[OT] UK TV Licenses (was Re: These darned old computers)

----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe" &lt;rigdonj(a)cfl.rr.com&gt; To: &lt;cctalk(a)classiccmp.org&gt; Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 6:44 PM Subject: Re: [OT] UK TV Licenses (was Re: These darned old computers) <snip> Explain that one! We also had the 'pleasure' of a "Broadcast Listeners License' until the Govt realised, that Aussies being Aussies, wouldn't pay for it unless they absolutely had to, which meant sending Radio Inspectors to do the rounds. This was costing more than the potential revenue, and was an unpopular job, especially in view of the fines that were levied as a consequence. At least some of the RI's took the initiative of having blank forms with them and would issue licenses on the spot (which they weren't supposed to do) rather than issuing a fine, which could provoke some rather severe reactions from the lower end of the social scale, who were also more likely not to have a license. In the end the Govt decided to give it away as a bad joke, and got stuck into CB licensing instead. If anything this was even more blithely ignored than the BCL and even harder to enforce, despite the RI's best efforts, they ultimately made CB a free class license as well and saved a fortune on Radio Inspectors wages. Where'd the money go? Most of it went to enforcing the licensing, some supposedly found it's way to the ABC (OZ equiv to BBC) but the standard of programming then was mostly documentary stuff, and the odd movie, with some current affairs stuff thrown in. With a few (mostly British) BBC series thrown in (remember Z Cars?) The ABC is still Govt funded, and the programming has iimproved somewhat, but it's not the sort of thing you watch all day if you have a choice. I can't speak to the British experience, but the 'pay me' licence didn't really work as far as ensuring quality progarmming. Commercial TV did and still does beat it hands down. Pay tv is another story. I've noted that it's now laced with commercials, which I find offensive considering we pay to see them. Bit like spam really. Geoff in Oz