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LogDog75

(635 posts)

69. The story about the van is true

Mon May 26, 2025, 09:59 PM

May 26

I was stationed in England twice; two years in the 80s and three years in the 90s. American television and British television used different broadcast systems. The US used NTSC and I believe England used PAL. Every television in England was required to have a license which was used primarily to fund BBC television. Under the Status of Forces agreement, American TV were exempt from the license requirement because they couldn't pick up British broadcasts.

Apparently, when in operation, TVs gave off a signal that could be picked up a nearby van. The vans would cruise through town with an antenna either on the roof or concealed in the roof. There would be one or two people in the van and as they picked up a signal of a TV in use they'd look up the address and check if they had a license. If the address didn't have a license, the occupant of the house would be given a fine much larger than what the TV license would be.

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Highlight:

Anyone like British TV [View all] LogDog75 May 25 OP

Foyle's War The Blue Flower May 25 #1

Mrs. Aristus and I watch an insane amount of British television. Aristus May 25 #11

And he always figures out who the culprit is The Blue Flower May 26 #20

Foyle's War is very good! We both really liked it. yellowdogintexas May 26 #66

Red Dwarf early 90's was hilarious Ponietz May 25 #2

Now streaming on Peacock sorcrow May 25 #9

Oh yeah, the cat is spot on Walleye May 26 #36

I keep seeing this ad on Facebook. johnp3907 May 26 #28

Yes, that was terrific. The curry-eating protagonist. Walleye May 26 #35

Yes, Cat was great and Danny John-Jules EverHopeful May 27 #78

So many! Beatlelvr May 25 #3

I have watched most of those you mentioned in liked them all Walleye May 26 #38

For laughs with a wide range of guests there is Graham Norton. Love all detective series including McDonald and Dobbs MLAA May 25 #4

Yes, "New Tricks" was great Walleye May 26 #39

Not British, but is on ACORN: Murdoch Mysteries. We love this series yellowdogintexas May 26 #68

Another good series is Miss Fishers Mysteries. mwmisses4289 May 27 #82

Yes indeed! I have read a few of the books and they are quite enjoyable yellowdogintexas May 29 #93

Midsomer Murders and All Creatures Great and Small. Diamond_Dog May 25 #5

The Detectorists CanonRay May 25 #6

I loved this one too. FalloutShelter May 27 #77

I grew up in England Skittles May 25 #7

Goode Neighbors vanamonde May 25 #8

Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister dickthegrouch May 25 #10

Yes, Minister I remember one line from that Walleye May 26 #40

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currently addicted to 'the repair shop.' mopinko May 25 #13

John Cleese was a writer for "Doctor in the House" & one episode featured the prototype for Basil Fawlty. sl8 May 25 #14

Doctor in the House is one of my favorites lapfog_1 May 26 #47

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Fawlty Towers...short, but sweet LudwigPastorius May 26 #16

I watched The Young Ones when it aired on MTV. Shermann May 26 #53

Yeah, I didn't like it at first. LudwigPastorius May 26 #63

Whitstable Pearl, Endeavor, Missummer Murders Figarosmom May 26 #17

I liked Endeavour so much that... Morbius May 26 #18

We are also big fans of Stephen Fry; check out "Kingdom" in which he is a solicitor with a quirky family yellowdogintexas May 29 #95

I absolutely loved Are You Being Served? Mad_Dem_X May 26 #19

I laughed and laughed when I watched that series Walleye May 26 #32

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Mrs. Slocombe! Mad_Dem_X May 26 #57

My least favorite show EVER dickthegrouch May 26 #50

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"Detectorists" One of my favorite British shows of all time! bif May 26 #22

I like that one too. And "New Tricks" Walleye May 26 #31

And of course, "Black Adder"! bif May 26 #23

Yes! How could I forget that show?! Mad_Dem_X May 26 #58

"Toast of London" is one of my favorites JoseBalow May 26 #24

Yes! NoRethugFriends May 26 #27

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Loved that one! johnp3907 May 26 #33

I think (not sure) there was a BBC re-boot, too. Also, meh. nt Laffy Kat May 26 #45

No. No one does. underpants May 26 #26

I loved Rumpole. And his "she who must be obeyed" Walleye May 26 #29

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I do! buzzycrumbhunger May 26 #37

The Goodies! JoseBalow May 26 #46

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Another 'Allo,'Allo fan. We love that ridiculous farce!! yellowdogintexas May 26 #67

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An old boss of mine was stationed in England with the Air Force in the late '60s/early '70s. Xavier Breath May 26 #55

The story about the van is true LogDog75 May 26 #69

Interesting stuff, thanks. Xavier Breath May 26 #72

Inspector Morse, Shetland and Are You Being Served are our favorites pdxflyboy May 26 #56

watched brit tv when pbs became bbc lite in the 1080s . loved are u being served AllaN01Bear May 26 #59

SO many!! choie May 26 #60

The Fall and Rise of Reginal Perrin, and "Allo 'Allo 4TheArts May 26 #61

I have a hard time understanding them. Emile May 26 #62

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I liked "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace", but it didn't last very long. sl8 May 26 #65

Fawlty Towers ailsagirl May 26 #70

Some more old British TV LogDog75 May 26 #71

too many. also waiting for god. rising damp. DAVE ALLEN AT LARGE, + our uhf had the brit three's company. pansypoo53219 May 27 #74

Oh My How could I leave out Waiting for God!!!!! nt yellowdogintexas May 29 #94

Rumpole and Red Dwarf, a couple of my favorites! Ocelot II May 27 #76

The Young Ones and Bottom are favorites. johnp3907 May 27 #79

We subscribe to "Britbox" through Amazon Prime and wouldn't pay $8.99 a month if it wasn't really good. FadedMullet May 27 #80

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Cadfael mysteries and the original (1970s or 1980s) Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. mwmisses4289 May 27 #84

I love Time Team LogDog75 May 29 #88

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