Cancelled Culture

Today is day 1. I cancelled my TV Licence yesterday. Already I’m missing my Dickinson’s Real Deal on Challenge in the mornings before work – but that was by no means a guarantee anyway as I think Challenge have already swapped that for Supermarket Sweep.

In any case, my TV signal was fucking shot and has been for months – with absolutely zero explanation. Just suddenly started breaking up one day after me adjusting absolutely nothing.

I loved the way TV Licensing site carefully mis-words it when you go through the form to cancel your TV Licence though: “I confirm that I will not be watching TV”. No, people, “that I will not be watching live TV”, is, of course, the correct wording. I’m not going to just have a fucking great 49″ TV sat there in the corner of my room never to be turned on again, am I, you fucking bozos. And nor am I going to be selling my TV.

I see they’ve already sealed off any other escape route – if you select “Other” for a reason, you’re told “We are unable to cancel your TV Licence”. Fine, so WHY EVEN HAVE AN OPTION THAT SAYS “OTHER” THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE??!!!

Anyway, for me, this was never some childish Twitter Toddler reason like “nneerrr biased BBC, not PAYING for that crap!!!”. It was partly the sudden unexplained reception problem, and partly because, although I will always support the BBC being funded in the way that they are, I barely watch it anymore. And I barely watch any other live TV anymore either. I have been using the catch up services though. I’m now no longer allowed to use BBC iPlayer without a TV Licence. But this fails to bother me – as the BBC hasn’t put out a decent comedy in years. Not even a half decent one.

I remember when Saturday nights were gold on BBC. You actually used to look forward to them during the week.

Let’s have a look at this week’s Saturday night, shall we:

Fucking christ….TV to hang yourself by.

Not so long ago the thought to me of cancelling my TV Licence was utterly unthinkable. Now it’s reached the stage that the inability to watch live TV is just a minor inconvenience. It’s sad that it’s come to this. But, at least I get to save about £160 every year.