I have solved the problem by rarely watching anything on TV these days...seems to work. Commercial channels are appalling, the ABC has slid backwards sharply in it's quality, while SBS is ok, but half the doucmentaries are repeats...a good book is better, or some healthy exercise. I don't miss the goggle-box.

So, I haven't the slightest idea of what Randling is all about. That's because I gave up on the ABC years ago after years as a kid, watching my 6-days-a-week small business running father rail against this or that, then grew to understand what kept mugging him... The reality for me is that conservatives should give up wishing for the ABC to change and start pushing for it to be paid for by it's viewer-base. If the left want Lefty TV let them foot the bill...

The frequency of ABC promos is inversely proportional to the quality of the advertised programme. Randling is such an example. I noticed very few promos for the excellent Silk - in contrast to the adverts at every break for the forgettable Crownies. At least the promos save you the 5 minutes of watching the first episode. I've asked the ABC to import Have I Got News for You without receiving a reply. If they want to run panel discussions they should be funny, intelligent and forthright - as is HIGNFY. QI seems to have finished despite many episodes that have not yet been broadcast in Australia. Ah well, there are always plenty of Jimmy Carr clips on You Tube.

I suspect Peter West is correct. I say "suspect" because since the aerial broke I have been watching iView. There I can pick and choose, and its invariably content made in the UK or USA that gets watched.

I have discovered the BBC on line - no television (but judging by the promos they have as much tripe s is offered up by our free to air mob.) BBC radio on the other hand offers wit and intelligent discussion on a range of issues. The newsquiz is intelligent and humorous response to the week's events (Shaun take note) Melvyn Bragg's In our time provides 45 minutes on anything from Fredrick the Great to Game Theory. Of course the ABC is not a total wasteland - Occams Razor readily springs to mind but the few oasis that are left are not enough to sustain one in a desert of dross.

Baygon, I was recently in England and I can honestly day that the TV over there is worse than it is here...as a Pom, I remember enjoying TV in the past, but even 'apalling' is too good a word for Uk TV...we never watched it. I'd rather sit and stare at a blank wall than watch that drivel. Seems to be a worldwide phenomenon.