TV-free?

Post by **mikepepler** » 07 Jun 2006, 09:15

Well, we've finally gone and done it. The TV has gone, along with the digital box and soon to be followed by the DVD player and VCR as they go to their respective good homes. It was more of a challenge for Tracy than myself, asI've lived without a TV before, but she's come around to the idea in her own time and last weekend it all went. We can still watch the occasional DVD on the laptop, but that's all that will be left.

I don't know whether this really qualifies as "preparing" for Peak Oil, but it is certainly doing the following:
- leaving more time free for doing other things like reading, gardening, etc.
- making more space in the lounge for when people are visiting.
- saving electricity.
- saving ?131.50 a year (based on current licence renewal fee).
- closing a door on some advertising and propaganda

So, the licence refund form is (hopefully) in the post to me, and all I need to do then is wait for the TV Licensing Enforcement Officer to start paying me a visit...

Pippa · Post by **Pippa** » 07 Jun 2006, 09:29

Oh dear! I'm bad! There is no way I'll be getting rid of TV unless ITS LAW! I have at least 8 TV's (some of which are stored in a cupboard!

). Well, in my defense, I run a B and B and have three children and a husband. If I told my guests "no tv" I would loose custom (and money) and if I told my family the same I would loose more credibility and peace than I have already - mind you I'm not sure that's possible!

rushdy · Post by **rushdy** » 07 Jun 2006, 10:07

Well done Mike!

We did the same just after Christmas. What a relief!

We're still waiting for that inspector though! Its been six months now

They keep sending us lots of threatening letters, which we keep using to light the fire. You could also make origami sculptures with them, or use them for compost!

isenhand · Post by **isenhand** » 07 Jun 2006, 11:03

if I got rid of the TV and used the computer to watch programmes and films, would that count?

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 07 Jun 2006, 13:50

I really don't see the point of getting rid of the TV. I don't watch it much and when I do, mainly for the news, current affairs and documentaries. We (eventually) got SKY Family subs. for my 3 teenagers about 4 years ago and they watch a lot of music channels and general entertainment. Occasionally we watch a movie on a Friday or Saturday night. We have about 7 TVs in the house, which is far too many - collected over the years. There will be no more TVs purchased - in fact I have stopped buying almost anything of a materialistic nature. Everything I buy is either for current consumption - drink, food, clothes (not fashion or branded if I can avoid it), house maintenance etc. or PO - related.

I must admit I am withdrawing as much as I can from the consumerist / materialistic society we have become, although we still use supermarkets - they are so handy and full of choice and good value.

When you have children there is a fine line of pragmatism that must be observed imo.

Everyone to their own.

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 07 Jun 2006, 16:20

I commend those who dispose of their TVs. There are very many benefits to living without it.

However, as long as it is used sparingly and wisely, it has a place in my life.

Besides, world cup is coming up!

aliwood · Post by **aliwood** » 07 Jun 2006, 16:56

Well done.

Ours went just before Xmas 2004, much to the amazement of the lady at the tv licensing centre "you'll miss Harry Potter", me - "good"

we watch stuff via the internet when we want to and we borrow dvds from the library, much cheaper. I really haven't missed having it there at all.

Enjoy the peace.

Oh, no threatening letters yet, and no visits either.

Post by **mikepepler** » 07 Jun 2006, 17:35

aliwood wrote:Oh, no threatening letters yet, and no visits either.

I've heard rumours that it depends on where you live. If you happen to live in an area that rates as "deprived" then you're much more likely to get a visit, the logic being that in deprived areas people are less likely to be able to afford the licence, so are more likely to be evading. I assume they think that in a well-off area people will pay the licence fee rather than evade, as the amount of money is less significant to them, so if you tell them you don't have a TV they assume you are probably telling the truth. Of course, TVL deny that they selectively target areas, so I'll wait and see, as we rent a house on a "nice" road...

It seems pretty bad to me if they do target deprived areas, even if it is logical in terms of catching more evaders for each ? spent, as it targets those who can least afford to pay. I've been reading some stuff about TVL here: http://www.marmalade.net/lime/

aliwood · Post by **aliwood** » 07 Jun 2006, 17:42

Well, yeah. I assumed that because licence paying evasion is rampant where I live, I would get people knocking at my door and letters by the lorry load every week. If Teesside isn't deprived I din't know where is. So imagine my increasing puzzlement at absolutely nothing happening. Teesside also has one of the highest rates of non payment of court fines too. I wonder what bearing this has on their thinking.

grinu · Post by **grinu** » 07 Jun 2006, 19:26

Maybe in some areas it's so difficult to get payment out of people that it's not worth the amount of time and effort involved in chasing fees?

When I was at uni we got a letter every month for over a yr and nobody ever came round, even though they eventually resorted to sending dates when they would visit. I suppose we should really have paid our licence because we were definitely watching telly, but nevermind.

Incidentally - I can't see us gettin grid of our television - there are some fantastic documentaries that I'd prefer not to go without.

And to be honest, what difference does it make not watching tv if you spend all night on the internet using a computer monitor and pc instead? Look outside - the weather's amazing!! I'm off on a bike ride.

aliwood · Post by **aliwood** » 07 Jun 2006, 21:04

grinu wrote:And to be honest, what difference does it make not watching tv if you spend all night on the internet using a computer monitor and pc instead? Look outside - the weather's amazing!! I'm off on a bike ride.

Well, quite. And here's a couple of pics from my bike ride today. First the chemical plant that went bang.

And Hartlepool nuclear power station.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 08 Jun 2006, 13:33

I lived without a TV for years - it ended up giving me more entertainment than a TV ever could, when people would look at me funny. "No TV? Why not"?

I do live in a 'deprived' area, and had loads of hassle from the TV licence people. One day I came home and there was a plain white piece of paper on my doormat, with the following written in large, bold, black letters:-

IT'S NOT WORTH TRYING TO AVOID US NEXT TIME WE VISIT YOUR STREET

(except it actually had the name of my street on it, not 'your street'!).

At first I thought I had upset somebody, but it turned out to be the TV licence people. I 'phoned them up and explained that I didn't have a telly. "What - none at all?" the voice with a Swansea accent asked incredulously. "No - not even one." I replied.

Anyway, they sent me a form to fill in. On the form, it said:-

Please complete this sentence: I do not need a TV licence because . . . . .

Well, as you might imagine, I wrote,

because . . . I DO NOT HAVE A TV.

I sent it off to them and didn't get anything for a month or so. Then they sent me a letter saying they didn't have a record of a TV licence for my address, and that if I was found to have a TV, I would be fined, thrown in prison etc etc.

Anyway, I've got a TV card now for my laptop - mainly for my other half, who is a Big Brother fan ( she likes junk TV to 'wind down' after work). But even then, her main hobby is reading, so I'm sure we could do without if we really wanted to. I never missed it when I didn't have one - but then, I'm a musician, so I'm always messing about making tunes and stuff.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 08 Jun 2006, 14:58

My TV went nearly 18 months ago, and I don't miss it. Occasionally there's a programme I hear about that I would have watched, but there's the radio, DVDs on the computer, my mandolin, live music, my friends, my dog........ I could even make my own videos instead of watching someone elses. When would I watch it? I did stay with a friend with one for a few days recently, and it was a bit of a novelty I suppose.

I've had a couple of nice letters from TV Licencing, but no hassle at all.

And think of all that energy I don't need to generate, and the work I don't need to do to earn the money to pay for it.

AllanH · Post by **AllanH** » 14 Jun 2006, 16:09

Well done on getting rid of the idiot box.
I wouldn't expect any visits from the TV licencing folk, I got rid of my TV almost 2 years ago & noone has been round yet. They sent a few letters the first few months saying you say you don't have a TV but we'll send someone round to check. They're always sending out these types of letters though. When I had a tv I did without a licence for about 5 years & noone ever came round to check (& this was in 'deprived' areas).

AllanH

oobers · Post by **oobers** » 15 Jun 2006, 00:00

I'm seeing loads of big CRT TV's being offered on Freecycle and nobody is claiming them. I guess they are upgrading to LCD or (shudder) plasma cinema sized things to hang on the wall. Presumably, big CRT TV's have no resale value. I think I will say bye bye to my TV when I move. Crazy to think I will probably end up taking it to the tip.

TV-free?

Have you got rid of your TV?

TV-free?