Whitegoods TV show?

[admin]

Hi all!
Slightly off topic I know. I have put this in this forum to guage response from the trade & public members. Apologies for the abuse!

I have benefited greatly from this site’s and wisdom regarding white goods: In my case a stricken Zanussi washer!

Anyway, I work as a television researcher, specialising in factual programming, and I was thinking that a white goods based TV series would be very interesting, and overall, beneficial for all.

I was thinking possibly thinking of a series of 6: each programme focussing on a particular “white good” machine: Fridge, washing machine, oven etc.

A half hour show could explain:

1. Real problems that have faced human beings that led to the development (+ sometimes discovery) of a machine (in the case of the Fridge, the Romans used to import ice!) Incidentally, a wooden Victorian spin dryer (powered by an engine) has just sold at auction for £1700!
2. Brief description of how a modern machine works.
3. How economies of scale / legislation / electronics has affected modern machine: do old ones last longer? Is it worth repairing machines with faults? (& what kind of faults: interview with engineers etc)
4. What to look for when buying. Do you buy a cheap one? The tip on these sites about buying a more expensive machine in the range does not guarantee quality is great!
5. Finally the environmental implication of buying, using and ultimately scrapping the appliance.

What do you think guys?

Rob

[Martin]

Re: Whitegoods TV show?

rob marshall wrote:I was thinking possibly thinking of a series of 6: each programme focussing on a particular “white good” machine: Fridge, washing machine, oven etc.

Very interesting Rob, if a little over-enthusiastic perhaps to run it as a series? The whole subject could be covered in half the time I reckon 🙂

Daytime TV stuff at best, but we certainly could provide the basics for you I have no doubt. Research at this stage vital of course, but in order to proceed I suggest you ‘put the idea in writing’ to webmaster@ukwhitegoods.co.uk

Martin

[admin]

Re: Whitegoods TV show?

I think a series of 6 would be just about enough.

There was a series on channel 4 in around 1988 doing just how appliances worked & their history.

I would be looking to recover this ground but with buyers advice, environmental & recycling implications, what commonly goes wrong: advice with engineers of how to ‘look after’ your machine; how long each machine usually lasts. Also some slightly wierd stuff: inventors using machine parts (like Robots on Robots wars use solenoid values to fire compressed air etc). Stuff like that.

It would be for day time viewing though! I am only looking to pitch it as an idea. It does not by any means mean it will be made!

The reasons for me posting is whether what I am thinking of would cover what the public & trade would liek to see in a whitegoods show??

[kwatt]

Re: Whitegoods TV show?

Rob,

First of all I’m really pleased that the site proved of use to you.

I’m a bit taken aback by the very notion of a TV show centered around our industry but, within each product group there probably is enough to fill a half hour slot pretty easily. You are also very correct in that it would be benificial to the public to see the other side as well as for the trade to get their side across to the public in such a media.

In short, I think it’s a great idea and I’d love to see it come to fruition.

If I or the trade in general can be of any help to you with this project please don’t hesitate to ask as we’ll be more than happy to help.

Regards

K.

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Whitegoods TV show?

rob marshall wrote:The reasons for me posting is whether what I am thinking of would cover what the public & trade would liek to see in a whitegoods show??

I think it would be an excellent idea 😀

The only thing in general the public see regarding the white goods trade are consumer programmes which only portray the negative side when something goes wrong.

To show a more rounded view with input from all angles would be very interesting to be involved with.

Dave.

[admin]

Re: Whitegoods TV show?

Cheers!

I do think it could be an interesting take on a essential industry. All these machines we use throughout our lives, and helps to free us from the slavery of domestic life.

I would be up for suggestions on how to expand the idea to make it watchable for Mr & Mrs Mondeo. If I proposed a show on the humble lightbulb (likely), I can get the broadcaster’s attention by proposal we look at Disco lighting / studios / strobe lights etc etc. With a washing machine, a visit to a laundrete may be less appealing!!!

What would make YOU watch??!

[kwatt]

Re: Whitegoods TV show?

With the humble washing machine, it started in a river. People used to take their clothing down to the river, wash it about with some sort of detergent and then slap it against a rock, the stone age equivelent of a tumble for wash and a spin dry. Machines operate almost to the letter on that same principal today bar the addition of heat, but that is still not used in many other countries now, in particular the Far East. The basic principal can still be witnessed today in many third world countries.

But you can also centre on the principals involved in assembling the things, which is absolutely fascinating with the levels of robotics used these days and the sheer rate at which machines are churned out. A visit to Turin would be more in line with that, not the laundrette. 😉

Then there’s the design to minimise pollution, the testing and life cycle, the use of detergents and the technology in those, which is quite fascinating as well. Then there’s the future of the product as well, new nano-technologies, ultrasonics and network capabilities.

All in all there’s actually a fair bit involved using some pretty hi-tech processes to do what is, essentially, a mindless and boring everday chore that’s all wrapped up in a boring white box in the kitchen.

Hope that helps.

K.

[admin]

Re: Whitegoods TV show?

I think it sounds great..not sure whether I’d watch a series but definitely one or two 1 hour programme/s.

I would be particularly interested in how standards have changed since the appliances were first introduced (i.e. price competitiveness has lowered standards and also consumers can waste a lot of time comparing different bradns and there are only a few manufacturers). Also on the environmental impact of machines – both in a good and bad way. e.g when I replaced my appliances my electricity bills went down but on the other hand people replace machines more often.

Then again, not sure I am Mrs Mondeo.. I hope not anyway 😆

[Author]

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