An Underrated Pleasure: The TV License
Mark Watson is away. Today’s guest blogger: Megan (the Canadian one)
Now, I know that a lot of British people resent the license fee (or so the papers and other students I met would have me believe), but one of the great joys of my brief foray into living in the UK was applying (as if there are real qualifications besides having a £100+ to spare) for a TV License. (Bear with me; I’m getting into history, Canadianism, and hardcore nerdery that possibly none but a few here will understand, but really, I’m just taking advantage of Mr Watson’s generosity to use the most public forum I might ever have for writing. Sorry, Mark!)
I love the BBC. I love most British television, actually, including some of the less erudite ‘reality’ shows and, most especially, the uniquely British panel shows. I doubt there is anywhere else in the world where the panel show is so ubiquitous. I don’t think Canada has seen one since ‘Front Page Challenge’, which ended in the early 1990s (and, frankly, was a million miles over my head at the time). I watch them obsessively on YouTube until the BBC, or Channel 4, or whoever, invariably has them taken down (and quite rightly) for copyright reasons. I, to my shame, often torrent things I have no hope of seeing otherwise. I refresh pages endlessly on weekends hoping that ‘Have I Got News For You’ will show up soon.
It’s a sickness that began when I was a postgraduate in the wilds of the Midlands a few years ago. Friendless and skint, in student housing (in Birmingham!), with housemates much younger than I was, I spent many a Friday night with ‘QI’. It premiered the week I arrived, so I deludedly believe that it was made especially for me, as it’s the perfect balance of nerdy trivia and very British humour, the two main loves of my life, plus it starred Stephen Fry, whom I (perhaps bafflingly) practically worshipped throughout my teens/early 20s. I got hooked on ‘The Office’ (which was broadcast back home) and ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ (which wasn’t/isn’t). When I moved back to Canada and couldn’t watch most of my favourites ‘live’ anymore, it was like a painful breakup. When I’m in the UK on holiday, I do spend a baffling amount of time in hotel rooms watching television instead of, well, being a tourist.
Recently, the BBC Trust turned down a plan to share its iPlayer technology with other broadcasters. It’s a shame, really, because it’s usually an extremely reliable way to catch up on things. Sadly, because I live in the far-flung wilds of Canada, I can only actually catch up on radio (don’t get me wrong – I do love Radio 4 for many of the old codgery favourites (no, not ‘The Archers’), but most especially for the showcase it gives new(-ish) comedians). I don’t like having to resort to underhanded measures to watch ‘my’ shows, but I did and still do. Addiction is a bastard. But I have a proposal:
I would like to buy a TV License so that I can use the full iPlayer. If the BBC offered the service overseas for a fee, I am certain that all their funding woes would be solved. There are hundreds, thousands, and possibly millions of people who are fed up with watching five-year-old episodes of ‘Eastenders’ and endless (and often not British) property shows on BBCs Canada or America? Or scandalised that only series 1 of ‘Peep Show’ is available on DVD in North America? (‘But wait!’, you say, ‘”Peep Show” is on Channel 4!’ Yes, but it is shown on BBC Canada here and released by BBC Video. Baffling, no?)
Surely, this is something that can be considered, despite local broadcasting laws. I know that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the much-maligned CRTC) limits how much ‘foreign’ content there is on BBC Canada, but really, is British television really a threat to Canadian culture any more than the thousands of hours of American shit (and it’s mostly shit) on our airwaves? I mean, ‘Coronation Street’ is one of the most popular shows on television. ‘Are You Being Served?’ is STILL being shown here in reruns on a daily basis. British television is, for all intents and purposes, Canadian television.
‘But wait!’, you might say again, ‘surely you pay for television too?’ Well, yes, and I pay a stupid amount of money to get the bizarre and dated BBC Canada on digital (which has adverts!), but there’s something so specific and BRITISH about the license fee. It’s gives each person who pays the fee carte blanche (or maybe just carte grise) to complain about what’s on television in a way that we don’t really have. Moaning is one of the great British pasttimes and having an almost 50-year-old public way of doing it (‘Points of View’) is really quite ingenious, though I reckon most people just complain to each other. Or The Mail. And that’s okay, too. (Or, at least, the former is.)
My point is that, like many a struggling, ranting, addict, I really want to go legit, man. So can’t I just pay the license fee? The iPlayer technology needn’t be exported to other countries for their broadcasters; it’s the BBC iPlayer itself that I want. And access to the online versions of Channel 4 and ITV. You can keep Five.
Posted by Knox on May 21, 2011
Brilliant emergency blogger blog, Megan (er, yes, sorry this comment is about a year late!), and inetersting topic – were the BBC not talking recently about doing something like this with i-player for people who want it abroad? Was it you that got that sorted? Because that would be pretty damn amazing if it were.
Posted by TGIF … or not, in this case « BrittPop.com on May 24, 2010
[...] One of them, Megan, based in Canada, made a couple of brilliant points in her article, available here. The first one, that Britain has some excellent panel shows, isn’t quite relevant to what [...]
Posted by Heather on May 23, 2010
I feel a bit weird commenting on such an old post (my internet was down for a while and I’m still getting through all my backlog), but as a fellow British-tv-loving Canadian I have to say a big ol’ WORD to this post. I can usually find a way to ‘acquire’ the shows I want to watch, but there are a few things that I can’t find anywhere else, and it’s incredibly frustrating! I would certainly consider an I-player licence fee as money well spent.
Posted by Ryan on May 19, 2010
Good post Megan… I’m english and live in Melbourne and the TV here is 95% rubbish. I’ve said numerous times to friends that I’d quite happily pay a premium to not watch or listen (radio) to any adverts. Watching a film on free to air TV is so god damm painful as it’s drawn out for 4 hours with that many ad breaks.
Posted by chaz on May 18, 2010
i‘m definitely on board with this idea, Megan. i too am a Canadian enthusiast of British Television, & i too can only acquire it through underhand means, but would rather have an honest way to indulge.
i’m happy when The Office, Extras, the I.T Crowd, Mighty Boosh & such others make it to our shores but it’s still such a meager offering. & yeah, BBC America/BBC Canada really don’t offer much other than Top Gear & house & garden shows–which are boring–& wossy & graham norton–which are not of much use to people who aren’t at all familiar with the majority of the guest. it’s such a gyp.
my last time in new york i visited the Imports Section of a Barnes & Noble. It was located in the basement & the only other shoppers there were lone middle-aged men who in some way resembled Comic Book Guy. in contrast, i’m more like…Bart’s babysitter? anyway, i was nerding out all the same. The selection of British imports had me overjoyed & eager to indulge, (because of course in Canada we don’t get a lot of u.k imports whether it’s dvds, books, etc). The problem was most items were only available in sets & so cost around $100-$200+. Even the few items that were available individually cost upwards of 60 bucks. & that’s U.S currency. As a student i don’t have the luxury to spend that much on dvds.
The inaccessability of Brit culture in a dominion of the uk is ridiculous & maddening. so purposing a way to mend this is admirable. now, if only we could get the power that be to hear us & lower their drawbridge.
Posted by amycool on May 16, 2010
What an excellent idea. I’ve always thought the license fee was pretty reasonable when you think about how many amazing programmes the BBC makes every year. Can you imagine Doctor Who with adverts in between? It would be terrible! If they charged for the iPlayer all over the world they could reduce the fee here and hey presto! everyone is happy. Plus, you (Megan) could get a small cut for having the idea in the first place.
Posted by Rachel Winter on May 15, 2010
people moan about the license fee, but they’ll be sorry the BBC ever goes away and we end up with adverts on ALL channels.
as for watching the i-player abroad, i think if you have a laptop that you set up here, even when you move abroad it still thinks you are in UK.
maybe a BIT too much of a luxury for you to come over just to do that, but its a thought!
well done pretend Watson!
Posted by Ben Draper on May 15, 2010
A very good blog there, Megan, and a great idea. Maybe it would stop people complaining about how the BBC is funded. Might even make the license fee cheaper for us which I will always welcome.
Posted by Rose on May 15, 2010
I found myself nodding vehemently throughout this entire post, and reading the comments I can see that Megan, you have hit on something big here!
I am another Canadian who loves British (panel) shows, and I think a fee to use the BBC iPlayer overseas is a brilliant idea. (I am currently in Melbourne, where shows such as QI are broadcast on ABC… but I don’t get ABC on my telly… but I CAN watch it on the ABC’s iView! And as Ally pointed out, there are a few superb Aussie panel shows, like Good News Week.)
I didn’t realize that BBC Canada had to follow CRTC Canadian content rules – weird. I don’t get that channel at home, but let’s face it, who watches TV on the actual television nowadays? Note to BBC: iPlayer is the future!!
Posted by Damian on May 15, 2010
Excellent piece Megan. Great idea for the international license.
I continue to get a hardcopy license rather than the email they offer you, so that I am reminded when it arrives, and when I see it on the shelf every day, that this is the best value for any money that I spend.
Posted by LisaD on May 15, 2010
I’d pay for an iplayer license! Hell, watching BBC America was the only reason I was even paying for cable and after a while that stopped being worth it. I’d much rather go to the source. Excellent idea Megan!
Posted by Joelle Stanton on May 15, 2010
I love the idea of this as well!
I live in Australia and love what I’ve seen on UK telly. I think you’ve proposed a wonderful thing
Posted by Ally on May 15, 2010
I live in Australia and I have a similar problem – though we have a lot of good Aussie comedy panel-style shows. I would definitely pay to be able to watch shows on the BBC iPlayer. It’s so much more convenient than finding illegal ways of doing it – and in much better quality!!
I am SO sick of spending ages downloading something, feeling guilty, and then it’s awful quality and the sound is out-of-sync!
We should start a petition
Posted by Lesley on May 15, 2010
i thought that the CBC was the BBC. Christ, I can’t believe how much we pay for cable.
Posted by Dawn on May 14, 2010
WELL DONE MEGAN,
Very interesting blog!
Posted by Kate B on May 14, 2010
Really enjoyed reading this blog! And I agree, I think one of the things I, and many others, take for granted in Britain is our brilliant TV. I understand how frustrating it must be not to be able to access iplayer and I hope your problems are solved shortly.
Posted by lisa brunders on May 14, 2010
Very interesting Megan, thank you. I had no idea the iplayer wasn’t available abroad. And I’ve never resented the TV Licence, even when I was seriously poor, it’s always seemed excellent value for money.
And I hope Max has solved your problem, that’d be a just reward for your sterling work as our first Emergency Blogger.
Posted by Helen on May 14, 2010
I very much enjoyed reading that megan, thank you!
Posted by (Magnificent) Josh on May 14, 2010
Very nice post.Just a note to the brits out there that http://www.seesaw.com is a collaboration between iplayer itvplayer and 4od but is still only available in the UK.
Posted by Laurs on May 14, 2010
Awesome blog Megan! Really enjoyed it! It’s interesting to hear someone from outside the UKs opinion on the BBC. There are times when I despair with some of the rubbish they produce but then I watch QI and the world seems right again.
You should totally email the BBC and propose your idea, I’m sure you would get lots of support from people too. x
Posted by Misha on May 14, 2010
Good blog Megan.
And a good idea, there must be loads of expats too who miss the beeb temperamental though it is.
Posted by Emmy on May 14, 2010
That was brilliant Megan!
Before I moved to the UK I would watch British TV online (mainly Doctor Who and Torchwood at that point) and moan endlessly. When I went back to visit my parents, being unable to iplayer the evening away was a shock (I’ve only found out about Max’s trick from reading his comment).
I have nothing better to add except that I understand your pain.
Posted by @BexQuillerdrive on May 14, 2010
Great Post.
I agree there should be some sort of online license for certain programs or channels, I do understand why they won’t do it for Big American syndicated shows such as “Lost” or “The Simpsons” but a syndication of “Come dine with me” is unlikely to happen no matter how badly people would like it, so there should be a service to facilitate this.
I think i would feel equally bereft if i moved away and couldn’t access iplayer
Posted by Tom Beasley on May 14, 2010
This was a very enjoyable blog and I sympathise. It would be horrible to be deprived of all of the shows that make the BBC such an excellent broadcasting company.
I would support your idea that those abroad should be able to pay a licence fee to access iPlayer and feel that a lot of people would certainly pay it. Maybe you should send an e-mail to the BBC proposing this.
Posted by Megan on May 14, 2010
First of all: Thank you all for the nice things you said. I was incredibly nervous about sending this in this morning (as in, I couldn’t sleep in past 6:15 because I wanted to get this out before I went to work).
Second of all: A friend of mine (hi Richard!) pointed out that Hockey Night in Canada still on the CBC, but they don’t own the old theme music. Ooops. I think my citizenship might be taken away. I’ve asked to have that bit taken out of the above.
Posted by Corey on May 14, 2010
Good job. I like it when I’m in America and I get to watch TV there. If we had ad breaks every 5 mins or so here in the UK I’d be mad, but when I’m there I love it for some reason??. Also, here (again UK) I don’t get Baseball, Football etc but if I’m in a bar in the states I’m hooked on the TVs showing them all day every day……can’t work it out?.
Another thing I’ve seen in the US for some time now is the preview of the next show at the end of the current show, I’ve seen that creeping into British shows every now and again, and E4 do the intro to the show then cut to a break straight away on certain shows, that they have done for years in the states.
Posted by Phill on May 14, 2010
Congrats on your blog Megan, really enjoyed it!
TV is definitely one thing I would really miss if I moved away from England. I honestly believe we have some of the best TV in the world, despite constantly moaning about it! (To be fair, we probably have some of the worst too, but let’s not go into that).
An overseas license fee sounds like a great idea if they could make it work. And if it means slightly reduced fees for people who live in this country, that is also a bonus!
Posted by Maddie on May 14, 2010
Well Done Megan
Posted by Catherine on May 14, 2010
BTW, great job Megan!
Posted by Catherine on May 14, 2010
I am in America. I, too, spend an inordinate amount of time glued to YouTube. BBC America is frustrating. I would gladly pay for an iPlayer. I will be visiting the UK this summer. I really don’t want to spend my entire week in a hotel room watching TV playing catchup. But you do what you gotta do for your addiction.
Posted by Rachael on May 14, 2010
I use demandfive more than iplayer but I realise I am probably the only one. I just hate the fact the licensing people continue to send me treatening red letters at uni when the reason I didn’t pay for a license is because I don’t have a tv!
Posted by isabelle on May 14, 2010
Great post Megan! As a fellow Canadian I feel your pain. I spend most of my time glued to the computer screen watching British television on youtube rather than on the large HD television we’ve got. I would also pay to get access to the iplayer though I would probably be more excited if we could get access to the real channels on digital cable. We’ve got American channels and French channels, why not British ones? I know it would be popular.
Posted by Someone on May 14, 2010
Ah, great blog. You’re right, you should be able to pay for i-player over there just as we do. It’s pretty much all I watch here. I am more than happy to pay the licence fee for the great telly that is made from it. I just hope I’ll have the money to be able to do so when I move out of the cushy deal I’ve got at the moment where the landlord seems to pay everything. Go BBC, go!
Posted by Simon on May 14, 2010
Awesome post, Megan! I agree that the BBC is a national treasure and WELL worth the modest licence fee.
I’m looking forward to hearing what the other guests have to offer.
Posted by h2osarah on May 14, 2010
Great emergency blog Megan! As another canadian obsessed with british telly, I relate to almost everything! I visited London in 2008 and I spent several evenings in my hostel just for the thrill of watching 8 out of 10 cats and Mock the Week as they were broadcast and on an actual TV (at the time I could only get them on youtube). It probably sounds silly, but it was an actual thrill. I’d love to get access to the video iPlayer, especially cos I use the radio one fairly often. Hopefully, the time will soon come when I’m over in the UK and buying a license fee for myself.
Posted by Robyn on May 14, 2010
Megan, brilliant blog, thank you!
I don’t like paying the license fee as a student but actually I would rather pay it than not be able to watch all the awesome shows! I love the BBC – that, E4 and DAVE are pretty much all i watch, and i can empathise with your addiction to British shows! I am going to America for the summer and luckily will be too busy to watch TV as otherwise I would miss it dreadfully!
If I was actually good at technology and understood anything about uploading videos I would do it just to send you new episodes of the shows you love.
Awesome post, thank you for being an excellent substitute for Mark
Posted by max on May 14, 2010
Wow. Nice post. I have no clue what the license fee is, but I sympathize with you as a fellow non-brit-bbc-lover.
I’m not sure exactly how legal this is, but you can use a VPN service to get a UK IP address and use the iPlayer. I use witopia.org and works wonderfully