There's something Media License in the State of Denmark

[KrazyHorse]

I know what public TV in the US shows. I grew up receiving Vermont ETV

But there's no reason that PTV couldn't sell real advertising, making it possible for them to do more in-house production.

They would still be distinguished by having federal support, and could thus maintain their distance from the standard broadcast networks.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
I know what public TV in the US shows. I grew up receiving Vermont ETV

But there's no reason that PTV couldn't sell real advertising, making it possible for them to do more in-house production.

They would still be distinguished by having federal support, and could thus maintain their distance from the standard broadcast networks.

I wouldn't be against that, it's not much of a change. I'd actually prefer that federal support be eliminated or at least kept to a minimum, as congress is more tempted to interfere with programming the more money they provide. In fact I stopped supporting the two local PBS stations after they both used air time to lobby for money from the federal government last year, which I viewed as a violation of their mission. I want them to work for their viewers, not for the government.

[Winston]

Ok, this has to be the stupidest thing I've been through for quite a while. I had to change ISPs to get the slower connection, 160 kbps, to avoid the stupid media license which went into force on New Year's. My old ISP didn't offer such a slow speed. Why would they? I'm literally reverting to the freaking Stone Age here.

So I cancelled my ISP by year's end, but had to shop around some to find a provider offering such ridiculous low speeds. I succeeded in the end, however it cost me DKK 595 ($100) in installation fee, and it won't be up and running before 22 January. So no Internet connection for me for almost 4 weeks.

Pah! I swear this stupid country is going to the dogs sometime soon. And there'll be much rejoicing, not least from me.

[Dinner]

Just buy any new TV in an EU country which doesn't charge the TV tax and then watch TV knowing you dodged an unnecissary tax.

[Winston]

Thanks, but that is not the point. I haven't watched any TV for over 3 years, and I've no intention of starting ever again. This is how stupid this new law is. Even when you don't watch TV or listen to the radio, as I've chosen, you still have to pay the license of $350 per year to the state-run TV network - simply for having an internet connection @ 256 kbps or above. Talk about counteractive measures to support the information age that everyone wants.

And to me, it's not so much the money itself. It's more the notion of having to pay to a notoriously left-leaning and amateurish organization which I've already abandoned once, years ago.

This is so horribly infuriating, not least having to go through all the trouble of establishing a new internet connection just because of the rather totalitarian approach of our beloved nanny-state.

[Monk]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Just buy any new TV in an EU country which doesn't charge the TV tax and then watch TV knowing you dodged an unnecissary tax.

It doesn't really matter where you bought it, nor would whoever is in charge of this madness have any automatic claim to your money because you bought a TV.

Idiotic rule, especially given how poorly they eventually spend the money.

[Winston]

Think of all the er.. artistic naturalist.. stuff I'll miss out on when I revert to one sixth the speed..

[TCO]

Go live on a sandy Frisian island and hide from people.

[Dinner]

Then either elect different people into office or accept that it is the will of the majority.

[Monk]

If there's supposed to have state-run television in the first place, I'd want people to pay for through the usual taxes. Less administration, nobody coming to your door to ask what's inside. However, since a tax raise would constitute political suicide for the current government, there's no chance they'll do so anytime soon.

[TCO]

You redhead. What is chat nazi up to?

[Winston]

To my knowledge, all 7 parties in Parliament were behind this media licence initiative. They're picking on people like me out of sheer stupidity, governed by a handful of deranged executives in the state-run TV network, who'd feel more at home in the Soviet Union during Stalin's reign.

[Monk]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Then either elect different people into office or accept that it is the will of the majority.

Oh, I do accept that. Winston to a pretty high degree, I must say - I know many people who reach the same conclusions but instead of throwing out the TV, downgrading internet connections or anything, they just don't pay the **** fee.

[Winston]

Well I'm a saint, what can I say?

[Monk]

It seems 2700 people were paying for ownership of a black-and-white television set. They will now be 'upgraded'.