American TV vs UK TV

[London_Calling]

Given the domestic market is five times the size of the UK's is the quality output of the USA so impressive?

To the casual observer many - perhaps the maj - of quality US production in recent years has come from subscription channels, (primarily HBO) who have created a workable business model diametrically opposed to conventional network tv. It appears to be an expanding market AFAIK and Mad Man is the latest (a non HBO subscription jobbie).

Apart from no advertising, the model also needs decent DVD sales - also a way for the public to avoid advertising culture. It's a new, expanding market . . . but you have to have the basic numbers and the UK just isn't that big, especially when the tv public continues to decline becasue of alternative domestic entertainment options.

 

[CalmerChameleon]

Are there no ads on any British tv?

On the BBC, no ads. On non-BBC channels, only every 15-20 minutes. It's still too often though.

 

[ku!]

but they are being nasty. Sending me all these notes "if you are not paying..." I would prefer to have advertisments

 

[Belushi]

HBO produces better drama than anything on British Telly (with the exception of Life on Mars) apart from that I'm not sure its any better, our news and docs are better.

 

[London_Calling]

but they are being nasty. Sending me all these notes "if you are not paying..." I would prefer to have advertisments

You don't think you pay for the advertising when you go to the supermarket?

 

[editor]

Watching tv with adverts is a learned skill.

Skill, my arse. It's a fucking irritation. Unless you're the kind of person that likes to have a book grabbed out of your hands every ten minutes to have an advert for soap powder or piles rammed down your throat.

Are there no ads on any British tv?

Not on BBC 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the major commercial channels don't bombard viewers with anywhere near as many adverts as many US channels.

And the the idea of wedging in an advert break between the opening credits and the program starting is (thankfully) still to gain traction here.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Skill, my arse. It's a fucking irritation. Unless you're the kind of person that likes to have a book grabbed out of your hands every ten minutes to have an advert for soap powder or piles rammed down your throat.
.

How would you know: you don't possess the skill. People raised here stop watching and listening when the commercials come on. They do other things, think about something else, go to the bathroom, etc. Selective inattention: it's a learned skill.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Not on BBC 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the major commercial channels don't bombard viewers with anywhere near as many adverts as many US channels.

And the the idea of wedging in an advert break between the opening credits and the program starting is (thankfully) still to gain traction here.

I'm no fan of commercials, but I prefer free tv to paying yet another tax to the govt for the privilege of seeing tv.


p.s. the latest thing here is commercials at the movie theatre. Do you have this advancement yet?

 

[editor]

How would you know: you don't possess the skill. People raised here stop watching and listening when the commercials come on. They do other things, think about something else, go to the bathroom, etc. Selective inattention: it's a learned skill.

LOL.

You must go to the bathroom an awful lot.

 

[editor]

I'm no fan of commercials, but I prefer free tv to paying yet another tax to the govt for the privilege of seeing tv.

Actually, I've no problem shelling out for a licence fee if it keeps inane adverts and corporate bollocks out of my face all day.

Thanks to the BBC I can listen to a wide range of advert free radio stations all day, surf one of the world's best websites untroubled by product-shifting shite and watch a host of TV channnels, all free from corporate slogans.

Lovely.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Actually, I've no problem shelling out for a licence fee if it keeps inane adverts and corporate bollocks out of my face all day.
.

To each his own. The govt gets too much of my money already.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

LOL.

You must go to the bathroom an awful lot.

Not at all, but I can pay attention to a commercial that's been on for weeks, and 'see' it for the first time.

I"m usually watching tv with others, and we take the commercials as an opportunity to communicate with each other. ie talk.

 

[ku!]

You don't think you pay for the advertising when you go to the supermarket?

what was that about? i was talking about a licence

 

[Scaggs]

How would you know: you don't possess the skill. People raised here stop watching and listening when the commercials come on. They do other things, think about something else, go to the bathroom, etc. Selective inattention: it's a learned skill.

Perhaps you are fooling yourself, otherwise all that expense would be wasted. I'm sure they don't make adverts for the fun of it. I always mute the adds if I'm watching commercial tv but, even then, I still notice the logos now and then.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Perhaps you are fooling yourself, otherwise all that expense would be wasted. I'm sure they don't make adverts for the fun of it. I always mute the adds if I'm watching commercial tv but, even then, I still notice the logos now and then.

I'm sure some of it gets through, and if the commercial is outrageous or innovative enough, I'll notice it.

But generally, it's just part of the background noise of life.

 

[Belushi]

Actually, I've no problem shelling out for a licence fee if it keeps inane adverts and corporate bollocks out of my face all day.

Thanks to the BBC I can listen to a wide range of advert free radio stations all day, surf one of the world's best websites untroubled by product-shifting shite and watch a host of TV channnels, all free from corporate slogans.

Lovely.

There's so few places free from advertising nowadays, it makes the beebs ad free status more important than ever.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Thanks to the BBC I can listen to a wide range of advert free radio stations all day, surf one of the world's best websites untroubled by product-shifting shite and watch a host of TV channnels, all free from corporate slogans.

Lovely.

Something that confuses me: if all things British are so consistently superior, then why is there such concern that US media, multinationals, food chains, etc, are making such inroads in your country?

Don't the british people recognize what superior gems they have lying there at their feet?

 

[ku!]

I think, commercials do work, even if you don't really notice them.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

I think, commercials do work, even if you don't really notice them.

I have never bought an Oldsmobile in my life.

 

[Scaggs]

I think, commercials do work, even if you don't really notice them.

They work ok. Just like carpet bombing helps you win wars quickly.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

They work ok. Just like carpet bombing helps you win wars quickly.

Tell that to the North Vietnamese.

 

[Scaggs]

Tell that to the North Vietnamese.

Aye, Maybe they just weren't that sophisticated

 

[Santino]

Have we worked out whose country is best yet?

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Have we worked out whose country is best yet?

I think Britain is in the lead so far.

 

[Santino]

I think Britain is in the lead so far.

Hurrah!

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

the licence fee isn't a tax to the government. As far as I know it goes entirely to fund the production of BBC1 and BBC2 programmes.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I would add that I am on an ESL in china salary and I would gladly pay 100 quid a year to get the BBC channels over here.

 

[The Boy]

the licence fee isn't a tax to the government. As far as I know it goes entirely to fund the production of BBC1 and BBC2 programmes.

The largest part of the licence fee actually goes towards maintaining transmitters. At least it used to - I imagine Sky etc will maintain their own cables.

 

[paolo]

I particularly like comedy, and I think we've had some belters here over the last ten years. Conversely I can't think of any US import comedy I've ever enjoyed with the exception of the Simpsons and The Today Show.

UK Faves: Spaced, League of Gentlemen, The Office, Mighty Boosh, Big Train, QI, HIGNFY, The Day Today, Alan Partridge, Paul Calf, Brass Eye, The Eleven O'Clock Show... etc etc.

For this type of stuff, the US doesn't even come close for me.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

What about Curb Your Enthusiasm? Sheer genius from start to finish and every bit as good as anything ever from the UK.

That said, you left 15 Storeys High and Peep Show off your UK list