In Canada, you typically have to sign up for your cable channels through a variety of cable companies. Or perhaps you'll get a satellite so you can watch a wider variety of channels from around the world - which is particularly handy if your first language is not English and you want to see some Chinese channels or French ones etc.
Then there's Youtube and other sites online - where everything online is free in snippets but then you have to watch things in segments and risk not seeing everything - because the producing company of the show will request those clips be removed.
And then of course, there's the option of waiting until your favourite show comes out on DVD at the end of the season and you purchase it....
Now that you know your options - let's talk about the option in Finland.
In order to get channels in Finland - you just need to buy a "digibox". You just plug it in and POOF! You have channels!
Now, if you go that route, you're "supposed" to pay your TV fees.
You perhaps have received a letter from "Viestint�virasto TV-maksut" - and it was probably in Finnish the first few times. I know my husband has gotten one every 4-6 months since we've moved to Finland....and finally! It was my turn to get one.
Oh but this time - they wrote it in English.
Here's the short form of the letter:
"According to law (yes there's an Act on the State Television and Radio Fund (745/1998) - the television fees must always be paid when you are able to receive and watch tv transmissions... You have to submit a notification regardless of the channels you watch or how much you watch them - or which distribution network (analog, digital, satellite etc.)....PS If you cannot receive television transmissions or a television notification has already been made for your address, please ignore this letter. You need not notify us of this."
Then included in this little package is a form for me to fill out with all of my information etc.
Oh and because you're probably curious - here's the fees (you can pay it in 1 fee or in several monthly installments as follows:
" 1 month: 21,15� 3 months: 62,35� 6 months: 123,25� 12 months: 244,90�"
Considering the costs Canadians (and Americans too I'm sure) pay per month for internet - average speed being about 80$/month plus free local calls (we get the average speed for free in our building!) - I'm sure this is a very good deal, and I don't want to know what North Americans are paying for television cable! (Even if you convert the currencies).
Anyway, so we do have a television - but no digibox. We haven't watched TV in about 5 years (since my husband and I were first dating...he didn't need it and I didn't want to be dependent on it all the time like many people I know) - so why start now? We're more into movies if anything.
So we don't have a digibox - but apparently if your computer has a "tv chip" - you're still expected to pay. I have no idea how to use this "chip" and don't want to know. Our computer is mostly Finnish anyway - so we have no idea how to do a lot with this computer - except for the basics and use of the internet. I don't even know if we have that chip!
Well, what happens if you don't respond to the letters? Occasionally, you may have a "TV Inspector" come to visit you. They'll ring your door bell (so instruct your friends and regular visitors to knock instead :P ) and introduce themselves. They'll ask permission to come inside and look for your digibox.
YOU HAVE EVERY LEGAL RIGHT TO SAY NO AND POLITELY SHUT THE DOOR. The only people you MUST let into your home are the Police.
And they're sneaky about it too - they'll listen to your door (they're kind of thin I suppose) to see if they can hear any "tv-like sounds".
This is getting increasingly harder because of the internet, DVDs and VCRs (yes some people still have those here) - and heck! Even radios!
My friend had recently moved into a different flat and she received a letter within a week - stating that she needs to register her digibox/television if she has one. And before that? She just ignored the letters, and once had an inspector come in and they look around in the bedroom, kitchen and living room...typical places for a TV. The inspector was suspicious because he could hear sounds from her flat - and it was only the radio...she doesn't even have a TV!!
I wonder if they have a little jingle tune like "Inspector Gadget"...?
Then there's Youtube and other sites online - where everything online is free in snippets but then you have to watch things in segments and risk not seeing everything - because the producing company of the show will request those clips be removed.
And then of course, there's the option of waiting until your favourite show comes out on DVD at the end of the season and you purchase it....
Now that you know your options - let's talk about the option in Finland.
In order to get channels in Finland - you just need to buy a "digibox". You just plug it in and POOF! You have channels!
Now, if you go that route, you're "supposed" to pay your TV fees.
You perhaps have received a letter from "Viestint�virasto TV-maksut" - and it was probably in Finnish the first few times. I know my husband has gotten one every 4-6 months since we've moved to Finland....and finally! It was my turn to get one.
Oh but this time - they wrote it in English.
Here's the short form of the letter:
"According to law (yes there's an Act on the State Television and Radio Fund (745/1998) - the television fees must always be paid when you are able to receive and watch tv transmissions... You have to submit a notification regardless of the channels you watch or how much you watch them - or which distribution network (analog, digital, satellite etc.)....PS If you cannot receive television transmissions or a television notification has already been made for your address, please ignore this letter. You need not notify us of this."
Then included in this little package is a form for me to fill out with all of my information etc.
Oh and because you're probably curious - here's the fees (you can pay it in 1 fee or in several monthly installments as follows:
" 1 month: 21,15� 3 months: 62,35� 6 months: 123,25� 12 months: 244,90�"
Considering the costs Canadians (and Americans too I'm sure) pay per month for internet - average speed being about 80$/month plus free local calls (we get the average speed for free in our building!) - I'm sure this is a very good deal, and I don't want to know what North Americans are paying for television cable! (Even if you convert the currencies).
Anyway, so we do have a television - but no digibox. We haven't watched TV in about 5 years (since my husband and I were first dating...he didn't need it and I didn't want to be dependent on it all the time like many people I know) - so why start now? We're more into movies if anything.
So we don't have a digibox - but apparently if your computer has a "tv chip" - you're still expected to pay. I have no idea how to use this "chip" and don't want to know. Our computer is mostly Finnish anyway - so we have no idea how to do a lot with this computer - except for the basics and use of the internet. I don't even know if we have that chip!
Well, what happens if you don't respond to the letters? Occasionally, you may have a "TV Inspector" come to visit you. They'll ring your door bell (so instruct your friends and regular visitors to knock instead :P ) and introduce themselves. They'll ask permission to come inside and look for your digibox.
YOU HAVE EVERY LEGAL RIGHT TO SAY NO AND POLITELY SHUT THE DOOR. The only people you MUST let into your home are the Police.
And they're sneaky about it too - they'll listen to your door (they're kind of thin I suppose) to see if they can hear any "tv-like sounds".
This is getting increasingly harder because of the internet, DVDs and VCRs (yes some people still have those here) - and heck! Even radios!
My friend had recently moved into a different flat and she received a letter within a week - stating that she needs to register her digibox/television if she has one. And before that? She just ignored the letters, and once had an inspector come in and they look around in the bedroom, kitchen and living room...typical places for a TV. The inspector was suspicious because he could hear sounds from her flat - and it was only the radio...she doesn't even have a TV!!
I wonder if they have a little jingle tune like "Inspector Gadget"...?
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