No Escape From The NHK Man?

[Yokohammer]

I do not watch TV but the times I have tried I have not understood how to get rid of that horrible notice on NHK. Is this because they know I don't pay?

You mean the black blotch with the "please contact us to remove this message" notice on NHK BS channels?

No, they don't know that you haven't paid. They can remove the message by broadcasting the unlock code for your B-CAS card (it's in your TV or tuner, somewhere). You're supposed to call them up when you've paid for your license and give them your license details and B-CAS card number, then they'll broadcast the unlock code for your B-CAS card. Your TV or tuner isn't transmitting any information back to NHK, so they don't know anything about you.

At least I think that's how it works.

[yanpa]

I know all of that but I don't know the difference between the stations - what they "specialise" in

Garish sets and annoying sound effects. And food.

[wagyl]

I have long ago drifted away from television, and have no experience of the satellite channels (I am also now out of Kanto broadcast area so data might be old and useless), but to start the discussion off, this is my feeling about the various commercial terrestrial channels:

Fuji: Trendy drama at 9 pm on Monday, which used to involve a Smap or two but who knows these days, and lots of shows trying to push "comedians." It was accused of having too much Korean sourced drama through the daytime slot but that was all after I gave up on TV.

Asahi: Tries to be seriously into news in the late part of the evening. Music Station is remarkable as a live music show with all the fun that can be had when unripe starlets mess up.

TV Tokyo: What everyone is thinking of when they point to useless Japanese TV. B grade gourmet and onsen travel shows. Midnight World Business Satellite is(was?) popular and I never worked out why.

NTV: The main impression I have is those 24 hour charity marathon shows, and back in the day Mr Wicky the Sri Lankan ambushing sararimen on the morning show.

TBS: Has some comparatively intellectual quiz programs but even these are ultimately tie-ins with movie releases or the next Dan Brown dreck.　TBS will however never be forgiven for providing a platform to that self-important, opinionated prick Mino Monta.

All of the channels compete to produce a crappy panel program every quarter, to fill that one week between 12-week drama series.

So there you have it, a rough and ready and very subjective view: I hope that is a base for someone to finesse a little.

[Russell]

Two decades ago there were those programs late at night with half-naked women, but nowadays that's apparently not fashionable anymore.

Or the Missus is censoring me.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Two decades ago there were those programs late at night with half-naked women, but nowadays that's apparently not fashionable anymore.

Gilgamesh Night...

But, IIRC, isn't/wasn't Dutch telly full of tits and arse too?

[Russell]

Two decades ago there were those programs late at night with half-naked women, but nowadays that's apparently not fashionable anymore.

Gilgamesh Night...

But, IIRC, isn't/wasn't Dutch telly full of tits and arse too?

Yeah, and the similarity with Japanese TV at the time certainly made the culture shock more bearable...

[matsuki]

Last time I remember seeing that stuff it was 2001 X_x and they were "scientifically" testing how luck women were based on their cup sizes....with all the girls in bikini at a pachinko parlor.

[yanpa]

Meanwhile I see NHK dedicates part of their morning show to broadcasting YouTube videos of cats.

Not sure if I'd actually want to pay for that.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Meanwhile I see NHK dedicates part of their morning show to broadcasting YouTube videos of cats.

Not sure if I'd actually want to pay for that.

They now have written proof that you watched their shite, obliging you to pay them...

[yanpa]

That's assuming it was my TV I saw that on.

[Russell]

That's assuming it was my TV I saw that on.

Nope, if you own a TV that is able to receive it, you have to pay, even if you watch it on another TV.

NHK is working hard to provide service for you...

[wagyl]

Yes, on the broadcasting side, it is the "Internet's Funniest Videos" segment and the "here is a cool, commercial emerging product which we are giving a five minute infomercial on twice during the morning news bulletin even though we are a public broadcaster, we even provide contact details for suppliers" segment (I found out about these broadacsts from the web, your Honour), as well as their attempts to compete down to the level of the commercial channels in so many ways, which makes me ask why the licence fee model is appropriate here. NHK also use fees to research and develop broadcasting hardware, which is entirely inappropriate because the manufacturers are perfectly able to do that for themselves, and only serves to preserve the technology isolationist stance Japan has been notorious for (... and the manufacturers are perfectly able to do that for themselves, too).

[matsuki]

Yes, on the broadcasting side, it is the "Internet's Funniest Videos" segment and the "here is a cool, commercial emerging product which we are giving a five minute infomercial on twice during the morning news bulletin even though we are a public broadcaster, we even provide contact details for suppliers" segment (I found out about these broadacsts from the web, your Honour), as well as their attempts to compete down to the level of the commercial channels in so many ways, which makes me ask why the licence fee model is appropriate here. NHK also use fees to research and develop broadcasting hardware, which is entirely inappropriate because the manufacturers are perfectly able to do that for themselves, and only serves to preserve the technology isolationist stance Japan has been notorious for (... and the manufacturers are perfectly able to do that for themselves, too).

...not to mention the "broadcasting hardware" they're "developing" is obsolete before it's even released.

(Not NHK related but hilarious how hard this cuntry is holding on to physical movie/music rentals)

[yanpa]

Meanwhile I see NHK dedicates part of their morning show to broadcasting YouTube videos of cats.

Not sure if I'd actually want to pay for that.

Well, seems I have no option now...

[Coligny]

Isn't that total copyright infringement ? Or more likely broadcast right infringement...

I don't remember uploaded youtube videos to fall into the public domain...

[Mike Oxlong]

Isn't it NHK that also does that stupid show "Super Presentation"? A bunch of TED talks with a pre and post-vid interpretation for the audience, and even the url listed is for nhk, not for TED. This, when the talks are already available online for free and with Japanese subtitles...

[wagyl]

Meanwhile I see NHK dedicates part of their morning show to broadcasting YouTube videos of cats.

Not sure if I'd actually want to pay for that.

Well, seems I have no option now...

Were you sprung?
Couldn't dislodge that foot in the door?
Or has something changed that other people should be aware of (deliberately keeping this in the third person....)

[yanpa]

Meanwhile I see NHK dedicates part of their morning show to broadcasting YouTube videos of cats.

Not sure if I'd actually want to pay for that.

Well, seems I have no option now...

Were you sprung?
Couldn't dislodge that foot in the door?
Or has something changed that other people should be aware of (deliberately keeping this in the third person....)

House with antenna clearly visible from the street. TV (parked next to the windows bordering the street) blaring while windows are open. NHK dood gets the missus at the door while I am blissfully unaware. Have to call shoganai on this one, I've had a good run over the last half-decade but one has to choose one's battles and I've got bigger fish to fry at the moment... It did take them a good 10 months from the previous visit (when there was demonstrably no antenna or cable connection) to come back and check up.

[wagyl]

Thank you. Idly inquiring minds just wanted to know whether the general risk to the populace had increased or not. It seems that the answer is "no." You still have to ask whether the coffers swell enough by these activities to actually pay the wages of the guys pounding that lonely NHK fee collection beat. Even if it doesn't I suppose it makes the unemployment statistics look rosier.

[Big Booger]

I just had the NHK collector yelling through the intercom to open the door so he could come up and enroll us into their system. I asked him if he could explain it to me in English. He asked me if I was joking? I told him certainly not. He got irate and rude. I told him I would come down and settle it if he wanted. He just left after that.

Having an auto-locking door to the entrance of your building helps out a great deal. I just wished we had a video monitor!

[Russell]

Just like the Jehovas, they'll send an English-speaking guy next time.

[tidbits]

Actually I encountered the same thing as BB recently. I told him on the intercom I have no TV and no PC, the man was obviously getting fierce and rude in his voice, insisted I open the door to register something (that I couldn't understand). I said No, and he kept asking why I couldn't open the door for him!! Good that I have read the news about the harassment some of them have made earlier otherwise i woulld have freaked put, finally, I just said "go eff yourself" and hung up the phone.

[Russell]

Actually I encountered the same thing as BB recently. I told him on the intercom I have no TV and no PC, the man was obviously getting fierce and rude in his voice, insisted I open the door to register something (that I couldn't understand). I said No, and he kept asking why I couldn't open the door for him!! Good that I have read the news about the harassment some of them have made earlier otherwise i woulld have freaked put, finally, I just said "go eff yourself" and hung up the phone.

Why is it necessary to state that you have no PC?

Last time I checked they don't charge for that (yet).

[wagyl]

I've been asked the PC question too (after I have answered the question "where do you get to hear news from?" with "off the internet"*). If it has a TV tuner, they are entitled to collect. I think it is mostly bluff at this stage, I don't think they have gone as far as trying to enforce it if someone refuses, but I think their standard mode of operation is if someone starts to pay in error, that is that person's problem, not NHK's. I'm waiting for them to start asking if you have a keitai with one-seg....

* Maybe I should start to answer with "Off Fuckedgaijin.com" so that they know I am one of their colleagues down in the basement.

[tidbits]

Exactly what Wagyl said, they asked many questions the last time about Internet subscriptions .. that I didn't even understand those Japanese technical term they used & their questions, and I didn't think it has anything to do with NHK anyway...So this time I just said I do not use PC! (which is pretty true, am always on Keitai)

[matsuki]

I'm waiting for them to start asking if you have a keitai with one-seg....

Already asked me that....but in a round about way.

NHK: "Do you own a cell phone?"

Me: "Yeah"

NHK: "What model is it?"

Me: "...iphone"

NHK: "Ahhhh, so no one-seg?"

Me: "nope"

[wagyl]

Hmmmm. At least where I am I can demonstrate that I cannot get a signal, one-seg or chi-deji. If I ever get another visit, I may need to ramp it up to the "if the legislature wanted to make this enforceable they would have provided penalties for failure to pay" and "I cannot condone the way you spend the money" bluster.

[Wibble]

Having an auto-locking door to the entrance of your building helps out a great deal. I just wished we had a video monitor!

Not when some other idiot lets them in to the building and they can roam in the wild right up to your front door.
I got caught like this when my wife opened the door to one. He stayed in my genkan for 35 minutes before I gave in and signed up when he started crying. They really can be good at their job.

[matsuki]

Having an auto-locking door to the entrance of your building helps out a great deal. I just wished we had a video monitor!

Not when some other idiot lets them in to the building and they can roam in the wild right up to your front door.
I got caught like this when my wife opened the door to one. He stayed in my genkan for 35 minutes before I gave in and signed up when he started crying. They really can be good at their job.

THIS

There are even no sales/no soliciting signs and shit but neither the signs or lock stops them. I had my door shut within 5 mins though. (and was prepared to kick some ass if he tried to force his way in)

[IparryU]

Having an auto-locking door to the entrance of your building helps out a great deal. I just wished we had a video monitor!

Not when some other idiot lets them in to the building and they can roam in the wild right up to your front door.
I got caught like this when my wife opened the door to one. He stayed in my genkan for 35 minutes before I gave in and signed up when he started crying. They really can be good at their job.

THIS

There are even no sales/no soliciting signs and shit but neither the signs or lock stops them. I had my door shut within 5 mins though. (and was prepared to kick some ass if he tried to force his way in)

i just speak english to anyone who comes to the door that i dont know. that and since it is summer i am usually only in shorts inside the house. it is always funny to see the reaction people have when you answer the door half nekked.