Apr 16
#debill #deact has forced me to watch tv again :(
I haven't watched TV since February 2006. At least, not live broadcast TV. For ages it was my dream that I could watch TV on demand and I thought we were getting pretty close to that until recently.Yes, the dreaded Digital Economy Bill / Act has pissed unceremoniously all over that dream.
My TV viewing consists mainly of Science Fiction series, you know, Stargate, True Blood, V, Battlestar Galactica, etc. My approach was to download from the internet and then buy the DVD boxset when it was a reasonable price. I've done this with a few things including Stargate, BSG and Lost and intended to do it with True Blood, V, etc.
Recently my approach has been to download shows in order to catch up, then watch them as they appear on iTunes - meaning that I wouldn't buy them on DVD, but I have a copy I can call my own on disk anyway. I also downloaded the first series of the IT Crowd and then enjoyed it so much that I bought the entire series on iTunes.
However, I have to admit that a number of shows I just download and watch as they are released. Mainly because they are not available on iTunes until much later, though as above I do intend to buy them on iTunes as they appear.
A pleasant side product of not watching live broadcast TV is that I don't have to pay for a TV license. I have definitely spent more than the TV license on iTunes though, but it has suited me well and I own what I pay for.
But now, because of the #debill, we have calculated that we cannot afford to get caught downloading material from our usual sources so we would have to buy it on iTunes. However, given the amount of shows we watch, it is actually cheaper to buy a TV license and Sky+. Yes, we're considering re-joining the TV watching community, but who is going to lose out? I'm afraid iTunes - we simply can't afford to maintain both.
This is highly disappointing to me as it feels like a real step backwards. It also means that if I want to own what I am watching I effectively have to pay for it twice (either on DVD or iTunes).
Today the Liberal Democrats have announced they will push to repeal the #debill - a nice gesture, but unless they win out-right (yeah right), that is all it is as I very much doubt Labservative will move on the matter. I intend speaking to my candidate about this and other issues.
Right, I better finishing making our kedgeree dinner. :)
