MovieChat Forums > Tony Discussion > Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949?

Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949?

posted 12 years ago by Ernie Pyle
10 replies | jump to latest

What the hell is that all about? Just watched this on Netflix and heard the weasely inspector say something about the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949 (repealed by the Act of 2006, but to what degree?). Talk about a useless make-work job. A license to own/watch TV? Bullsh!t. How much is it and how often does it have to be renewed? Is that for every set in the same household? That wouldn't fly here across the pond. That's why we had to do something about it in 1776. Now if this is considered some sort of cable or satellite fee, then that's different. Anyway, sounds as chickensh!t as the View Tax imposed in New Hampshire and Maine just because you have pretty scenery and someone else doesn't.

[–] rabksaj 12 years ago

with all the choice of cable and sattlelite tv nowadays that dont charge for a licence fee to view them the BBC does. Its a rip off really but sadly its the law since 1949 when it was first introduced. The licence fee is very expensive and it carries a hugh fine if not paid. The worst thing is even if you dont recieve BBC you still got to pay.

[–] magnuspetersson72 12 years ago

We have the same system here in Sweden as well, I truly hate it.

[–] evilbastard9 10 years ago

Well are the show on BBC commercial free? Then it's worth it.

[–] slidell333 9 years ago

I have a little family left across the pond in the U.K. and I will try to find out how much it costs and if it's still in place today. My mom might be able to remember also.

"Daddy, would you like some sausage?" - Tom Green, "Freddy Got Fingered" 9/10

[–] pharrington1982 8 years ago

It is around £12 per month. For that we have the BBC, and all teh BBC radio stations. It also pays for teh BBC world service which provides radio news for a great deal of Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
Its incredible value. It means we have an impartial tv station, no advertising on it, that is (largely) immune from bias towards one political party or another. Its a tiny amount of money to pay. People over 75 years of age don't have to pay it. People moan about it but they don't spend ten seconds thinking about how much of a difference it makes to our culture, and why we are not swimming in outright lies and have a huge culture of fear like our American counterparts.

[–] slidell333 8 years ago

Finding an unbiased TV network....well, I've given up. Sad. And the outright lies they tell people, those people repeat without even the hint of questioning...I sincerely admire the BBC and love their documentaries because I know it sticks to pure impartial journalism, like America used to have a LONG time ago. Luckily, we have BBC America.

Dave "Crown Time" Blankenship for Time Man of the Year.

[–] pharrington1982 8 years ago

It's hard to tell if you are taking the p*** out of me or not. I hope not because I was expressing a sincere opinion.

[–] slidell333 8 years ago

No I was being sincere. You are right and I agree. And I was thanking you for the post. I have a tough time figuring out when people are using sarcasm, also. This is def. a country that is influenced so much by the media people spread their fears and it takes off like a virus. Sadly, it's an easy way to get elected if you are a politician.

Dave "Crown Time" Blankenship for Time Man of the Year.

[–] lunchboxattacks 8 years ago

From the TV license (UK) website,

"You need a valid TV Licence if you use TV receiving equipment to watch or record television programmes as they’re being shown on TV. ‘TV receiving equipment’ means any equipment which is used to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. This includes a TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box, DVD/VHS recorder or any other device."

A TV license is simply a tax used to fund state broadcasters, like the BBC (and one cannot really say that the BBC haven't done good work) Ideally, this keeps a station making programming in the public interest and aren't beholden to advertisers. The tax is meant to be paid by premises that contain televisions (or any kind of screen) capable of receiving a live TV broadcasts, either by aerial or internet.

Technically, Tony wasn't guilty of not paying the TV license, as he explained earlier on in the film he couldn't get a signal and only used his television to watch VHS cassettes.

[–] 8 years ago

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