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Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Old Nov 2nd 2011, 7:09 pm
  #151  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by Alan2005
I don't understand what you are saying. How is it not a fair comparison?
Because you're not comparing like for like. I could sit in the UK, hook up my media PC and watch all sorts of Canadian/US content, which actually thinking about it is what I actually used to do although back then the internet was crappier than it is now. I used to listen to US and Canadian radio stations as well, does that fact make the radio stations in the UK less crappy?

Therefore, ipso facto, the TV is not as bad as it was. But we're not talking about TV at that point, we're talking about watching video over the internet.
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Old Nov 2nd 2011, 7:13 pm
  #152  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by Steve_
Because you're not comparing like for like. I could sit in the UK, hook up my media PC and watch all sorts of Canadian/US content, which actually thinking about it is what I actually used to do although back then the internet was crappier than it is now. I used to listen to US and Canadian radio stations as well, does that fact make the radio stations in the UK less crappy?

Therefore, ipso facto, the TV is not as bad as it was. But we're not talking about TV at that point, we're talking about watching video over the internet.
You're trying to have it both ways. If the comparison is "which is better, TV as broadcast here or there?" then Alan can't have his internet and you can't fast forward throough the non-program material. If the comparison is "which is better as actually deployed?" then all gadgets are in but it's not really about television.
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Old Nov 2nd 2011, 7:50 pm
  #153  
 
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by Steve_
Because you're not comparing like for like. I could sit in the UK, hook up my media PC and watch all sorts of Canadian/US content, which actually thinking about it is what I actually used to do although back then the internet was crappier than it is now. I used to listen to US and Canadian radio stations as well, does that fact make the radio stations in the UK less crappy?

Therefore, ipso facto, the TV is not as bad as it was. But we're not talking about TV at that point, we're talking about watching video over the internet.
Ok, simply put I think the BBC provides superior content overall to anything on north american channels, whereas you think the opposite. I understand this - everybody has their own personal tastes.

However, I must be missing some fundamental point you are making about this comparison because I don't know what difference the method I use consume TV content makes to this point of view. Ultimately though, technology doesn't matter to me, only the result; and as long as that's TV programs I want to watch appearing on the TV screen in my living room I'm happy.
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Old Nov 2nd 2011, 7:55 pm
  #154  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

my impressions (not a Brit, though).

Food much better in the UK
History
racial tension more apparent (at least compared to where I live in Canada)
tv SUCKED. I had set up in my mind how amazing it would be, but it blowed. What a let down. Game shows, crap reality shows...blech.
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Old Nov 2nd 2011, 8:02 pm
  #155  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by Kiwilass
my impressions (not a Brit, though).

Food much better in the UK
History
racial tension more apparent (at least compared to where I live in Canada)
tv SUCKED. I had set up in my mind how amazing it would be, but it blowed. What a let down. Game shows, crap reality shows...blech.
I agree. While there are a few gems here or there, in the main it's simplistic drivel designed to chloroform the masses.
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Old Nov 2nd 2011, 8:04 pm
  #156  
 
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by Kiwilass
tv SUCKED. I had set up in my mind how amazing it would be, but it blowed. What a let down. Game shows, crap reality shows...blech.
Yeah, there's a lot of crap. You need to look for the good stuff like "monkey dust" - I've been watching them all again on youtube.
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Old Nov 2nd 2011, 10:31 pm
  #157  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

yes, I figured there had to be some good stuff around but had no idea how to find it. booo.
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Old Nov 3rd 2011, 1:29 am
  #158  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

My observations? F*** that for a lark.
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Old Nov 3rd 2011, 5:12 pm
  #159  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by dbd33
You're trying to have it both ways. If the comparison is "which is better, TV as broadcast here or there?" then Alan can't have his internet and you can't fast forward throough the non-program material. If the comparison is "which is better as actually deployed?" then all gadgets are in but it's not really about television.
Yes I can, because I'm using my DVR from the cable company to FF. It is TV I am watching. You can buy a DVR in the UK and do the same thing with freeview, in fact you can buy a Tivo and do it here with OTA TV. And besides as I pointed out even if you do sit through the ads, UK TV is not as ad-free as seems to be made out. Canadian TV just has more frequent breaks at different points in the show, whereas in the UK my observation is they have less breaks but longer ones.
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Old Nov 3rd 2011, 5:16 pm
  #160  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by Alan2005
Ok, simply put I think the BBC provides superior content overall to anything on north american channels, whereas you think the opposite. I understand this - everybody has their own personal tastes.
Well yes, I agree on that point. I don't rate the BBC that highly, other people seem to. And I think anyone who does at this point really is using rose-tinted glasses because they have had massive budget cuts lately.

However, I must be missing some fundamental point you are making about this comparison because I don't know what difference the method I use consume TV content makes to this point of view. Ultimately though, technology doesn't matter to me, only the result; and as long as that's TV programs I want to watch appearing on the TV screen in my living room I'm happy.
Well it's just the basis of comparison. You think Canadian cable/satellite is lacking so you fill in the gaps with internet sourced video. I used to do the same thing in the UK.

Suffice to say we've both found solutions to the problem so it isn't that big of a deal, however given that I'm a Canadian citizen living in Canada, good job I prefer Canadian TV to UK TV is the only point worth making.
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Old Nov 3rd 2011, 5:17 pm
  #161  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by Steve_
Yes I can, because I'm using my DVR from the cable company to FF. It is TV I am watching. You can buy a DVR in the UK and do the same thing with freeview, in fact you can buy a Tivo and do it here with OTA TV. And besides as I pointed out even if you do sit through the ads, UK TV is not as ad-free as seems to be made out. Canadian TV just has more frequent breaks at different points in the show, whereas in the UK my observation is they have less breaks but longer ones.
Maybe my memory is falling off the cliff but NA has 2 or 3 adverts during a 30 minute show. The UK has one in the middle and a long one after it has finished, in between shows.
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Old Nov 3rd 2011, 5:24 pm
  #162  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Yeah, that's right, what's the advantage of it? Honestly I just watch the news in the evening, have a look at the channel guide, hit record on anything I want to watch and then FF through the ads. If there's nothing on until later I just do something else and come back to it or watch the shows the next day.

I think the only time I do watch ads is sometimes during a football game because you'd have to wait an hour before starting to watch it. The only thing that gets me about that isn't so much that there are ads but if it's an American channel you end up watching ads for guttering in Rochester, NY or wherever so the ads are pointless.
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Old Nov 3rd 2011, 6:02 pm
  #163  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by Steve_
Yes I can, because I'm using my DVR from the cable company to FF. It is TV I am watching.
Is the key point here that the machine comes from the cable company? The same cable company that supplies the internet? If so, it's not a differentiator, Alan's still watching TV as much as you are.

Personally I don't see the idea of recording from television in Canada. The television company takes out chunks of a film and puts in adverts, the frequency of the adverts increasing as the film goes on. The missing pieces are part of the plot so the film only makes sense if you've already seen it at the cinema, on a rented disk, or by downloading it from the internet. Unless the recording device is web enabled and can search out the missing bits of the film, it's not going to be any more watchable for having being recorded and played back.
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Old Nov 3rd 2011, 6:07 pm
  #164  
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by Steve_
Yeah, that's right, what's the advantage of it? Honestly I just watch the news in the evening, have a look at the channel guide, hit record on anything I want to watch and then FF through the ads. If there's nothing on until later I just do something else and come back to it or watch the shows the next day.

I think the only time I do watch ads is sometimes during a football game because you'd have to wait an hour before starting to watch it. The only thing that gets me about that isn't so much that there are ads but if it's an American channel you end up watching ads for guttering in Rochester, NY or wherever so the ads are pointless.
I don't own a PVR or whatever they are as i don't really watch too much telly. One thing i don't like when i do watch stuff is the lack of continuity the adverts through the shows cause.
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Old Nov 3rd 2011, 6:11 pm
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Default Re: Your observations when visiting UK from Canada !

Originally Posted by dbd33
Is the key point here that the machine comes from the cable company? The same cable company that supplies the internet? If so, it's not a differentiator, Alan's still watching TV as much as you are.

Personally I don't see the idea of recording from television in Canada. The television company takes out chunks of a film and puts in adverts, the frequency of the adverts increasing as the film goes on. The missing pieces are part of the plot so the film only makes sense if you've already seen it at the cinema, on a rented disk, or by downloading it from the internet. Unless the recording device is web enabled and can search out the missing bits of the film, it's not going to be any more watchable for having being recorded and played back.
I PVR the local news at 6. It's an hour long, but once I've ditched the ads and the boring report on north american sport at the end it's only about 25mins. This is the only Canadian sourced content I watch.
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