Ordinary Gweilo

Does it make any sense to buy a DVD of a programme that is broadcast on TV in Hong Kong?  That I could watch or record for free (well, maybe the cost of a DVD-R disk or two)?

Obviously the answer is yes.  For a few reasons:

(1) Laziness (remembering to record the program)

(2) Time (being able to watch it when you’ve recorded it). Actually this is (1) again because I could put it on a DVD and save it for when I do have time.

(3) Stupid damn commercials, especially TVB Pearl’s policy of ignoring the breaks put there by the producers and having them whenever they feel like it.

(4) Additional stuff/subtitles/quality (a bit marginal)

but the main one is

(5) To watch the programme as it was originally intended, without nannyish alterations (idiotic stuff such as hearing Anthony Jnr say "Damn You" to his mother and then being reprimanded by his father for saying "the ‘F’ word").  Yes, I have complained about this before. 

The insane thing about this is that (as far as I know) TVB could choose to transmit The Sopranos, Six Feet Under and similar without this silliness (there is a little-used ‘M’ certificate available for this purpose from whichever nannyish government body decides these things).  They already transmit these shows after midnight so it shouldn’t really be a problem.

So, three cheers for Now Broadband TV.  They have decided that Hong Kong viewers can be treated as adults and watch ‘Rome’ in the version that HBO viewers in the States and BBC viewers were able to enjoy.  Mind you, the warning caption at the start of the show is something else (you name it, they’ve got it).  Somewhat weirdly, they have done this by setting up a channel (104) which currently exists solely to transmit one programme, but perhaps they will extend this to other HBO offerings.

Actually, I have to say that I’m kinda intrigued to know what is left of ‘Rome’ after they have excised the nudity, sex and gore.  Well, I suppose there’s the Senate…