BBC could be banned from prime time competition

[Marc]

I can this pissing on many many BBC viewers it happens, but the Cameron government is considering put in place restrictions that would prevent the BBC competing aganist it's commercial rivals in prime time.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/20...wing-top-shows-at-peak-times?CMP=share_btn_tw

Seems somehow as the BBC doesn't need commercials gives has an unfair advantage. That it the BBC is probably producing better programing that people watch doesn't seem to enter the equation.

Could see the conservatives in Australian pushing for something similar for the ABC which can also challenge the commercial stations in the ratings.

 

[DBR]

Sooo . . . is there some obvious reason why BBC doesn't air commercials to help offset the costs associated with running a nationalized broadcaster? Like CBC in Canada (a bit apples v. oranges, I know, or maybe Gala apples v. Spartan apples.)

 

[John Clark]

We have a licencing fee here and the money from that funds the Beeb.

 

[Relayer1]

^ It's great to have shows with no adverts.

The BBC acts as a quality benchmark. God knows what sort of lowest commomn denominator, wall to wall crapfest ITV would become if left to its own devices.

Excluding a handful of football matches and Downton (which I didn't like) I've probably watched under ten hours of ITV in the last year or two.

Leave the bloody BBC alone !

 

[cultcross]

Sooo . . . is there some obvious reason why BBC doesn't air commercials to help offset the costs associated with running a nationalized broadcaster? Like CBC in Canada (a bit apples v. oranges, I know, or maybe Gala apples v. Spartan apples.)

The licence fee pays for the BBC, and part of what you're paying for is commercial free programming. Not to mention the BBC charter is to be a non commercial impartial entity - they take this to extremes sometimes, like if a kids show is making stuff out of household junk (do they still even do that?) they would blank out the brand names on even the really obvious stuff (like Pringles tubes) so as not to be accused of product placement.

 

[Admiral Bear]

I wouldn't miss the BBC if it disappeared. It's so politically left wing, agenda driven, and muslim terrorist loving, it makes Fox News look left of centre. Outside of Strictly Come Dancing and Graham Norton, there's little to nothing I watch on it. Some of the Horizon shows on BBC2 and BBC4 would be worth watching if they wern't so terminally dumbed down as to be unwatchable. Doctor Who became unwatchable, gay agenda pushing rubbish years ago, the dramas are generally poor with well established audio problems, there's no sci-fi, no American imports, and no decent films.

The only thing I watch most days on the BBC is the weather forecast on the News channel, and that's mainly to see if Louise Lear's presenting it. I'm actually glad the Conservatives are getting a real grip on the BBC. It's been needed for years.

 

[hux]

"Muslim terrorist loving... Gay agenda pushing"

If you don't like the antiques roadshow, then don't watch it.

 

[cultcross]

 

[HIjol]

Swear to Landru, I read the Thread title as "BBS..."



I love the BBC...since forever, in "Murica!

Plus, you have not lived until the BBC picks up "Storage Wars"!

Everything you need to know about portions of 'Murica!

 

[Kai "the spy"]

I wouldn't miss the BBC if it disappeared. It's so politically left wing, agenda driven, and muslim terrorist loving, it makes Fox News look left of centre.

How ... how does that work?!

 

[HIjol]

I knew it... I KNEW it...Faulty Towers was just a Front!!!

 

[Marc]

The licence fee pays for the BBC, and part of what you're paying for is commercial free programming. Not to mention the BBC charter is to be a non commercial impartial entity - they take this to extremes sometimes, like if a kids show is making stuff out of household junk (do they still even do that?) they would blank out the brand names on even the really obvious stuff (like Pringles tubes) so as not to be accused of product placement.

I came across the article on slashdot.org and one of the posters claimed the government wants to take some of the BBC's licence fee money and use it to prop up the ailing print media industry. No doubt this would be a thank you to murdoch and his gutter rags for their help during the election campaign).

 

[Haggis and tatties]

I am free of all terrestrial TV since i went full streaming only, best thing i ever did, no soaps, no sell your crap, no quiz shows, no talent shows.............life is good.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

'Murica!

I live in the hope that someday I'll never see or hear that term again.

 

[HIjol]

Yeah, but..."God Bless..."

 

[Relayer1]

it makes Fox News look left of centre

Left ?

Have you noticed how the BBC studiously avoid showing mass marches and protests against the current administration ?

Probably not - how would you know they're taking place ?

 

[Starkers]

Left ?

Have you noticed how the BBC studiously avoid showing mass marches and protests against the current administration ?

Probably not - how would you know they're taking place ?

Personally I think the best indicator of the Beeb's impartiality is that both right and left tend to accuse it of left or right bias.

Really I don't see how the BBC can ever not show things at a time people want to watch them. There is a lot of counter programming going on, but even if you accept that maybe the Beeb shouldn't show Strictly up against X-Factor (as one example) ITV could just as easily accuse the BBC of trying to leech viewers from Ant and Dec's Latest CrapFest (tm) that shows before X-Factor. Short of the BBC showing Strictly/Who/Top Gear/whatever in the middle of the night it's always going to be up against something!

The Beeb has probably got a touch monolithic, it is a huge beast and it likely does need a bit of fat trimming, but it produces so much good quality TV that I'll pretty much always line up to defend it. Lord help us if we ever end up in a world where only ITV exists.

 

[Relayer1]

Personally I think the best indicator of the Beeb's impartiality is that both right and left tend to accuse it of left or right bias.

I hope you're right, but the govt. is applying a lot of pressure at the moment. Not to mention that the head of news James Harding is a personal friend of George Osbourne. Which doesn't preclude impartiality, but...

The Beeb has probably got a touch monolithic, it is a huge beast and it likely does need a bit of fat trimming, but it produces so much good quality TV that I'll pretty much always line up to defend it.

Whilst I like the BBC, it could certainly do with some changes. Just not ones to do with funding, competition and external influence.

Lord help us if we ever end up in a world where only ITV exists.

Ant and Dec, Simon Cowell and reality T.V. on 24/7 ?

 

[JirinPanthosa]

When you say 'Muslim terrorist loving' do you mean actual terrorists or the billions of non-terrorist Muslims who assholes accuse of terrorism?

Normally people who make statements like that mean the latter but I don't want to jump to conclusions.

If Australians think they need to forbid competition they must feel really insecure about their own networks' original content.

 

[cultcross]

Personally I think the best indicator of the Beeb's impartiality is that both right and left tend to accuse it of left or right bias

I agree - both sides continually accuse the BBC of having simultaneous but opposite bias, which probably means they're walking the line fairly well. They sometimes do over expose fringe opinions in a rush to be inclusive, but generally I think they get the balance fairly appropriate.