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A question for you IT and such folks who are business learned....

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Steve248:

--- Quote from: Howard_Casto on December 29, 2012, 02:05:41 am ---
In the UK, from what I understand you don't have ads on ANY of the cable networks, much like it is here for HBO. The thought there is that you paid for the shows so ads aren't going to fly.  Then again, the quality of most British shows (no offense to anyone) is pretty awful. 


--- End quote ---

Err, there are adverts on all cable/satellite channels except the Movie channels during the film but plenty of adverts after/before. You have been mis-informed I am afraid.

The only channels that do not have adverts are on the BBC but this is not a cable/satellite channel.

I know you are not trying to insult anyone, I am not taking offence but you are very wrong about the quality of programmes. I think the quality of most US shows are really dreadful so I guess it comes down to taste and cultural differences.

The UK is the 2nd most successful exporter of TV programmes in the world, second only to the US.

If you want to see how much of your TV is made from British TV have a loo at this list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_television_series_based_on_British_television_series

DillonFoulds:

--- Quote from: Steve248 on January 05, 2013, 04:56:13 am ---have a loo at this list:
--- End quote ---

That's a great typo coming from a Brit!

Also, UK Top Gear and IT Crowd... Can't really go wrong with most UK shows that got adapted to American versions... Oh, and Flying Circus!

Howard_Casto:

--- Quote from: Steve248 on January 05, 2013, 04:56:13 am ---[I know you are not trying to insult anyone, I am not taking offence but you are very wrong about the quality of programmes. I think the quality of most US shows are really dreadful so I guess it comes down to taste and cultural differences.

The UK is the 2nd most successful exporter of TV programmes in the world, second only to the US.

If you want to see how much of your TV is made from British TV have a loo at this list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_television_series_based_on_British_television_series

--- End quote ---

I'm aware of this list.  Unfortunately the original versions, 90% of the time, are worse than US versions.  They are usually a totally different show, only the name and situation stay the same.  Usually when a tv show is adapted I get curious and try to watch the original, try is the key word there.  That being said, even the US versions are pretty terrible so it isn't like it's a huge improvment.  Over 75% of what is on that particular list is reality televison, that stuff is garbage and I actually hate the UK for introducing the US to it, ruining half of our networks.  The other 25% are shows that you might think were a big hit here, but most of them werent.  Some got cancelled after only a few episodes, others were in the upper 100s on a cable network most people never watched. 


I mean I watch Dr. Who, but more for a laugh than anything else... it's the worst written Sifi I've seen in ages.  Pretty sure they don't have any NASA consultants on that show like they did on TNG.  ;)  The old Dr. Who was pretty good, I loved Max Headroom, and I liked Monty Python and Benny Hill, but those shows are 30 years old.  That's kind of the problem really, UK shows seem really really dated to me.  The special effects and the writing on your typical scifi show looks like something that would have been produced 20 years ago over here.  You still have sitcoms, complete with laugh tracks, ect....  We've just moved on from that stuff over here.  All of our (watchable) tv is hour long dramas, documentary reality shows, like those on the History channel, and some serious high-budget scifi/fantasy, which admittedly is pretty crappy atm, but just 5 years ago it was amazing.  I like the Graham Norton show though... does that count?

And yes just for the record it is the second most successful exporter in the world, but the UK and the US are the only two places with budgets and talents enough to make an exportable show, so that isn't really fair.  Also it's an extreme distant second.  It's like when the first place runner comes in with a time of 1:30 and the second place guy comes in at 5:50.  ;)  I'm actually not even sure if the second place thing is accurate anymore.  A lot of syndicated programming comes out of Canada these days. 

I think there indeed is a cultural difference though.  One of my favorite UK imports is Wheeler Dealers, they've even got the guys to do a few American import seasons.  I love the show for the process, BUT some of Ed's fixes would be considered lazy half-assed attempts over here (we don't use a spray can on a restoration, ect...) and lot of times they will be drooling over this 1980's crapbox european car going on and on about how good it looks while I'm sitting there scratching my head over how they love what literally looks like the ugliest car in the world to me.  I feel sorry for poor old Ed as well.  He would be considered an average sized man over here (he's what?  6'5"?  that's only slightly tall), but apparently over there he's a giant and he hits his head on all of your tiny tiny little cars when he gets inside.  Btw, this show is also on one of those no-name cable networks that nobody really watches, so it isn't a hit over here either. 

Again, not trying to start anything, but next time you want to prove me wrong you might want to post a list with more than 5 good shows on it.  ;)

edekoning:

--- Quote from: Howard_Casto on January 07, 2013, 04:47:16 am ---I think there indeed is a cultural difference though.  One of my favorite UK imports is Wheeler Dealers, they've even got the guys to do a few American import seasons.  I love the show for the process, BUT some of Ed's fixes would be considered lazy half-assed attempts over here (we don't use a spray can on a restoration, ect...) and lot of times they will be drooling over this 1980's crapbox european car going on and on about how good it looks while I'm sitting there scratching my head over how they love what literally looks like the ugliest car in the world to me.

--- End quote ---

Yes there is a cultural difference. I mean just look at how completely different british and american humor is (one is actually funny ;)) Regading the crapbox european cars: that's probably because those are THE cars he grew up with. The same applies to music and games.

Gray_Area:
Everything on american tv blows. What hasn't been storied and acted out?

That said, every time I happen upon something British at my parents' house, there is an immediate, obvious class in the scenes, sets, and acting. Of course, they're mostly Masterpiece Theatre type stuff, so the settings are at least 80 years old.....

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