Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Text PETE to 84444
Sadly, this may be the last Big Brother that I associate myself with, and watch. Much has been made about the 'Red Button' interactive coverage disappearing from E4 - I'm not actually sure they've ever had it for the Celeb version - and an email from Channel4 to a member of the Official BB Forum states that Channel4 no longer has interactive services on digital TV. The only way to get 24hr live streaming at the moment is via the website, at £7.99 for the duration of the series, however, being a SKYdigital viewer I - or rather, more accurately, Nicola - have to pay for the priviledge of watching E4 (unlike Freeview viewers, who rather unfairly get the channel for nothing) and I refuse to pay extra for something that I've had as part of E4 since BB2.
The whole point of Big Brother was to be able to watch as a fly-on-the-wall whenever you wanted, 24/7, in series 1 this was done via the FREE video streaming from the website, being able to choose any of the cameras that you wanted. In series 2, on E4 behind the 'red button' you had three live streams and a 'highlights' stream to choose from, since then it seems that every series Channel4, or Endemol, take more away from the viewer - whilst simultaneously trying to make us pay for it. As such, if the next 'real' Big Brother series follows the path set by this version, I shall no longer watch, or vote.
The whole point of Big Brother was to be able to watch as a fly-on-the-wall whenever you wanted, 24/7, in series 1 this was done via the FREE video streaming from the website, being able to choose any of the cameras that you wanted. In series 2, on E4 behind the 'red button' you had three live streams and a 'highlights' stream to choose from, since then it seems that every series Channel4, or Endemol, take more away from the viewer - whilst simultaneously trying to make us pay for it. As such, if the next 'real' Big Brother series follows the path set by this version, I shall no longer watch, or vote.
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I don't expect them to replace existing programmes - they never have before, why should they now? All I'm saying is that they should have the interactive thing back, if they aren't, they need to tell people that.
Basically, in Big Brother circles, you are in the minority.
By the way, as you pay fuck all for E4, and we pay for it, I'll tell you what should be on there, thank you.
Basically, in Big Brother circles, you are in the minority.
By the way, as you pay fuck all for E4, and we pay for it, I'll tell you what should be on there, thank you.
As far as I know, Channel 4 (+ related channels E4, More4 etc) and five are moving to broadcast their channels unencrypted via satellite as the BBC and ITV have done with theirs. Channel 4 is caught up in a contract with Sky and are unable to get themselves out of it quickly and so have to wait until it's up for renewal. That's why you are still paying for it which is of course bloody stupid! I just got myself a Sky box and now have the unencrypted channels and Channel 4/E4/More4 etc and five are not on the EPG! It should all sort itself out this year.
As for the red button thing, I can see what you are saying but I think this has a lot to do with Sky calling the shots as regards to bandwidth rather than Channel 4 being annoying. Bandwidth on Freeview is even more of a problem and big companies such as ITV and Channel 4 have invested millions just to stick an extra couple of channels on the box! Personally, I can't wait for the BBC/ITV backed Freesat... not the rip off that is Freesat from Sky (£120 quid??? I don't think so!!!)
As for the red button thing, I can see what you are saying but I think this has a lot to do with Sky calling the shots as regards to bandwidth rather than Channel 4 being annoying. Bandwidth on Freeview is even more of a problem and big companies such as ITV and Channel 4 have invested millions just to stick an extra couple of channels on the box! Personally, I can't wait for the BBC/ITV backed Freesat... not the rip off that is Freesat from Sky (£120 quid??? I don't think so!!!)
# posted by 
: 9:19 am
: 9:19 am
I agrre with most of what you have said Krisse, however if, as I first thought, it is to do with bandwidth on Sky why the hell do we need more4?! Does anyone actually watch it? I never have!
I did think that the introduction of the two more4 channels was the reason behind channel4 stopping the interactive coverage, but it does kind of go against the whole idea of Big Brother that you can't watch it 24/7.
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I did think that the introduction of the two more4 channels was the reason behind channel4 stopping the interactive coverage, but it does kind of go against the whole idea of Big Brother that you can't watch it 24/7.
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