Crackcup, I think you'll find there's an easier explanation.

>>Obviously, all or most of the Channels have closely monitored displays of rival Channels programs, which helps them to "crash-in" their commercials all at the same time<<

I'm pretty sure that the channels simply collude on the timing of commercial breaks.

And you should keep that sort of thing for the confessional on Sunday, Ludwig.

>>I occasionally watch the ABC news and that's about it!<<

How on earth can you learn new stuff, or find out about what is going on in the world, if you limit yourself to looking at it through one tiny keyhole all the time?

But you do have a point, obliquely put though it is. We are free to choose what we view, and ignore the stuff we don't feel is sufficiently interesting, motivating or useful. No-one is holding a gun to our head, forcing us to watch bogan TV like a bunch of real-life Alex DeLarges.

The only people who should be concerned about the quality or quantity that is available should be the TV execs, whose paycheck depends on our being hooked on dross.

Firstly, "a run through the daily program guides leaves one dumbfounded at the absolute idiocy of the excreta being fobbed off as "entertaintainment"" could have been said at any time since 1956 in Australia.

I think you're missing the point, Crackup...

"Why cannot these idiots who control the programming, utilize a little bit of commonsense and realize that if everybody gets up and hits the "off" switch, they will eventually all be out of a job, which may be the best thing for all of us in the long run."

These days with around twenty free-to-air digital channels, PVRs, remote contols and DVD box sets, the 'idiots who control the programming' are the viewers.

<< How on earth can you learn new stuff, or find out about what is going on in the world, if you limit yourself to looking at it through one tiny keyhole all the time? >>

Ahaa, so you learn all your stuff from the old teev, do you Pericles?

That might explain a thing or two! ( :>)

Two of the most important devices I own are the remote control with mute and the digital recorder (formally VCR) I carefully mark what I want to view which is mostly the ABC, but anything on a commercial channel such as Downton Abbey, I automatically record.

With all the stations now available, I am never short of something to watch or record and am fascinated why so many will sit through all the "mind numbing" advertisements and rubbish that is broadcast. I do watch 60 minutes, but by recording it (always) not only can I zap the advertisements, I can also fast forward the uninteresting segments, and instead of being 60 minutes it's around "45 minutes" max
With discrimination there is actually a lot of very interesting stuff to view, especially the documentaries on SBS. 60% of my television viewing would be via the two digital recorders I possess. A free trial of Satellite recently made me feel it was no better so I handed it back. If I wanted to watch rubbish I had free to air !

Your logic escapes me once again, Ludwig.

What inferential process allows you to conclude this...

>>Ahaa, so you learn all your stuff from the old teev, do you Pericles?<<

...from this:

"How on earth can you learn new stuff, or find out about what is going on in the world, if you limit yourself to looking at it through one tiny keyhole all the time?"

Here's a short primer on deductive, inductive and abductive reasoning that might help you get back on track.

http://www.nordprag.org/nsp/1/Minnameier.pdf

Enjoy.

Yep that sounds like the way to do it, snake.

I have long aspired to doing the same sort of thing. But I suppose I have to be at home to do it, rather than travelling around and being a beachbumming drifter, which I have been doing for the last 18 months! ( :>/