Dead German poet gets TV demands

[Notebook]

Maybe he should be philosophical about it:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7648021.stm

N.

 

[Urwumpe]

Maybe he should be philosophical about it:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7648021.stm

N.

Is just the next level of escalation with the Stasi...i mean, GEZ. They already demanded from a plush penguin, to register his television and radio (he had his own door sign).

 

[FordPrefect]

Man, hopefully this will make big news here and damage that rotten agency's publicity.

 

[Ghostrider]

I hope the bozos try to collect the fee in person, so he can bite them. You don't mess with the undead.

 

[Eagle]

So artists need to pay money to the GEZ to register their songs so the GEZ can charge other people for using them?...And retroactive fees too? Gee Wiz.

I hope I don't understand what's happening.

 

[ar81]

Not even dead people are left alone...

 

[Urwumpe]

So artists need to pay money to the GEZ to register their songs so the GEZ can charge other people for using them?...And retroactive fees too? Gee Wiz.

I hope I don't understand what's happening.

The the GEZ collects money for the german public broadcasting stations ARD and ZDF. It is a huge monster, with many obscure freelancers gathering data for them. They agreed this summer, to transform the German public broadcasting funding according to the BBC model, but you can be sure, as long as it is not law, it will not happen.

What you mean is the GEMA, which does exactly that. It is like the RIAA, it forces people to register their songs over them, as it would be impossible for them to do their job, when there could exist music not registered by the GEMA. Also the GEMA does a similar great job in damaging web streams. Their latest idea was make people pay like radio stations, by the number of people they can theoretically reach.

 

[astrosammy]

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: Stupid GEZ.

 

[Notebook]

In the UK we had a smaller licence fee, if you owned a monochrome TV receiver. He obviously looks monochrome in that image, perhaps he should get a rebate?

N.

 

[Urwumpe]

In the UK we had a smaller licence fee, if you owned a monochrome TV receiver. He obviously looks monochrome in that image, perhaps he should get a rebate?

N.

Well, we pay here generally 204 € per household. If you only own radio, you pay less, PC is currently counting as radio, but they plan to make it equal to a color TV.

In the UK, the number I can find is only about 165 €...and BBC is still playing in a different league as all German stations.

 

[Notebook]

Yes , it was many years ago that you could get a rebate if you only owned a monochrome reciever, a slight attempt at houmour.... Last time I checked the licence was about £120. Also, as the BBC always says, this isn't a fee or payment to watch or listen to broadcasts, its a licence for your receiving equipment. Now, get out of that!

N.

 

[Urwumpe]

Yes , it was many years ago that you could get a rebate if you only owned a monochrome reciever, a slight attempt at houmour.... Last time I checked the licence was about £120. Also, as the BBC always says, this isn't a fee or payment to watch or listen to broadcasts, its a licence for your receiving equipment. Now, get out of that!

Well, generally a good idea. I have no problem with public broadcasting, but in Germany, it became excessive. The budget of the two major stations is equal to two years ESA. And there is no quality control like you have for the BBC.

 

[Notebook]

The BBC have slightly lost their way recently. They have 4 broadcast tv channels, and do some good stuff, but seem to think they should compete with commercial television.
This really annoys me, as a license payer. They should be making all the programs that the commercial channels don't!
Never mind , there's always the World Service.

N.

 

[Urwumpe]

The BBC have slightly lost their way recently. They have 4 broadcast tv channels, and do some good stuff, but seem to think they should compete with commercial television.
This really annoys me, as a license payer. They should be making all the programs that the commercial channels don't!
Never mind , there's always the World Service.

Was here like that all the time... you only rarely have real quality in German public broadcasting. We have 4 countrywide TV stations (ARD, ZDF, Arte, Phoenix) and many many smaller regional TV stations (belong logistically to ARD).

 

[Eagle]

Wait what? You pay taxes for owning a working radio, computer or TV?

 

[Urwumpe]

Wait what? You pay taxes for owning a working radio, computer or TV?

Yes, I pay for public broadcasting stations. :lol: But no, they are no taxes and the public broadcasters will work hard with their lawyers to make sure you don't call it taxes. They are not depending on the government, though their control committees are full of government officials.

Even worse, we pay, though these stations also earn money by advertisements. And we should now even pay for their Internet activities, but there is at least minimal resistance.

 

[Notebook]

Wait what? You pay taxes for owning a working radio, computer or TV?

Not a tax, so they say, but try and get out of paying it!

Here's a bit more info http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/licencefee/

Looks like its still cheaper if you have a monochrome set, I thought that had gone away.

N.