[Abundy]

oh, and BTW...I didn't have to pay the government a license fee to see that malfunction.

I still can't get over that fact...that you guys on the othe side of the pond need a license for a TV.

I'm wondering how long it will be before the screaming Socialists over here want to license personal use TVs, radios and computers???

[agere_contra]

Its not so much that we British need a licence for a TV like Americans would need a licence for a gun or a pet wolverine: the TV licence was the only means of paying for the BBC (the only TV service back in the days of Lord Reith) and was therefore mandatory.

Now the BBC has become (IMO) your lefty-NPR writ large, it is a problem. But back when it was providing quality TV with no ads, few in the UK had a problem with it.

[pau1f0rd]

license for a TV.

I doubt it will last long. The BBC is being heavily scaled back right now, with massive job cuts. The removal of the license is seriously on the agenda. On that front at least, there is a little progress.