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Not shy at retiring over Pay TV

Abraham Simpson wouldn’t stand for this…

Residents of one retirement village are up in arms over a ruling that prevents them from installing satellite dishes on houses and land that they own.

“There’s not much on free-to-air television and lots of people at the village have told me they want to watch things like movies and more sport,” said John Turner of at Tudor Village, Lilydale, in outer Melbourne.

“There are many here who are on their own or can’t go out like they used to and television is a companion to them. It’s a sad situation when the management makes decisions for us. This is meant to be independent living.”

Edna Taylor, 80, said it was a terrible situation. “I am widowed and I like to watch television. I have seen what’s on offer on pay-TV at my children’s homes and it is wonderful. I feel deprived,” Mrs Taylor said. “The houses and land are ours. Why are we being told what to do?” she said.

Meanwhile 30 newly-planned units will have suitable cabling for pay-TV. “The new unit owners will be able to have it so what about the rest of us? It feels like a prison but even prisoners get Foxtel,” said Ron McKay, 76.

Geoffrey Reeve, chief executive of the Balwyn-based company Pinnacle Living that owns Tudor Village, declined to answer questions other than to say the residents were aware of the situation and “did not like what they were being told.”

You THINK?

Story / photo: Lilydale Leader

7 Responses

  1. My Grandmother lives in Tudor Village and has still been told by management she can’t have Foxtel because they don’t like the dishes on the roof, I think they have lost touch with elderly peoples needs

  2. In a similar situation, I yesterday tried to order Foxtel HD IQ2. I can’t because I live in a block of strata apartments and they are ‘not cabled for HD’ and therefore I can’t join the rest of the world and have proper HD Foxtel. Considering how many people now live in apartments how come Foxtel can’t get their act together and effectively increase their customer base massively. I want the highest cost package and many in my situation also would be paying top dollar. Doesn’t make sense to me.

  3. Why cant they have pay TV they have worked hard all their lives so just let them enjoy the rest of their lives and get pay TV for them you mean managers I bet you all have it in your homes and they are right there is not many good shows on TV anymore

  4. This happened to me when I lived in a strata apartment. All you need to do is get a form from Foxtel and have it signed by the strata committee of the apartment complex. I just got myself on the committee, made friends with other members and then put my case forward. Some people said I could have the dish as long is it didn’t look ugly and as long as it wasn’t obstructing views etc. I just assured them it would be really discreet and they agreed. I’m sure these pensioners will get their way in the end.

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