television in the uk
 

I am going to the UK soon and was wondering if anyone might be able to tell me what American t.v. shows are broadcast in England.

I had the pleasure of spending two weeks on the canals of England. One of the features our narrowboat had was a small B&W TV. In the country, the reception was bad, and one night I caught about two minutes of the movie "Misery." Don't bother with TV, no matter where you go. Take a walk. Say hello to real people (not actors playing the role of real people.) It's so much more memorable. The worst moment of my trip came when I stepped into a pub and caught 20 minutes of MTV. Actually, it's worth watching if you have the insight into spotting what's contrived and what's cultural. <BR> <BR>Don't get me wrong, I'm not a media snob. "The Simpson's" is my favorite show. It's just that England has so much more to offer. TV has been around for a few decades; it's so much more interesting to explore buildings that have been around for centuries. Hell, even the paint of the hotel wall (Hotel Victoria in Oxford) was more interesting than TV. <BR> <BR>On the other hand, let me tell you about the glories of the BBC radio network... <BR>:-) <BR>

Forget American TV! The UK probably has the best television programming in the world. While you are there enjoy what quality television really really is and what it could be here in the US if only......

What a curious question -- what difference does it make? You'll find out when you get there and you can't change things, anyway. They have a lot of old and bad American programs, as does rest of Europe. And British television is generally atrocious, regardless ofwhat prior post says, which is, of course, why they import Am. TV shows (true of rest of Europe, also). Yes, they have a few good programs on BBC, but the rest stinks & is about quality of bad American daytime TV. <BR>

Yes it is true that some british t.v. is far superior to american but unfortunately most is not.

CNN is available most of the day, keeps you up-to-date on the happenings back home.

I second the advice not to waste time watching TV if you're going to be abroad, but, I have to say, that when we got back to our apartment in London every night, we did flip on the telly awhile before bedtime, and though I don't recall much about programming (we usually watched the late game in the World Cup), I do recall that the commercials contained some of the funniest but most subtle wit that I have ever seen. I was impressed.

Re American programs: <BR>You'll see CNN International, some recycled American tv shows from the past, at least some of the Star Trek series,and some old American movies. <BR>If you are interested in knowing if you can "keep up" with some series that you <BR>currently watch in the US, I would say that's highly unlikely.

Cindy, why don't you email me directly and tell me what you are looking for. We are Americans who have been living in Scotland for the past 6 months or so. I can help you with whatever you are looking interested in.

<BR>British television is the best in the world. No doubt. There is trash, of course, but try watching programmes like Horizon, Dispatches, Arena, 40 Minutes and other such documentaries, or special adaptations of the classics, like the recent Far From the Madding Crowd. You can also delight at Coronation Street, of which the Queen is a fan, which shows the everyday lives of Manchester folk and regularly pulls in 18 million viewers, 4 times a week. <BR>And as for radio....Radio 4 will bring you the best news, drama, magazine programmes and comedy. Radio 3 and Classic F M will provide you with classical music and operas, Radio 1 is hip pop music all the way, and Radio 5 is rolling news and sport, informative as well as accessible and witty. Radio 2 will give you M O R music and talk. <BR>Buy the Radio Times, a weekly glossy costing 79 pence, and take your pick. Most hotels will have satellite {cable} T V, but that is mainly rubbish.