year to 2023. That's according to sources like the Daily Express but I
>think they've taken the numbers from various editions of this:
>https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8101/

Yes, moving ever-closer to the point where those who are still paying,
resent subsidising everyone else - well, presumably they do now, but I
mean the point when they do something about it.
>
>Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who
>don't want to watch TV at all but the hundreds of thousands who no
>longer watch live TV

or _say_ they don't

> (or iPlayer) and stream from Netflix and Amazon Prime, etc instead.

I can't see the "live" criterion lasting much longer. Trouble is, I
don't know what could replace it, and I want the Beeb - with all its
faults - to survive. Maybe the council tax percentage someone suggested.
>
>Nick
>nickodell49@yahoo.ca
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

A true-born Englishman does not know any language. He does not speak English
too well either but, at least, he is not proud of this. He is, however,
immensely proud of not knowing any foreign languages. (George Mikes, "How to
be Inimitable" [1960].)

In message <8mrhbidi51bearncq3er6g4ll4rrp5ibl2@4ax.com> at Thu, 20 Jul
2023 09:30:24, John Armstrong <jja@blueyonder.co.uk> writes
>On Wed, 19 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver"
><G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
>
>>In message <qf2cnagL_IaIOir5nZ2dnZfqnPth4p2d@brightview.co.uk> at Wed,
>>19 Jul 2023 10:04:22, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> writes
>
>>>I think the likes of Mr Murdoch who has wanted to take down the BBC
>>>probably for longer than I have been alive, simply because it exists,
>>
>>Well, initially, because it was direct - and better - competition to
>>their newspapers. (I don't remember whether, when ITV came in, they were
>>against that too.)
>
>I think this partly answers your remark:
>
>STV started in central Scotland in 1957.
>
>Googling (and of course, OSEAA) "STV licence to print money" produced
>this:
>
>"Behind the business was the Canadian media mogul Roy Thomson, who
>owned a string of newspapers, including The Scotsman. The huge

Well, if the people behind the TV station _also_ own the 'papers, it
becomes moot, as they can tune the content to be complementary.

>popularity of the station led to an unfortunate remark that haunted
>the company for a long time. Commercial television in Scotland was "a
>licence to print money".
>
>That was from Roy Thomson's obituary.

Commercial TV was described as a licence to print money in lots of
places, including outside Scotland. (Though Anglia valued its franchise
quite low at one point.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

A true-born Englishman does not know any language. He does not speak English
too well either but, at least, he is not proud of this. He is, however,
immensely proud of not knowing any foreign languages. (George Mikes, "How to
be Inimitable" [1960].)

On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:46:21 +0100, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
wrote:

>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:06:36 -0700 (PDT), Nick Odell
><nickodell@bigfoot.com> a gribouillé dans la poussière...
>
>>Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who don't want to watch TV at all
>
>I've been meaning to ask if you ever watch TV. I think you might enjoy the
>TV version of Annika (Strandhed). In which she's been seconded to
>Scotland's Marine Homicide Unit.

KF Drama is one of the two tv channels second daughter manages. They
had their 10th birthday celebrations yesterday. Her other channel is
Alibi.

On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:31:38 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver"
<G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

>Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who
>>don't want to watch TV at all but the hundreds of thousands who no
>>longer watch live TV
>
>or _say_ they don't
>
>> (or iPlayer) and stream from Netflix and Amazon Prime, etc instead.
>
>I can't see the "live" criterion lasting much longer. Trouble is, I
>don't know what could replace it, and I want the Beeb - with all its
>faults - to survive. Maybe the council tax percentage someone suggested.
>>
We have subscriptions tosome places. Amazon Prime and Netflix are two.
But we'd prefer to pay for each programme we want to view as with some
subscriptions it was just to see a particular series.

Jenny M Benson <NemoNews@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> On 18/07/2023 22:38, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>> In practice, it more or less is, for most people: I suspect the
>> proportion without a licence is fairly small, though is probably
>> increasing at the moment, to the point where I think continuing the
>> current weird system might imperil the BBC (more than it already is
>> imperilled).
>
> How much less imperilled would the BBC be if they didn't insist on
> always having at least 2 presenters for every programme, the one
> speaking and the other ogling him/her and/or completing his/her
> sentences. Witness Spring/Summer/Autumn/WinterWatch and Homes Under the
> Hammer to name but 2 examples.
>

Chuck in first and last nights of the Proms

Mrs McT

In message <j1pibihnfms2rvdl0dfsmmnk9crsqfihc4@4ax.com> at Thu, 20 Jul
2023 17:50:04, Vicky <vicky.ayech@gmail.com> writes
>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:46:21 +0100, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
>wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:06:36 -0700 (PDT), Nick Odell
>><nickodell@bigfoot.com> a gribouillé dans la poussière...
>>
>>>Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who
>>>don't want to watch TV at all
>>
>>I've been meaning to ask if you ever watch TV. I think you might enjoy the
>>TV version of Annika (Strandhed). In which she's been seconded to
>>Scotland's Marine Homicide Unit.
>
>
>KF Drama is one of the two tv channels second daughter manages. They
>had their 10th birthday celebrations yesterday. Her other channel is
>Alibi.
>
Her alibi is ...
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

To keep leaf vegetables clean and crisp, cook lightly, then plunge into iced
water (the vegetables, that is). - manual for a Russell Hobbs electric steamer

On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:50:04 +0100, Vicky <vicky.ayech@gmail.com> a
gribouillé dans la poussière...

>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:46:21 +0100, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
>wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:06:36 -0700 (PDT), Nick Odell
>><nickodell@bigfoot.com> a gribouillé dans la poussière...
>>
>>>Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who don't want to watch TV at all
>>
>>I've been meaning to ask if you ever watch TV. I think you might enjoy the
>>TV version of Annika (Strandhed). In which she's been seconded to
>>Scotland's Marine Homicide Unit.
>
>
>KF Drama is one of the two tv channels second daughter manages. They
>had their 10th birthday celebrations yesterday. Her other channel is
>Alibi.

But Annika (late of BBC R4) was shown on BBC1 (possible a repeat from BBC1
Scotland).
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

In message <nepibi5b99c44n5e9jrbu1qt3m26qe4nvl@4ax.com> at Thu, 20 Jul
2023 17:51:43, Vicky <vicky.ayech@gmail.com> writes
>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:31:38 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver"
><G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
>
>>Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who
>>>don't want to watch TV at all but the hundreds of thousands who no
>>>longer watch live TV
>>
>>or _say_ they don't
>>
>>> (or iPlayer) and stream from Netflix and Amazon Prime, etc instead.
>>
>>I can't see the "live" criterion lasting much longer. Trouble is, I
>>don't know what could replace it, and I want the Beeb - with all its
>>faults - to survive. Maybe the council tax percentage someone suggested.
>>>
>We have subscriptions tosome places. Amazon Prime and Netflix are two.
>But we'd prefer to pay for each programme we want to view as with some
>subscriptions it was just to see a particular series.
>
Pay per view, in other words.

I don't think the BBC would work as either a subscription model _or_ pay
per view: its whole point - like a lot of government in general! - is
that things nobody wants still get funded. That's an oversimplification,
obviously - obviously things _nobody_ wants eventually _do_ get cut, but
in the meantime things nobody _thinks_ they want, survive. And things
can also be tried - more so than in a purely commercial environment,
which subscription and PPV are, basically.

I'm glad radio 3 is there (and thus that I'm paying for it), even though
I hardly ever listen to it - and even radio 1, more so; but if the Beeb
were subscription, let alone PPV, I don't think I'd subscribe to it.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

To keep leaf vegetables clean and crisp, cook lightly, then plunge into iced
water (the vegetables, that is). - manual for a Russell Hobbs electric steamer

On 20/07/2023 19:45, Penny wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:50:04 +0100, Vicky <vicky.ayech@gmail.com> a
> gribouillé dans la poussière...
>
>> On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:46:21 +0100, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:06:36 -0700 (PDT), Nick Odell
>>> <nickodell@bigfoot.com> a gribouillé dans la poussière...
>>>
>>>> Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who don't want to watch TV at all
>>>
>>> I've been meaning to ask if you ever watch TV. I think you might enjoy the
>>> TV version of Annika (Strandhed). In which she's been seconded to
>>> Scotland's Marine Homicide Unit.
>>
>>
>> KF Drama is one of the two tv channels second daughter manages. They
>> had their 10th birthday celebrations yesterday. Her other channel is
>> Alibi.
>
> But Annika (late of BBC R4) was shown on BBC1 (possible a repeat from BBC1
> Scotland).

It was indeed a repeat from BBC Scotland. When all the fuss was made
about it a couple of months ago I thought oh goody, a new series. But
I'd seen it all before. Bit naughty of the BBC not to mention this.

--
Kate B

On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 19:37:06 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver"
<G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

>In message <nepibi5b99c44n5e9jrbu1qt3m26qe4nvl@4ax.com> at Thu, 20 Jul
>2023 17:51:43, Vicky <vicky.ayech@gmail.com> writes
>>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:31:38 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver"
>><G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who
>>>>don't want to watch TV at all but the hundreds of thousands who no
>>>>longer watch live TV
>>>
>>>or _say_ they don't
>>>
>>>> (or iPlayer) and stream from Netflix and Amazon Prime, etc instead.
>>>
>>>I can't see the "live" criterion lasting much longer. Trouble is, I
>>>don't know what could replace it, and I want the Beeb - with all its
>>>faults - to survive. Maybe the council tax percentage someone suggested.
>>>>
>>We have subscriptions tosome places. Amazon Prime and Netflix are two.
>>But we'd prefer to pay for each programme we want to view as with some
>>subscriptions it was just to see a particular series.
>>
>Pay per view, in other words.
>
>I don't think the BBC would work as either a subscription model _or_ pay
>per view: its whole point - like a lot of government in general! - is
>that things nobody wants still get funded. That's an oversimplification,
>obviously - obviously things _nobody_ wants eventually _do_ get cut, but
>in the meantime things nobody _thinks_ they want, survive. And things
>can also be tried - more so than in a purely commercial environment,
>which subscription and PPV are, basically.
>
>I'm glad radio 3 is there (and thus that I'm paying for it), even though
>I hardly ever listen to it - and even radio 1, more so; but if the Beeb
>were subscription, let alone PPV, I don't think I'd subscribe to it.

Oh I got it wrong. We haven't got Netflix, we've got Acorn and
Discovery and a couple more. B says £30 worth of subscriptions to
things we do watch is better than having Skye. And if there is
something on another place he gets it for a month. No long term lock
in.

On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 19:45:04 +0100, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
wrote:

>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:50:04 +0100, Vicky <vicky.ayech@gmail.com> a
>gribouillé dans la poussière...
>
>>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:46:21 +0100, Penny <spam@labyrinth.freeuk.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:06:36 -0700 (PDT), Nick Odell
>>><nickodell@bigfoot.com> a gribouillé dans la poussière...
>>>
>>>>Mostly, I think you will find, it's not the few people like me who don't want to watch TV at all
>>>
>>>I've been meaning to ask if you ever watch TV. I think you might enjoy the
>>>TV version of Annika (Strandhed). In which she's been seconded to
>>>Scotland's Marine Homicide Unit.
>>
>>
>>KF Drama is one of the two tv channels second daughter manages. They
>>had their 10th birthday celebrations yesterday. Her other channel is
>>Alibi.
>
>But Annika (late of BBC R4) was shown on BBC1 (possible a repeat from BBC1
>Scotland).

I have a feeling UKTV is all half-owned by the BBC and half by
Umbrella.

On 20.7.23 12:46, Penny wrote:
> I've been meaning to ask if you ever watch TV. I think you might enjoy the
> TV version of Annika (Strandhed). In which she's been seconded to
> Scotland's Marine Homicide Unit.

I think that was originally on Alibi or something and I watched it then.
I assume it is not new episodes.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

On 20.7.23 19:37, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> I don't think the BBC would work

But that is the question - is it working now?

BoJo said it wasn't because it had a metropolitan view of the world and
he believed that the shires and others had a different view.

Yesterday we went to the Donmar to see "When Winston went to war with
the BBC". It was set at the time of the general strike and the nascent
BBC's approach (news reporting was not permitted at the time on the BBC
as the newspaper proprietors were not happy) to reporting the strike.

Winston was the Government's attack dog (as Chancellor) and attributed
his 1954 government's approval of ITV as being borne out of his hatred
for the BBC.

John Reith's achievements and life are trashed for the purposes of the
plot and unless watching the play to draw the obvious parallels with
current attitudes to the BBC I cannot recommend it - but then the writer
has form for his political views.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

On 20.7.23 17:34, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> (Though Anglia valued its franchise quite low at one point.)

Central. When it was relet at one point the management spotted no-one
else was bidding, offered (I think) £1k and walked away later with an
awful lot more.

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics

On Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:17:36 +0100, krw wrote:

> On 20.7.23 17:34, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>> (Though Anglia valued its franchise quite low at one point.)
>
> Central. When it was relet at one point the management spotted no-one
> else was bidding, offered (I think) £1k and walked away later with an
> awful lot more.

IIRC it was £2k. The bids had to be an integer multiple of £1000 and their
lawyers advised that £1000 isn't a multiple.

I make no comment on the correctness of the lawyers' advice.

--
Jim <http://www.jim-easterbrook.me.uk/>
1959/1985? M B+ G+ A L- I- S- P-- CH0(p) Ar++ T+ H0 Q--- Sh0

In message <khuvreFlgs1U2@mid.individual.net> at Fri, 21 Jul 2023
09:01:34, Jim Easterbrook <news@jim-easterbrook.me.uk> writes
>On Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:17:36 +0100, krw wrote:
>
>> On 20.7.23 17:34, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>>> (Though Anglia valued its franchise quite low at one point.)
>>
>> Central. When it was relet at one point the management spotted no-one
>> else was bidding, offered (I think) £1k and walked away later with an
>> awful lot more.
>
>IIRC it was £2k. The bids had to be an integer multiple of £1000 and their

I really thought that was Anglia, but otherwise details same.

>lawyers advised that £1000 isn't a multiple.

Ah. I had it that there was argument within management over whether to
bid 1 or 2. (It was sealed bids.) I didn't know about the knowledge of
no-one else bidding though.
>
>I make no comment on the correctness of the lawyers' advice.
>
I would have! (1 is an integer!)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Do gun manuals have a troubleshooting section??

In message <msecnXEMRu5Joyf5nZ2dnZfqnPWdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk> at Fri,
21 Jul 2023 09:16:18, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> writes
>On 20.7.23 19:37, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>> I don't think the BBC would work
>
>But that is the question - is it working now?

IMO, with all its faults - yes. There's much that could be improved, but
I still regard it as something precious (in the positive not derogatory
sense) that should be preserved/protected. In some ways, like the NHS.

Having seen other countries' systems, I don't think any match it.
Germany's system (as it was in the 1970s, anyway) is pretty good.
>
>BoJo said it wasn't because it had a metropolitan view of the world and
>he believed that the shires and others had a different view.

It does constantly have to battle to avoid appearing London-centric,
yes. It did the big move, and now sometimes is Salford-centric. To some
extent, it would love to _be_ more regional, but is constantly
cash-strapped - see the current fuss about (even more) combination of
regions at times.
>
>Yesterday we went to the Donmar to see "When Winston went to war with
>the BBC". It was set at the time of the general strike and the nascent
>BBC's approach (news reporting was not permitted at the time on the BBC
>as the newspaper proprietors were not happy) to reporting the strike.
>
>Winston was the Government's attack dog (as Chancellor) and attributed
>his 1954 government's approval of ITV as being borne out of his hatred
>for the BBC.
>
>John Reith's achievements and life are trashed for the purposes of the
>plot and unless watching the play to draw the obvious parallels with
>current attitudes to the BBC I cannot recommend it - but then the
>writer has form for his political views.
>
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Do gun manuals have a troubleshooting section??

On 21/07/2023 11:39, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> In message <msecnXEMRu5Joyf5nZ2dnZfqnPWdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk> at Fri,
> 21 Jul 2023 09:16:18, krw <krw@whitnet.uk> writes
>> On 20.7.23 19:37, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>>> I don't think the BBC would work
>>
>> But that is the question - is it working now?
>
> IMO, with all its faults - yes. There's much that could be improved, but
> I still regard it as something precious (in the positive not derogatory
> sense) that should be preserved/protected. In some ways, like the NHS.
>
> Having seen other countries' systems, I don't think any match it.
> Germany's system (as it was in the 1970s, anyway) is pretty good.

Germany's (and Austria's) systems aren't particularly good, as they have
vast quantities of UK and US television and nearly everything is dubbed
rather than given subtitles, which I find massively offputting. Their tv
news programmes are also even fuller of fluff than ours.

--
Kate B

On 21/07/2023 13:03, Kate B wrote:
> Germany's (and Austria's) systems aren't particularly good, as they have
> vast quantities of UK and US television and nearly everything is dubbed
> rather than given subtitles, which I find massively offputting.

Quite the opposite to me, then! I can't abide watching anything with
subtitles and if I happen to see (I wouldn't choose such a programme)
something like a News program where the headlines are constantly
scrolled across the bottom of the screen I find it, er, massively
offputting.

--
Jenny M Benson
Wrexham, UK

On 21.7.23 11:43, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> In message <khuvreFlgs1U2@mid.individual.net> at Fri, 21 Jul 2023
> 09:01:34, Jim Easterbrook <news@jim-easterbrook.me.uk> writes
>> On Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:17:36 +0100, krw wrote:
>>
>>> On 20.7.23 17:34, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>>>> (Though Anglia valued its franchise quite low at one point.)
>>>
>>> Central.  When it was relet at one point the management spotted no-one
>>> else was bidding, offered (I think) £1k and walked away later with an
>>> awful lot more.
>>
>> IIRC it was £2k. The bids had to be an integer multiple of £1000 and
>> their
>
> I really thought that was Anglia, but otherwise details same.
>
>> lawyers advised that £1000 isn't a multiple.
>
> Ah. I had it that there was argument within management over whether to
> bid 1 or 2. (It was sealed bids.) I didn't know about the knowledge of
> no-one else bidding though.
>>
>> I make no comment on the correctness of the lawyers' advice.
>>
> I would have! (1 is an integer!)

If someone is bidding there is usually whispers and the like. Central
rightly assessed that it had little of real value unlike some of the
other franchises and was well connected to the bigger players so guessed
no-one was interested. I did not know or have forgotten that I knew the
wrinkle about being a multiple of £1000 - I know that any licence was
worth a lot more than that.

As a follow on given that ITV has merged (except STV) and we constantly
hear about the BBC charter having a 10 year life but the government has
the right to change it after 5 years when do the other ITV licences get
relet? Surely they cannot be perpetual? Or has someone forgotten to do
it because of covid?

--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics