This 'ere digital TV rip off

[Rob W]

So I turned on the TV to watch Working Lunch. TV always starts on Beeb 1 irrespective of last channel watched. Picture was ok, never thought about it. I turn over to Beeb 2 and oi, no picture, just a load of snow and a buzzing noise. Then it clicked, today our digital change over starts.

Am I the only one aggrieved that others have forced this change, I don't want it, yet I'm expected to pay for a new TV or digi box thing?  Stuff that.

Anyway, you can get all channels including sky on the PC for zilch.   And my PC screen is bigger than my little TV  

[Allan Heron]

You'll still be using your wind-up gramaphone, Rob? 

[Pete T]

Am I the only one aggrieved that others have forced this change, I don't want it, yet I'm expected to pay for a new TV or digi box thing?  Stuff that.

Nope, i/we've given up with TV. Up here in the far NW we get our signal from Stornaway. I'm told it's not very good, so Sky is really the only option. I am totally against Sky, what with them monopolising cricket, and most other sports coverage. I also don't see why I should have to pay for something I had access to on terrestrial TV. It's a bit like going private, instead of using NHS, we already pay for NHS.
End result, I no longer have a TV, or contribute to the BBC funding via the TV license. Mind you, try telling the licensers that you DO NOT have a TV, I still get threatening letters from them..
There is talk of digitising radio, DAB comes as far as Inverness, NW of there is still on FM/AM..
We do have broadband, but limited to 500mb/sec, so not possible to stream via i-player without constant pauses.

[Mark Davies]

Am I the only one aggrieved that others have forced this change, I don't want it, yet I'm expected to pay for a new TV or digi box thing?  Stuff that.

Nope, i/we've given up with TV. Up here in the far NW we get our signal from Stornaway. I'm told it's not very good, so Sky is really the only option. I am totally against Sky, what with them monopolising cricket, and most other sports coverage. I also don't see why I should have to pay for something I had access to on terrestrial TV. It's a bit like going private, instead of using NHS, we already pay for NHS.
End result, I no longer have a TV, or contribute to the BBC funding via the TV license. Mind you, try telling the licensers that you DO NOT have a TV, I still get threatening letters from them..
There is talk of digitising radio, DAB comes as far as Inverness, NW of there is still on FM/AM..
We do have broadband, but limited to 500mb/sec, so not possible to stream via i-player without constant pauses.

Presumably FreeSat would be another option?

[Pete T]

Presumably FreeSat would be another option?

..it is, but I'm enjoying life without it..
to quote S&G, "I get all the news I need from the weather report."

[Colin Salter]

What gets me in these times of energy shortages and so on, is that digital TV and radio take TEN TIMES more energy to receive than the old fashioned stuff did. Not only that, but if the digital signal weakens , the reception is pixilated, staccatto, unwatchable/unlistenable, instead of just being a bit grainy or fuzzy or staticky like the old stuff. And not only THAT, but the picture quality isn't anything like as good - can't handle rapid movement or complex colours.

I do try to resist conspiracy theories, but it seems to me the only winners here are the government in freeing up more frequencies to charge exorbitant liscense fees for, the electricity companies, and the manufacturers of the inferior digital technology bits and bobs. No doubt this is just a phase we all have to go through before perfect low energy hi-res audio/video broadcasting comes along ...

[Nick Nation]

....but the picture quality isn't anything like as good - can't handle rapid movement or complex colours.

Yep, I was contemplating getting a widescreen TV....but having looked at various models, I came to the conclusion that they all seemed to bleach out the whites, especially on LCD models. So not only was I not impressed with the picture, I am annoyed with the fact that I will have to switch!

[Stephen Barstow]

We were also being forced over to digital this week which meant a box and a new TV (our first and only TV from the early 80s is still going strong). Have thererfore also decided to give up TV. 

[zippy]

if the weather's bad our signal disappears completely. wonder if you can apply for a refund from the beeb for loss of service?

[Martin Daughton]

Especially when the signal breaks up during the National Anthem at the start of the Wales v Argentina game today.
Disgusting!

[Rob W]

Today, 2 Dec 2009, my TV is no more. All stations caput, the digital rip off has done its worse.

Can I get a refund on my TV licence? May pay the petrol to That London for the Green Ray gig. 

[Davey]

i too have not made the jump to warp speed on this.i didn't have cable to begin with.one day the switch over came.that's the day my basic channels stopped working.now the tv is just for dvd's and the occasional vhs...at the nearby laundry mat,the picture jumps around like crazy.something here doesn't sit right with me;i'm going to hold off indefinitely;i'm not a fan of unwarranted legwork...i'll just enjoy the sound of the rain against the pane for a minute before i put on a record,i like this blue cocoon one for example...cheerio...

[Trevor Barstow]

Great TV reception where I am. Thinking of getting a 56" (perhaps more) screen. Before I get caned by the green lobby I am using a carbon offset against members of my family who have decided to recycle their TV.

[Martin Daughton]

The plus side is, because I am up a hill I now get BBC1 Wales, BBC2 Wales, ITV1 Wales and S4C 

Brilliant!

[Rob W]

I phoned the TV licensing people yesterday, and not only do I not now have to pay for a licence, I am getting a refund!! Only downside was bloke I spoke to was a Blackburn Rovers fan.