The Digital TV Con?

[Dave Laurie]

Have we been stitched up with Freeview/Digital, etc.? It all seemed rosy at the start - loads of new channels, surely that meant new programmes being needed to fill them all, therefore more opportunities for film-makers. It doesn't seem to have panned out that way does it? Can anyone name a Freeview Channel (apart from BBC3 & 4 maybe) that shows anything other than repeats or cheap imports? And the whole system is flawed, ITV2 & 3's Now and Next info. regularly freezes for 2 or 3 days at a time, and as for all the C4 variations (C4, C4+1, E4, More 4, Film4, Plus 4's, and whatever), I don't think they should have been awarded/sold licences without assurances they would increase their staff levels to run it all smoothly. They often introduce the wrong programme, or even more annoyingly use the same intro. when you're watching a +1 channel. "Just starting over on ? Channel is....." No it bloody isn't - it was an hour ago, now it's just finishing!

But on the plus side, tonight I've just watched Episode 1 of Heroes Season 2, which I missed last night because I was watching the repeat of The Big Bang Theory which I missed on Wednesday night 'cause I was working.

It's no wonder some people don't know what day of the week it is.

 

[Strawbs]

Something I always hoped would appear with all these multiple channels was one that actually showed from start to finish a whole day's broadcast. Just show the whole day's schedule of ITV on say May 15th 1987 or BBC1 on September 27th 1976, with all the old adverts and original continuity announcements. Like when you find an old copy of Radio Times from years ago and see what was on but actually have it on screen.

It would be the Timewarp Channel.

 

[Dave Laurie]

Hmmmm, The Timewarp Channel..........

What could they possibly use for a theme tune?.......

I thought you had an extensive VHS archive anyway. We should have a whip-round and buy you a spare channel, then you could do your own!

 

[Strawbs]

^

That's a whole different channel, surely.

I thought you had an extensive VHS archive anyway. We should have a whip-round and buy you a spare channel, then you could do your own!

I have some old videos hanging around but nothing like an archive. The oldest has all the old Thomas The Tank Engine episodes from about 1986, which you can get on DVD now anyway. Plus I don't think half a Jean-Michel Jarre concert taped off Channel 4 in 1988 will stretch to make my own Timewarp Channel, sadly.

I'm not interested in running the channel, just throwing the idea out there incase anyone with access to original broadcast tapes happens to see this, thinks it's a great idea and then sets it up.

 

[curtinparloe]

I hate that when it was new they advertised it as being free from interference, whereas in actuality the interference is such that even a little can make the whole channel incomprehensible.

 

[Dave Laurie]

You're right there, it's o.k. when it's fine and sunny, but goes to the dogs with a bit of wind and rain around. They didn't say anything about having to buy a newer aerial originally, and they said all we'd need is a Freeview box - should have said we needed a more expensive Freeview box, 'cause cheaper ones are a bit flaky. And the latest thing, which wasn't mentioned before is you'll have to replace your VCR too if you want to watch 1 channel and record another! Do we have a claim for compensation?