The issue I have is the race to the bottom of intelligence you get from the commercial channels.It’s remit is to inform, educate and entertain. It has lost it’s impartiality and in its warped semblance of ‘balance’ it gives as much airtime to lies and false facts than it does to palpable truths. Unless it can return to that remit it should be privatised and run for profit under a different brand or scrapped.
The issue I have is the race to the bottom of intelligence you get from the commercial channels.
While the BBC has its faults, it’s brilliant in other aspects. Whereas the output on the commercial channels is mostly mind-numbingly dumbed-down with all the reality shows, full of repeats of rubbish American programmes (many from decades ago), or repeats of things like PoliceCameraAction from 1997.
Unless there’s some sport on, I never watch any ITV or C5 platform; I rarely watch anything on any C4 platforms; I rarely watched any of the Sky Channels when I had it. The programming is simply not good enough, other than maybe Sky Arts (Sky Atlantic was decent but none of it was produced by Sky, Sky just bought the rights for good US programmes).
I used to avidly watch National Geographic and Discovery for documentaries. Yet they just became platforms of total rubbish with programmes like Outback Truckers, Air Crash Investigation or Car SOS. What happened to all those great documentaries they used to show?
And adverts do me head in mid-programme!
It’s the same in radio. The commercial stations just have a list of about 25 songs that they play on a loop at any one time. With adverts on every three songs.
I’d hate the BBC to lose their best productions on tele and be dumbed down, and I’d especially hate to lose Radio 6.
What would stop the BBC just becoming another commercial channel for dullards if it was privatised?
Fair point.
I think the current funding model is a disaster, especially for the poorest in society, and I think at least some of the burden should be carried by advertisers whether or not it's privatised.
It is a good question about the standard of programmes that would replace it. I must admit most of my favourite programmes are on the BBC but for every great documentary, there's a Homes Under the Hammer too.
I think Channel 4 is a good, not-for-profit channel that would be a better funding model than the current BBC model. Also, Netflix and Amazon have some good shows too.
For it to be balanced it needs to be de-politicised. Like Channel 4, the BBC is at the mercy of politicians threatening to do away with it which must influence its output. Similarly, it has to put on Eastenders and the like, because it needs viewing figures to justify it’s existence as well. I think it generally does more good than bad and I, for one, would be sorry to see it go.It’s remit is to inform, educate and entertain. It has lost it’s impartiality and in its warped semblance of ‘balance’ it gives as much airtime to lies and false facts than it does to palpable truths. Unless it can return to that remit it should be privatised and run for profit under a different brand or scrapped.
For it to be balanced it needs to be de-politicised. Like Channel 4, the BBC is at the mercy of politicians threatening to do away with it which must influence its output. Similarly, it has to put on Eastenders and the like, because it needs viewing figures to justify it’s existence as well. I think it generally does more good than bad and I, for one, would be sorry to see it go.
Perhaps the nice Mr Murdoch will buy it for a fiver...
It should certainly be told where to go with it's plan to stop giving free TV licences to those 75 or over.
Licence.Eastenders isn't just about viewing figures. It is also providing content for its license fee payers. Just because some don't like certain programmes they suggest the BBC should be privatised. If you are going to seek to get funding from everyone then you have to provide content for everyone. For some people it seems they think what they like is what everyone should like and should be the sole content on the BBC.
100's of thousands of oldies have signed up to stop buying a TV licence when free licences stop.The Governments plan that is - that was part of the settlement on the last license fee - the beeb was made to take that back in the knowledge it was unsustainable if not paid for by the Govt - the Govt just wanted rid of the blame and handily it means they can kick the BBC over it too.
100's of thousands of oldies have signed up to stop buying a TV licence when free licences stop.
The Govetnment will, quite rightly in my opinion, decriminalise not having a licence in very short order as a result.
Civil actions on the scale required WILL be more expensive than continuing with free TV licences.can you not see that will just result in the Beeb and bailiffs simply pursuing loads of civil actions in the courts?
Small claims for £150? Where do I sign them up?can you not see that will just result in the Beeb and bailiffs simply pursuing loads of civil actions in the courts?
Civil actions on the scale required WILL be more expensive than continuing with free TV licences.
The whole point is that this, is so that the government wants to force the BBC to back down or so it can take on the BBC with the backing of a few million pensioners.
And if it is decriminalised, there will be plenty more than pensioners scrapping it.Civil actions on the scale required WILL be more expensive than continuing with free TV licences.
The whole point is that this, is so that the government wants to force the BBC to back down or so it can take on the BBC with the backing of a few million pensioners.
I would far prefer it to return to its original remit and rid itself completely of political interference. Whilst politicians appoint the BBC executive it will always be open to manipulation when it should be a protection for the UK population against the poison that gets dripped into their ear 24 x 7 x365 by the 'popular' press.The issue I have is the race to the bottom of intelligence you get from the commercial channels.
While the BBC has its faults, it’s brilliant in other aspects. Whereas the output on the commercial channels is mostly mind-numbingly dumbed-down with all the reality shows, full of repeats of rubbish American programmes (many from decades ago), or repeats of things like PoliceCameraAction from 1997.
Unless there’s some sport on, I never watch any ITV or C5 platform; I rarely watch anything on any C4 platforms; I rarely watched any of the Sky Channels when I had it. The programming is simply not good enough, other than maybe Sky Arts (Sky Atlantic was decent but none of it was produced by Sky, Sky just bought the rights for good US programmes).
I used to avidly watch National Geographic and Discovery for documentaries. Yet they just became platforms of total rubbish with programmes like Outback Truckers, Air Crash Investigation or Car SOS. What happened to all those great documentaries they used to show?
And adverts do me head in mid-programme!
It’s the same in radio. The commercial stations just have a list of about 25 songs that they play on a loop at any one time. With adverts on every three songs.
I’d hate the BBC to lose their best productions on tele and be dumbed down, and I’d especially hate to lose Radio 6.
What would stop the BBC just becoming another commercial channel for dullards if it was privatised?
Its the political influence that sickens me. The BBC should be protecting us against the poison being dripped into our ears on a daily basis. In fact it only adds to it.For it to be balanced it needs to be de-politicised. Like Channel 4, the BBC is at the mercy of politicians threatening to do away with it which must influence its output. Similarly, it has to put on Eastenders and the like, because it needs viewing figures to justify it’s existence as well. I think it generally does more good than bad and I, for one, would be sorry to see it go.
Perhaps the nice Mr Murdoch will buy it for a fiver...
And if it is decriminalised, there will be plenty more than pensioners scrapping it.
To cut to the chase, I think most people had no problem with the licence fee,
but since the BBC has changed from being a brilliant producer of TV in general,
its total obsession with diversity, it's versions and interpretation of news, and a
left wing bias that doesn't reflect society, there is now this kickback.
It was never like this, and when you went to America, folk, including me,
used to take the Mick, and generally disparage US TV content, citing the Beeb as
far better, which it was, (in many respects still is).
Your point about sitcoms is very true, BBC used to have some crackers, andI can completely agree.
When I go to the BBC news website I just want to see a FACTUAL and balanced report on what has happened. I don't need to hear the opinion of an over paid luvvie or the BBC running articles on how Muslim victims of acid attacks can cover up their scars from acid attacks as though it's normal. I also don't want to see some petty article written by some bitter scouser which has an agenda against City. There are too many journos and anchors at the BBC who are more concerned with boosting their own profile as opposed to just presenting an unbiased and factual coverage.
In the past decade (apart from "people just do nothing"), I can't name a single successful and funny sitcom.
When you are paying the same price for Netflix which has numerous new releases each week, the BBC really needs to up it's game. They have dropped so many sporting events (BDO world champs, WImbledon) and instead focused on some absolute dross sport such as women's football and bowls. The one success in recent years is being able to show one day of live test international cricket a year and has the rights to the highlights.
Your point about sitcoms is very true, BBC used to have some crackers, and
presented great comedy in general, I now never have any discussions with anyone
about last nights funny show, or comedian. Everything they put out now either focuses
on political satire,which is fine in small doses, but it's always, always
directed against one side, then there's some late night rants
by a bloke called Nish Kumar, or someone similar, who thinks endless banal quips
about Boris Johnson are eagerly lapped up by millions. Comedy is now non existent
on TV, and it's not solely the BBC, it's all main channels, which is why most folk
revert to Youtube, PC culture has killed it.