Broadcasters' woes could spell trouble for free TV

[Mr. Laser Beam]

John Picard wrote:

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If you live where you need an alarm, then I feel sorry for you.

I don't know if I *need* one, as such, but I don't care. Everyone should have an alarm system, because you never know. If not for burglary, then for FIRE.

And I get a discount on my homeowner's insurance for having an alarm system.

[wamdue]

I would have an alarm wherever I live, hell if I lived on a desert island, I would think about installing a make shift security system, just incase.

[Dusty Ayres]

Marc wrote:

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if you mean the 1.5% levy to fund local tv that will be charged on your cable or satelite bill, it's already here. Cogeco (part owned by Rogers and operating in Ontario and Qebec) will start collected it from January. We recieve a notification about in early december.

No, I'm talking about the Harmonized Sales Tax; that will make everything more expensive, including DVD's. That's why I said Bisz should be stocking up now, and stocking up fast.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"Harmonized Sales Tax". Sounds like the worst barbershop quartet ever.

[Marc]

Dusty Ayres wrote:

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No, I'm talking about the Harmonized Sales Tax; that will make everything more expensive, including DVD's. That's why I said Bisz should be stocking up now, and stocking up fast.

Only if DVDs aren't covered by already covered by the combination of the PST and GST.

only items that aren't covered by the combination of the two will go up it will simply mean that when you look at the price on the shelf it will already have the tax included (as is in case of Australian and it's GST) i.e for many things the price won't change for the consumer.

Secondly this will only apply in Ontario and British Columbia where where it is being introduced by the Liberal Govts there but required enabling through federal legislation.

[RoJoHen]

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

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If not for burglary, then for FIRE.

Yeah, it's called a smoke detector. Its illegal not to have one.

I don't see any reason to invest in a whole security system, though, unless you live in a really bad neighborhood (in which case, I would move).

[Peach Wookiee]

Some security systems, though, call the fire department as soon as the system goes off.

[Michael Chris]

I really hope they stick around. Networks are pretty much the only place you can find decent TV.

[Temis the Vorta]

Michael Chris wrote:

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I really hope they stick around. Networks are pretty much the only place you can find decent TV.

Compared with cable?!? No way!

Only good network show I can think of right now: Lost. Maybe also Chuck.

[RoJoHen]

Peach Wookiee wrote:

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Some security systems, though, call the fire department as soon as the system goes off.

I know. My college townhouse was like this. It was annoying as hell because the fire department would show up and make us evacuate the building anytime my roommate accidentally burnt something on the stove and set off the smoke detector.

[Peach Wookiee]

That would suck!

[John Picard]

UssGlenn wrote:

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What did you do that for? What if the next people who live in your house want or need one? You just caused them a lot of hassle.

I had no idea I was supposed to be concerned with any "hassles" the next owner of my house would encounter. Does that mean I should not have replaced my electric store with a gas stove? What about the dryer? I removed the electric and plumbed it for gas as that's my preference.

In 2008(?), AT&T laid off over 1,500 employees because *drumroll* more and more Americans are cutting the cord and no longer using landlines. In 20 years time, a house with a landline will be in the minority and more people will be removing all traces of one from their homes.

Anyway, if the new homeowner wants a landline, then he can have one installed.

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

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I don't know if I *need* one, as such, but I don't care. Everyone should have an alarm system, because you never know. If not for burglary, then for FIRE.

And I get a discount on my homeowner's insurance for having an alarm system.

Don't see the need for an alarm system. And as for fire -- that's what a smoke detector is for.

Peach Wookiee wrote:

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Some security systems, though, call the fire department as soon as the system goes off.

That's the last thing you need. It's best that the structure burn to the ground. Think I'm nuts? Water and smoke damage will be a bitch to repair and will also give the insurance company reasons the screw the homeowner on the claim. If you've ever had to deal with an insurance adjuster on anything you would understand this. I've known people who spent thousands on trying to get rid of smoke damage in a house, and it's something that just never goes away.

[Michael Chris]

Temis the Vorta wrote:

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Compared with cable?!? No way!

Only good network show I can think of right now: Lost. Maybe also Chuck.

Definitely! You got 30 Rock, The Office, Chuck, Glee, 24, Lost, Fringe, How I Met Your Mother, etc. The only things I watch on cable are Psych and Stargate Universe.

[BillJ]

Michael Chris wrote:

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Definitely! You got 30 Rock, The Office, Chuck, Glee, 24, Lost, Fringe, How I Met Your Mother, etc. The only things I watch on cable are Psych and Stargate Universe.

Neither has caught my interest of late. The only things I watch with any regularity on broadcast/cable in the last couple of years are NFL broadcasts and ABC's Modern Family. Very little return on a cable bill of $140/month. If I were single I wouldn't have cable TV.

Creatively, television has become a wasteland of bad programming and infomercials.

[John Picard]

BillJ wrote:

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Creatively, television has become a wasteland of bad programming and infomercials.

QFT.