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Re: Is the BBC our friend?

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deanbedfordAug 30, 2012
 

 
Dave

I was hoping someone from Britain might respond to your interesting post. As no-one has done, I am writing a few lines, so that you at least know I read and thought about your post.

I work for the public non-commercial broadcaster here in New Zealand so some of what you say strikes chords with me.

Some random thoughts

* whatever the media, one of the things that is always difficult for us who work in them is that there is never a good time to change. People's media habits are habits and they are always used to what they are hearing/reading/viewing and are averse to change. Nevertheless there will come a time when any programme or schedule does need to change.

* although pleasing the public is a vitally important matter for a public broadcaster, it can't be the only goal. A public broadcaster has a responsibility to aspire to produce something better. That does involve having some freedom to experiment and that involves the risk of mistakes.

* we tend to talk about the BBC as if it was one monolithic organisation when it's actually the product of tens of thousands of people making (often) individual decisions.

* a couple of years ago the BBC Director-General talked about opening up all the archives. I haven't heard anything more about it but it seemed like the sort of goal a public broadcaster should aspite to. The US public service broadcaster C-Span has done it, and now has 30 years of political news programmes up for anyone to look at, for free, so it can be done.

This doesn't go anywhere near answering your great question - hopefully some of our British peeps will pitch in.

--- In just-a-minute@..., "David" <drling0@...> wrote:
>
> This may seem a strange question - but is something I have mixed feelings about.
>
> They supply a lot of shows that I really like. (JAM, ISIHAC, Dr Who)
> They don't always look after those shows very well. (Where are the archives? Why do seemingly popular things get cancelled?)
>
> They have been very liberal in the past about fan recordings and preservation. (Please donate any "lost shows")
> Then they can get tough.
>
> Individuals within the BBC can be very accommodating to fans.
> Official policy can seem to contradict this.
>
> Specialist and minority show can be made under government sponsorship.
> There can be official interference even though things are very popular (Check what happened to the BBC Cult section on the website which seemed to be closed because it was too popular)
>
> So once again I wonder - do you feel the BBC is our friend?
>
> Love as always
>

 
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