Where would we be without the BEEB?

[Toodles McGinty]

It follows a news agenda set by media oligarchs.






Geortge Monbiot

Agree with Peston, though he isn't a journalist I particularly like. Possibly because of his Twitter output. I don't think he leans particularly left or right, I'm just not keen.

As for the news, it seems to depend who watches it. The right sees a left wing bias, the left sees a right wing bias. Both have probably been true at various points.

It seems that once upon a time, the BBC was seen as impartial and beyond the reach of whoever was in government. Now, with the withdrawal of free licences for the elderly for example, it seems the BBC and its funding is precarious.

My main criticism of the BBC news is that even for rolling news, it rolls around too quickly. There's little depth. Little investigation. The same story appeared twice within 15 minutes yesterday. A puff piece, nothing of substance, nothing 'breaking'. A 'and finally...' story. The best of the BBC news was the Victoria Derbyshire programme. Dropped due to a lack of funds.

[MICK/GILLY]

I already miss the BBC English (non accented ) old world black and white talk that anyone from any background could understand clearly.

[sandGroundZero]

The point of The biggest threat to the BBC's independence is the corporation itself is only indirectly about perceived bias in its daily output.

1. The TV License and the BBC Charter are what has given the Corporation its unique character. Regrettably, over many years it has become bloated and as British deference has declined, its Reithian mission to enlighten and educate public taste was diluted. That paternalistic objective appeared risible to most.
   
   
2. It did, however, retain the potential to uncover the seamier aspects of the social hierarchy and inequality among other worthwhile endeavours. It is failing in this.
   
   
3. An oligarchic plutocracy — media owners, not least — recognizes this potential and would neutralize it (and create another investment opportunity in the process).

However, the BBC's management has lost the plot, or never acquiesced.

The BBC’s journalists genuinely believe they’re impartial. But they belong to, and reflect, a peculiar and tendentious culture, immersed in wealth and power, looking out from the centre.

— Monbiot, ex: the article

Such social cohesiveness as Britain may once have had has been dismantled, piece by piece and the result is our current distrust of institutions and each other! The BBC bears some responsibility.

[MICK/GILLY]

The BBC impartial?, trustworthy? Or just a back door tax.

https://youtu.be/LEsjv9vKCGc

[silver fox]

Alikado post #30

"Which ever, many channels and services would instantly go as they are not revenue generators, the Government would either have to take them over or pay the BBC the half billion or so per year it costs to pump the Governments propaganda out to the world, the World sees the BBC as respectable, honest and trustworthy any other label wouldn't work for the Government."

We will see which of the many BBC services including diverse television channels people are prepared to pay for.

We have had a week or so ago, a television retuning and I believe another due in April. These are squeezing the broadcast signal to make room for 5G. Eventually, television will be received through cables — the Negroponte Switch. This is necessary to free-up the air-waves for the many mobile and Internet of Things devices we are promised will transform our lives. In effect, entertainment will be streamed. The choices broadly — 'free' except for all of our personal data, or else subscription.

You're comparing the national broadcaster with commercial channels, we have already surrendered too much to the likes of Sky, who rely on those paying the "sky high" subscription charges, plus advertising for their existence, we need at least one broadcaster free to report on news and/or current events as they are, without outside influence.

As it is this government does not like the BBC nor indeed any public sector, note just how the free over 75s TV licence issue as become the BBC failing, rather than the reality, a government sting.

What is your alternative? we already have a bunch setting up or trying to set up a "news" channel with a right wing bias, wonder how that will be funded? the ITV channels would drop news coverage like a hot potato if they were free to do so, they have already stated that.

If all you wish is a parade of films and pre-recorded everything, sure go with the subscription services, but somewhere we need a broadcaster who will report news, reliance on social media is a total nonsense.

[said]

Throughout my lifetime I have grown up respecting the BBC for its reliability and professionalism with regard to its radio and television output. It has, for me, provided a backbone both as a informer of news and as a supplier of first rate entertainment.
Certainly, in recent years I have become more and more aware of its political agenda. Whereas at one time most people considered the BBC to be impartial, there can't be many "thinking people" today who are still of that opinion.
In its constant attacks on Donald Trump, its ongoing attempts to undermine Brexit (even though a majority of those who voted in the referendum voted for it) and its general political stance on most issues, it can no longer claim to be an impartial, politically neutral broadcaster. This might well suit those on one side of the political divide but it doesn't carry with it the honesty with which I had always based my admiration for the BBC. It is very dangerous when any broadcasting network - particularly one that has built up national trust - can be accused of brainwashing and it is a great shame that the BBC is moving, ever closer, in that direction.
Whatever your political views, I am sure most people would agree, this is happening.

I gave up with television many, many years ago when it was clear in which direction it was heading. I have never regretted it and I am far better off without it. I used to watch television - but over the years the programme material deteriorated to a far lower quality and became mindless entertainment. Over the more recent years it has become highly political and far removed from true life scenarios.

[Toodles McGinty]

I gave up with television many, many years ago when it was clear in which direction it was heading. I have never regretted it and I am far better off without it. I used to watch television - but over the years the programme material deteriorated to a far lower quality and became mindless entertainment. Over the more recent years it has become highly political and far removed from true life scenarios.

But 'Lucifer' is a true life scenario?

[sandGroundZero]

"I gave up with television many, many years ago when it was clear in which direction it was heading. I have never regretted it and I am far better off without it. I used to watch television - but over the years the programme material deteriorated to a far lower quality and became mindless entertainment. Over the more recent years it has become highly political and far removed from true life scenarios." — post #51

"Over the more recent years it has become highly political and far removed from true life scenarios."

[said]

But 'Lucifer' is a true life scenario?

Yeah! I too, have fairies at the bottom of my garden.

[Alikado]

The BBC impartial?, trustworthy? Or just a back door tax.

https://youtu.be/LEsjv9vKCGc

It always has been a tax, the BBC was always a 'Public Service Broadcaster' I.e. State Television for spreading propaganda.

[sandGroundZero]

BBC sets out plans for new TV news channel to launch in 2023

"Our aim is to create the best live and breaking video news service in the world - on our web pages, our apps, on BBC iPlayer and on our new TV news channel."

— Naja Nielsen, BBC News Digital Director

…
The channel will be broadcast around the world, bringing the BBC’s trusted journalism to international audiences and providing licence fee payers in the UK with ad-free access to a huge range and breadth of international coverage which hasn’t previously been available to them. It will feature new flagship programmes built around high-profile journalists, and programmes commissioned for multiple platforms.

UK viewers will receive specific content at certain times of the day, and during certain news stories. A new live and breaking news team will provide universally available coverage of global breaking news, and – when relevant - a domestic-only stream for UK-specific news events, ensuring that audiences get the best live video coverage of the news that matters most to them.

Further details of the plans include:

• The channel will be broadcast from London during UK daytime hours, and then Singapore and Washington DC. The BBC will invest in new on and off-screen journalism roles in Washington DC.
  
  
• Sports programming will be a mixture of the UK-facing Sportsday and new global-facing sports programmes.
  
  
• The BBC will invest in visualising programmes based on popular radio shows, with new technology and studio capacity to do so. This will begin with the BBC Radio 5 Live Nicky Campbell programme, which will be broadcast on BBC Two on weekday mornings as well as on the UK stream of the new channel.

BBC Studios will continue to have responsibility for securing commercial revenues from the channel outside the UK, primarily through advertising, returning funding to the BBC that can be reinvested in public service journalism. The channel will remain ad-free in the UK.

[said]

BBC sets out plans for new TV news channel to launch in 2023

"Our aim is to create the best live and breaking video news service in the world - on our web pages, our apps, on BBC iPlayer and on our new TV news channel."

— Naja Nielsen, BBC News Digital Director

Still, I do not watch it!

You need to read ""Not-So-Minimal" Consequences of TV News Programs" a research program subsequent to the 'mind' experiments and the vivid fantasies of the USA during the Cold War.

[Hector]

In October 1922 the British Broadcasting Company was formed by a group of leading wireless manufacturers including Marconi.

By the curious mechanism of a Royal Charter in 1927 the British Broadcasting Corporation, i.e. the BBC came under the control of the government, albeit supposedly at arm's length. Read a summary history of the TV licence.

So, how does the BBC stand in the national consciousness, today? The BEEB's creative output is an impressive, if chequered legacy. The BBC World Service was formerly, at least, an instrument of the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. BBC News and Current Affairs output is a topic of debate (see: Trump Acquittal Q Local Forum thread for examples.)

.

The Beeb for me is the best news service. Would hate to be without it.

I was in the Arabian Gulf when Saddam invaded Kuwait and World Service on short wave radios kept us informed and calmed us down.

[said]

The Beeb for me is the best news service. Would hate to be without it.

I was in the Arabian Gulf when Saddam invaded Kuwait and World Service on short wave radios kept us informed and calmed us down.

The BBC is very selective over what and which news it distributes - long ago it lost it's reliability reputation.

[bensherman]

And so is EVERY form of information in the world