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57 channels and nothing on
By Wolfie | January 16, 2008
My friend Skimmer has a blog entry about the current drive in the UK to get people switched over from analogue to digital television equipment, ready for when the analogue signal is switched off for good in 2012. He makes a good point that the UK public are being pressured into updating their equipment when they may not actually need to.
But what it got me thinking about is the state of television programming at the moment. I’ve just taken a look at tonight’s schedules for the four channels that I’m currently able to receive, and there is absolutely nothing on that I would make an effort to watch, and most of what is being shown I’d turn off if it came on while I was in the room. The plethora of new channels - and all those “+1″ type channels in particular - has had a really bad impact on the quality of programming.
For me, the golden age of television was in the 70’s and early 80’s, back when I was still a kid and maybe my view of television then is tinged by nostalgia. But I seem to remember that each of the three channels (yep, only three back in those days - how did we ever cope?) had serious news reporting, quality drama, funny comedy and light-hearted afternoon programmes, as well as a selection of the biggest films. The channels didn’t run 24 hours a day, there were less repeats and on Sundays you got a good helping of religious programmes whether you wanted them or not!
Now what do we get? Soaps (God knows how many there are now, but they seem to be on everyday and repeated on Sundays), “Reality” shows that are anything but real, X Pop Factor Idol-type “talent” shows, gardening, cookery - far too much cookery, by the way - and “news” programmes where it’s not the fact that we’re at war that’s important, but whether the female presenter can walk and read the news at the same time. And this, apparently, is what the consumer wants.
I’m sorry but it’s not what this consumer wants, and that’s why I haven’t rushed out to get satellite TV. And why I’m not that bothered about being able to access the free-to-air digital channels available through Freeview. And why I don’t really care about the big switchover. And why I object to the BBC continuing to be funded by an outmoded license fee arrangement.
Judge said “What you got in your defence, son?”
“57 channels and nothin’ on”
I can see by your eyes friend you’re just about gone
57 channels and nothin’ on…
Disclaimer: All opinions in this blog are either my own or else they’re made up just to get a rise out of you and make you angry. Either way, they’re probably not very well thought out or expressed so do yourself a favour and don’t take the world so seriously.
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Categories: Entertainment, Rant-O-Meter |
Tags: Digital, Television
Subscribe by: Email or RSS :: Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. No reproduction without prior permission. :: Disclaimer: All opinions in this blog are either my own or completely made up; you decide.
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