Top Gear value for money TV?

[miro]

Hi Miro,
In the services you very quickly learn you have problems if your men aren't moaning As my old sergeant used to say, "A moaning man, is a happy man!"

I posted a thread about Junior Mastermind, a BBC2 program shown at about 7pm. Folks clearly made a decision on whether to watch it or not. Those that elected to view it would have been impressed by the high standards of general knowledge shown by some exceptiuonal ten year olds. Those that never watched it, exercised their right to view a program they deemed more entertaining. Why on earth don't folks simply do this with any program they don't want to watch? Is there criticism constructive, and will it increase the popularity of this light hearted entertainment\comedy program?

Regards,
John

No person wants to be the odd one out, the one that didnt see it, but they will not go down without a struggle and they give up that viewer rating conditionally.

 

[glojo]

I have finally watched the latest episode of Top Gear

Folks should realise this program is meant to appeal to a 'certain type'.

Note how the American car sales men were your 'stereo typical' American, highly overweight men with big fat tums

The filling station scene.
You can bet your bottom dollar\euro that the program researchers investigated where to find this filling station. They would have known the exact reaction they would expect, and got exactly that.

Folks that complain will only increase viewing numbers, this edition was make believe comedy. That has no doubt had bundles of publicity. (Remember any publicity is good publicity) The cars were all bought to get a reaction. The good old Cadillac, a muscle car and of course a pick-up truck. If they wanted to buy something sensible, then they could have bought a very bland, much better vehicle.

Is Top Gear value for money? You bet, if value is based on viewing numbers, popularity, controversy, then surely it has them all. For those folks that complain.... Gotcha, or April fool. Seriously though, if you don't like it then make sure you have something else to watch.

Regards,
John

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I think I've mention some statistics before, like:
Top Gear magazine is the UK's biggest-selling car magazine*
Currently shown in more than 100 countries
350 million viewers worldwide

But I just found the single most impressive statistic. Top Gear is the most pirated TV show in the world, beating programmes like Lost and Desperate Housewives!!

Now given the hype around Lost, that is amazing!!

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5367516.stm

 

[stats007]

Not sure how it's pirated - it's free to view to license payers and no-one is paying for downloads. Surely pirating involves someone making a profit as someones expense?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Not sure how it's pirated - it's free to view to license payers and no-one is paying for downloads. Surely pirating involves someone making a profit as someones expense?

Not sure. It came from a BBC article. Maybe it's the 345 million viewers outside the UK?

 

[glojo]

Not sure how it's pirated - it's free to view to license payers and no-one is paying for downloads. Surely pirating involves someone making a profit as someones expense?

We are but a small island, this program is popular worldwide. The only way some countrys can see this program is by getting pirate copies.

John

 

[mark.t]

I have finally watched the latest episode of Top Gear

Folks should realise this program is meant to appeal to a 'certain type'.

Note how the American car sales men were your 'stereo typical' American, highly overweight men with big fat tums

The filling station scene.
You can bet your bottom dollar\euro that the program researchers investigated where to find this filling station. They would have known the exact reaction they would expect, and got exactly that.

Folks that complain will only increase viewing numbers, this edition was make believe comedy. That has no doubt had bundles of publicity. (Remember any publicity is good publicity) The cars were all bought to get a reaction. The good old Cadillac, a muscle car and of course a pick-up truck. If they wanted to buy something sensible, then they could have bought a very bland, much better vehicle.

Is Top Gear value for money? You bet, if value is based on viewing numbers, popularity, controversy, then surely it has them all. For those folks that complain.... Gotcha, or April fool. Seriously though, if you don't like it then make sure you have something else to watch.

Regards,
John

I will go back to being the silent majority then

 

[stats007]

We are but a small island, this program is popular worldwide. The only way some countrys can see this program is by getting pirate copies.

John

Again if the program is free to air and not screened in other countries then where is the piracy?

 

[glojo]

Again if the program is free to air and not screened in other countries then where is the piracy?

Hi Stats
I think someone is being a bit pedantic here?

If you cannot watch Top Gear in country X and I copy Top Gear onto a DVD and sell these copies to citizens in country X am I acting lawfully?

I am surprised as to why you are querying this as it seems most unlike you?

Regards,
John the well off pirate

 

[stats007]

If you are selling them then yes - but downloads for home use we're talking about. Downloads are no different from recording the programme on VHS and watching it at home - it becomes piracy when you sell it or show it publicly.

Not being pedantic John - just find it a bit hypocritical when the presenters actually publically support the main forum that hosts the downloads .

 

[miro]

Not sure how it's pirated - it's free to view to license payers and no-one is paying for downloads. Surely pirating involves someone making a profit as someones expense?

Up to a certain point piracy is free advertising. Beyond a certain point it cripples DVD sales. Given that it is one of the only active British exports then it is worth protecting.

 

[scotth_uk]

If you are selling them then yes - but downloads for home use we're talking about. Downloads are no different from recording the programme on VHS and watching it at home - it becomes piracy when you sell it or show it publicly.

Stats,

I understood that it's free to air in the UK, where the license fee is paid. I have always understood that making a UK show available elsewhere (i.e. outside the license base) is totally illegal, however rarely enforced.

Given that the production company sell the program for considerable sums of money to other companies around the world for airing in local markets, it's clear to me that downloads into that market are harmful. If people are watching Top Gear two seasons ahead of the local broadcast, the impact of the local broadcast is reduced.

In my opinion (and I believe the law) - watching at home is most definitely included in piracy - however it's not piracy for profit by a middle man.

 

[stats007]

You won't be downloading any more episodes of Lost then Scott

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Up to a certain point piracy is free advertising. Beyond a certain point it cripples DVD sales. Given that it is one of the only active British exports then it is worth protecting.

Crikey miro. Put the boot in when we're down why don't you??!!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Not being pedantic John - just find it a bit hypocritical when the presenters actually publically support the main forum that hosts the downloads .

But wasn't Sunday's reference to downloading something that wasn't copyright protected and owned by the BBC?

Who owns it and whether you have their permission to view, broadcast, store or distribute will determine legality.

The legal definition of piracy I'll leave to greater minds than mine. Now where's my paint by numbers book?

 

[stats007]

The reference was regarding a quote Andy Wilman the Executive Producer of Top Gear made.

Anyway - I fully understand downloading anything without permission is illegal but Piracy isn't a word I'd personally associate with this kind of behaviour.

As Miro says - making this sort of thing available is free marketing to a degree and it's not like Top Gear sell the series on DVD.

 

[miro]

Crikey miro. Put the boot in when we're down why don't you??!!

Crikey ? I think you just infringed a trademark.

 

[stats007]

He meant Flaming Galah.. oops

 

[wallingd]

Thought piracy was only piracy if you made a profit.

"Crikey is an independent Australian email-based reporting service. It was founded by shareholder-activist Stephen Mayne, a journalist and former staffer of then Victorian premier Jeff Kennett. It developed out of Mayne's "jeffed.com" website, part of his campaign for Kennett's seat of Burwood, standing as an independent candidate."

(Wiki.)

 

[miro]

The reference was regarding a quote Andy Wilman the Executive Producer of Top Gear made.

Anyway - I fully understand downloading anything without permission is illegal but Piracy isn't a word I'd personally associate with this kind of behaviour.

As Miro says - making this sort of thing available is free marketing to a degree and it's not like Top Gear sell the series on DVD.

I personally feel that having choice is what TV is all about. Im getting rather bored of the American brand of TV. Nothing but feel good, pat on the head, you are best pre-chewed mush.

Someone gets on TV and says ... "this is crap" and even though it is rather pub-like and impolite it is still quite authentic and personal. Which is something that American TV has not been for a very long time.

The fact that people think British TV is good enough to steal should say something.