Ssb - seeing red

[Robert602]

when the time comes and analogue is completely turned off freeview viewers are losing out so producing freeview boxes is pointless and therefore i urge everyone to ditch freeview if they are sport fans now.

I don't think I understand any of that. Freeview viewers won't be losing out when analogue is switched off any more than they are now. And how does it help anyone to ditch freeview?

Freeview is what it is. There's a demand for uncomplicated, subscription free TV and freeview meets those requirements.

You can argue though that they should only provide services that are freely accessible through available equipment that does not require a subscription service - otherwise you are paying twice to watch content. If they cannot provide it through Freeview then arguably they should stop providing it through paid subscription services. That's not sour grapes either because I'm with Virgin, but if I only had Freeview I would be furious if I were subsidising sports coverage for Sky and Virgin viewers. And don't even get me started on their Web services - it is insane that people who pay to be able to legally watch TV end up subsidising internet enterprise!

You could argue that, though again freeview isn't the only subscription free service and freesat does (as far as I know) show all BBC content.

Assuming that there was BBC content only on Sky/Virgin though, I don't think it's as black and white as paying for the same thing twice. The license fee has only ever really been about the content, we've still had to pay for our own TVs, and for the electricity to keep them running etc. Yes we're unused to having to pay separately for getting the content to our TV, but when we subscribe to (for example) the Eurosport player online it goes without saying that we need to pay again for the internet connection with which to watch it.

The difference here of course is that there will be people paying for some BBC content that they have no need or means to receive. That's not right. I think the money for this extra content should come from either a separate grade of TV license (as with colour/B&W) or should be paid for through Sky/Virgin subscriptions. I don't oppose the extra content itself though.

[wildJONESEYE]

point is Roberts no digital viewer anywhere should have less service from the BBC than any other viewer.

how is purchasing a rival broadcaster like SKY better for BBC Viewers than getting Freeview ?

does not make sense.

[Robert602]

point is Roberts no digital viewer anywhere should have less service from the BBC than any other viewer.

I see your point, but to restrict the BBC to the lowest common denominator (and why draw the line at digital, not analogue?) is the wrong approach. If the BBC operated like that who knows when we'd have switched to colour - certainly not in 1967 (when it did start) as so many people couldn't receive it, not by 1969 when pot black launched, so no chance of broadcast snooker. I could go on.

The only good solution in my opinion is to charge freeview viewers less (and analogue viewers less still). The BBC shouldn't force people to pay for things they can't receive, but they are a driving force in broadcasting and they should be allowed to use and develop technology to provide the best service to everyone, now and with a view to the future.

how is purchasing a rival broadcaster like SKY better for BBC Viewers than getting Freeview ?

Because Sky gives BBC a better platform than freeview, just as freeview is better than analogue. Not all digital technologies are equal.

[wildJONESEYE]

yes i understand that Sky gives the BBC a better platform my point is they are putting money in to the back pocket of a rival broadcaster.

it just seems strange its like littlwoods or BHS staff sugesting that their customers should go to marks and spensers theres more choice for them

[fredkite]

Maybe the BBC could show both tables on channel 301 in a split screeen format and give you three audio choices - table 1, table 2 or best of all no commentary.

[RGCirencester]

or best of all no commentary.

Isn't that the mute button on your TV

Personally I do not see the need for this, The freeview channels were recently rescheduled to make way for new HD content, initially this does not exist (except in London I think), but eventually they are planning to have something like 3 HD channels on freeview. So how will they manage this if they cannot even keep enough bandwidth to run the standard definition red button services, which I personally see as much more important than say, BBC parliament, and a lot of other junk they have floating around on freeview.

It is getting quite difficult to choose a TV service without paying subscription to SKY, or Virgin etc. FreeSat may have both red button channels, and HD content but you miss out on channels like Virgin1, Dave and FiveUSA.

[RocketRoy1983]

Very poor decision hopefully we'll still be able to watch it via the BBC website. I also have Virgin freeview so it might all be panic over nothing hopefully.

[wildJONESEYE]

Very poor decision hopefully we'll still be able to watch it via the BBC website. I also have Virgin freeview so it might all be panic over nothing hopefully.

virgin is ok

christ never thought id say being a virgin was ok

[superaussie]

freeview 302 is officially gone

[wildJONESEYE]

freeview 302 is officially gone

people in charge of Freeview isn't all there either.

[superaussie]

people in charge of Freeview isn't all there either.

anyway i will have sky in before the uk starts

[wildJONESEYE]

anyway i will have sky in before the uk starts

well done mate are you getting sky sports or only freesat ?

[superaussie]

well done mate are you getting sky sports or only freesat ?

sky sports but im going for the basic 2 packages which has all the bbc channels and interactive options im not going for premium channels like skysports 1 and 2

the basic one is 17.50 a month

[wildJONESEYE]

sky sports but im going for the basic 2 packages which has all the bbc channels and interactive options im not going for premium channels like skysports 1 and 2

the basic one is 17.50 a month

yes it gets expensive the whole packages but you wont have any interuptions with red button feed at the snooker championships.

[superaussie]

yes it gets expensive the whole packages but you wont have any interuptions with red button feed at the snooker championships.

i know

mate how many bbc interactive options will i get on sky and what channels are they 301 or different