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Re: Is the BBC our friend?

Messages in this topic: 17 View All
RobertAug 31, 2012

As a British person I listen to previously broadcast programmes on the BBC I Player for 'free'. Although not really free as we have to pay a licence fee in the UK for public broacasting. It is my suspicion (we have a Conservative government that gives tax cuts to the very wealthy whilst squeezing the pips of the poor) that we will soon have to pay to access BBC programmes on the I Player. If one has enough money, of course one can go out and buy BBC recordings or download them from a pay site. I do not have the money to do so. I recently watch the US TV series NCIS LA and Homicide (Life on the Street) on pirate TV and will continue to do so until such sites are closed down. These programmes are only available on pay TV in the UK. Rupert Murdoch and his like get 'double bubble' i,e, advertising revenue and satellite subscription fees as well (not to mention all the extras they charge for). A bit like bankers who invest your money for their profit, then charge you for the privilege. The more radio and TV programmes that can be put out for free then so much the better. Unfortunately in the earlier days of broadcasting many programmes were destroyed as their value was not understood at the time. There are missing episodes of e.g . Hancock's Half Hour, Steptoe and Son, Doctor Who and Dad's Army amongst others. Allowing fans access amongst each other to listen to Just a Minute is no different to the days when we used to lend a cassette tape to a friend IMHO. Those who want a Rolls Royce service and have the money will normally pay for it.

Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: just-a-minute@... [mailto:just-a-minute@...]On Behalf Of deanbedford
Sent: 30 August 2012 20:45
To: just-a-minute@...
Subject: [just-a-minute] Re: Is the BBC our friend?

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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