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Telly addicts

No tv - this isn't weird?

35 replies

SacreBlue · 30/10/2014 15:22

I don't have a tv, no single reason but it started off by avoiding tv when at uni

Mostly I get by in conversation by reading digital spy so I can chat about soaps, but I do watch EE, Drs Dr Who and occasional documentaries on catch up.

I have a teenager but he has never been bothered by no tv as he watches Youtube videos and spends free time working or on gaming.

I don't feel this is weird, surely some other folks don't have a tv?

Reason I ask is that TV licensing have visited us and understand we don't have a tv but some people I meet are a bit Hmm either because they think we're lying (to avoid fees) or that they don't believe anyone can survive without a live stream tv.

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EmbarrassedPossessed · 30/10/2014 15:26

It's not common, but it isn't weird. It's a perfectly valid choice that you have made, and you do watch TV shows - just on catch up. Can't see what difference whether it's live or not makes.

If people comment on it to you, I would think it's because they can't imagine it for themselves and so are unable to understand your reasoning.

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AMumInScotland · 30/10/2014 15:35

Well, if you keep up with EE, Doctors and Dr Who you probably watch as much tv as I do, and I've got one! I don't think there's anything weird in not bothering to have one, if you have access to catch-up when you want it.

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TooMuchCantBreathe · 30/10/2014 15:45

I didn't for years. We weren't in the house enough to warrant one. Now things have changed and we've had a tv for about 3 months, I still don't watch it. There's so many more interesting things to do! It is unusual but definitely not weird. A family member has never had one from leaving home through bringing up dc and beyond. They're all normal individuals Grin

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WestEast · 30/10/2014 15:56

When I first moved To my new town I didn't have a TV or the internet, felt very isolating, especially when I didn't know anyone.
I have moved in with DP and he brought a TV, we have one in the living room and one which I hate in the bedroom.
I probably watch about an hour a day, but would be perfectly happy without it, so no, I don't think it's weird in the slightest.

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Ir1na · 30/10/2014 16:45

I don't have one either although I watch quite a lot of stuff on catch-up, Youtube or pirated downloaded. The house pays TV licence though because my brother has one, and we sometimes use Iplayer etc live.

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Delphine31 · 30/10/2014 16:52

I don't have a TV either. I enjoy watching stuff on iPlayer - films and occasional dramas, comedy things and documentaries etc. but don't watch enough to justify buying a TV.

Quite a few of my friends don't have TVs either. I think it's just because we're not in all that often and don't have much spare cash for buying a TV and the license.

I used to have a TV years ago but when it broke I didn't replace it because I'd got into the habit of watching absolute crap for hours on end if I had an evening in.

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CamperCrazy · 30/10/2014 17:20

We don't have one either and get 'oh how strange' comments a lot! I use catch up for things that I want to watch and DS's have Netflix. Don't think they feel too deprived! Smile

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TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 30/10/2014 17:25

It's not weird. Reading digital spy so you can talk to people about soaps may be a little though. Why do that if you don't watch them/want to watch them? If you have no interest in something then stick with it

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SacreBlue · 30/10/2014 20:22

Glad not everyone thinks it's weird, I did hope mostly people were commenting in rl as it just wasn't what they did and not because they thought I was weird for my son as much as me

I read digital spy as a lot of people talk about soaps and I didn't want to feel totally out of the loop, possibly this is more of a hangover from when I worked in an office and everyone liked a chat about soaps over lunch and I didn't want to feel left out.

The watching total crap for hours on end thing is absolutely why I stopped having a tv and I credit passing my degree to that

My Ds does occasionally ask about getting tv, mostly he's internet focussed, so possibly I'm feeling a bit 'am I depriving him' as I'm mostly happy without live tv

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Orangeanddemons · 30/10/2014 20:28

I never watch it either. We have one, but there's never anything worth watching. When it is turned on, I find myself watching it.

Dd age 8 doesn't watch it either, and neither does ds. They prefer youtube/streaming.

I think tv is on the way out.....younger kids don't seem interested any more. I'm a teacher of secondary. Loads of them don't watch it either

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SacreBlue · 31/10/2014 10:05

Oranges When it is turned on, I find myself watching it.

This is why I got rid of the tv at uni Grin I was wasting a lot of time and a friend suggested ditching the tv as it would free me up to get on with studies

My Ds follows a couple of Youtubers so maybe I'm being a bit over sensitive thinking I'm depriving him - he's 16 and managed so far!

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ElephantsNeverForgive · 31/10/2014 10:13

DSIL doesn't, DCs get to watch DVDs in dad's computer occasionally and I'm sure they'll end up with lap tops when older. DN is very technically minded.

At the moment you can't move for books and Lego. They also have sheep, chickens, ducks, cats, rabbits and whatever other strays have fetched up this week.

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Legionofboom · 31/10/2014 10:21

We recently got rid of our cable tv package and we sometimes watch stuff on the internet or get a movie from iTunes but rarely. I don't miss it at all.

Internet on demand TV is the future anyway. You're ahead of the curve Wink

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scurryfunge · 31/10/2014 10:29

DS doesn't watch tv but is very much in to DVDs. Can't remember the last time he watched tv with us.

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youmakemydreams · 31/10/2014 10:33

We have a tv well more than one but none are attached to anything to allow us to watch tv. The one upstairs is for the dc to watch DVDs and the one downstairs has the Xbox attached to it and the dc watch YouTube videos and Netflix on that. I got rid of freeview boxes and aerials when I realised we hadn't turned in tv for literally months.

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BertieBotts · 31/10/2014 10:38

We don't have one either and I don't see the point. My grandad was very agitated when my mum told him I didn't have a TV licence (because of not watching TV) but did pay for an internet connection. Internet wins every time, I get far more out of it. We have netflix now as well which is great.

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SacreBlue · 31/10/2014 11:26

I am liking being ahead of the curve Grin I can't put the DS love of maths down to no tv but I do think the board games helped somewhat (adding double dice & counting out moves)

I may have created a future monster with monopoly & game of life though is this how Alan Sugar & Richard Branson started??

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Stupidhead · 31/10/2014 11:29

I know someone else without one and they seem to watch movies on their laptop if needed and they also get hassle from the licence people. They just can't believe they haven't got a telly.

I've got sky, Netflix and mainly watch DVDs and coronation street! Such a waste.

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Philoslothy · 31/10/2014 11:34

I am not sure of the legal position but it seems rather morally suspect to be watching BBC programmes and not pay the licence fee. Do you also listen to BBC radio?

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BertieBotts · 31/10/2014 12:30

You can opt out on the website and one of the reasons you can select is "I only watch catch-up TV online". They stop hassling you if you do that. If you just don't pay but don't give them a reason why then they will harrass you. Not sure why this should be the case, but it is.

I pay for BBC programmes in other ways such as buying DVDs and books produced by them. Netflix also has BBC programmes so they get revenue from me that way. I don't find it suspect at all. And you haven't needed a radio licence for decades.

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Philoslothy · 31/10/2014 12:37

I know you don't legally need a licence however I suspect that you watch as much BBC TV as many other people who do pay the fee - and may struggle to do so

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BertieBotts · 31/10/2014 13:31

Which was exactly the reason why I opted out Confused And I don't watch much, I watch Doctor Who and Call the Midwife, that's about it. Maybe a one off documentary if I see a thread that sounds interesting. Oh and Russell Howard's Good News, but that's now uploaded to Youtube immediately after broadcast by the official channel, so is freely available anyway. I used to watch far more when I had a TV licence, homes under the hammer, don't tell the bride etc. Just channel hopping in the evenings you catch stuff.

I am always amazed that people get so het up over this issue. BBC isn't that impartial these days anyway.

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SacreBlue · 31/10/2014 18:49

You don't need a licence to watch on catch up, if they change that on the cards then I will, but currently I am totally within the bounds of the law so I'm not going to feel bad because some randomer on the internet thinks I should.

I haven't ever been hassled by inspectors, I get a letter every three years and I have had two visits in the last decade, just popping in to check I'm not lying about having a tv. I don't mind that really and think it's a good thing they check.

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SacreBlue · 31/10/2014 18:55

Nothing stopping those who struggle to pay the licence from getting rid of their tv and watching on catch up - or is it a major deprivation to watch something a little bit later than others?

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TooMuchCantBreathe · 01/11/2014 04:16

I can't believe you'd consider it morally suspect to watch BBC programmes (legally) because there has been no licence fee paid! The license fee itself has been considered immoral for years. The return for our "investment" (" " because it's not a choice we make but enforced rather rigorously) is poor with extremely high wages paid at the top end. For a publicly funded organisation there is remarkably little regulation and yet we're the morally questionable ones? Grin

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