Privatising the BBC

[dune]

Call me sad, but I have written to my MP suggesting this. What do you think of this idea?

[georgeweahscousin]

Common sense.

 

The license fee is not worth it in my opinion, so I should have a choice wether I pay it or not.

[moonraker]

Disagree, the BBC may have some problems and politicians like to use it as a punch bag, but believe me it is right up there with the very best broadcasters in the world, if it aint broke don't fix it.

[RedAndWhite91]

Sad.

 

[dune]

It's in the pockets of the Marxist Unions and for that reason alone I think the Conservatives should seize the opportunity to privatise it. You only have to look at the recent locations for Question Time to see that it is a biased lefty organisation. Also i'd much rather have to suffer a few adverts than pay for a licence.

[View From The Top]

Only a very, very thick person or a noddy who has never spent and time living overseas would want to commercialise the BBC.

 

Yes it could do with steamlining and yes there are to many managers and not enough makers but do the really thick noddies want another awful channel like ITV and C5?

 

Prehaps that sort of programming suits their IQ.

[dune]

VFTB you make a good point about the world service. It is an effective means for our Western Christian values to be broadcast overseas.

[LGTL]

Would you be so keen for it to be privatised if it was right leaning?

[georgeweahscousin]

I don't care which way it leans. It's output is poor, and in a fair country I would have the choice whether I pay for it or not.

 

Take Radio 2, 4 and 5 away and the odd comedy show I am struggling to praise anything else the BBC does.

 

They could stick adverts in and save us this pointless tax.

[dune]

Would you be so keen for it to be privatised if it was right leaning?

 

Not quite so keen, but privatisation works so it's the way to go. The BBC should be self sufficient and not rely on handouts like a single mum on a council estate.

[dune]

Take Radio 2, 4 and 5 away and the odd comedy show I am struggling to praise anything else the BBC does.

 

I used to tune into Radio 4 every morning on the way to work specifically to listen to the UK Theme. Then the PC left wing tree huggers got it axed. That says it all about the BBC.

 

R.I.P the UK Theme.

 

[JRM]

The BBC is very good, the sports service and especially the football, but i agree they need to be pulled in on the left wing bias shown in the news coverage and programmes like question time which wind me up no end with there socialist point scoring every week

[georgeweahscousin]

Only a very, very thick person or a noddy who has never spent and time living overseas would want to commercialise the BBC.

 

Sounds oddly like you are saying that we should pay for the BBC so that people who choose to go and live abroad, where they don't pay UK taxes get to use it?

[St Marco]

But do those people who are overseas pay a licence fee?

 

The reality is people now pay for things like Sky, which can be costly if you get all the packages. Things like Virgin/Bt Vision etc. And the internet. If you add the TV licence to that it all starts to add up.

 

There are so many different ways of watching tv now that it is a reasonable question to ask. Is it worth it? I don't watch much tv these days but when i do it is very rarely something on the BBC. Just looking at tomorrows line up you got Children in Need the best bits, Strictly Come Dancing, The National Lottery, Casualty and then after the 10pm news you got Match of the Day. Which i think is probably the only thing guys will watch on there on a saturday. Of course you could watch BBC 2 and watch all the repeats etc. With things like Sky you can pretty much watch anything you want, when you want. You want sports then go watch the sports channels, same with movies, documentaries, music and so on. With BBC you can't really get that because they have to try and make everyone happy. They are a Jack of trades but a master of none. In this day and age i just think it is wrong to force people to pay for something they might not even use.

[Sheaf Saint]

Take Radio 2, 4 and 5 away and the odd comedy show I am struggling to praise anything else the BBC does.

 

6 music is a fantastic radio station and I'm glad it has been granted a reprieve

BBC news, even if some people question its political allegiances, is widely regarded as one of the best news broadcasters in the world

Local BBC radio gives us Saints coverage

Loads of live music events and showcasing of new musical talent (Glastonbury coverage included)

[Jonnyboy]

I used to tune into Radio 4 every morning on the way to work specifically to listen to the UK Theme. Then the PC left wing tree huggers got it axed. That says it all about the BBC.

 

R.I.P the UK Theme.

QUOTE]

 

how can you be a fan of the levellers, very weird

[franny]

Should not be privatised but should return to its core values, dont try and compete with everbody but reduce the mass of channels (just count the number of radio & TV channels availble, quite astonishing), move away from the dumbed down TV that C5, ITV & Sky broadcast, just dont try and compete with them. Produce a more limited range of quality British TV (good childrens programmes not masses of cartoons, good documentaries, plays and dramas not US trash and do away with the reality TV and gameshows.

[dune]

Should not be privatised but should return to its core values, dont try and compete with everbody but reduce the mass of channels (just count the number of radio & TV channels availble, quite astonishing), move away from the dumbed down TV that C5, ITV & Sky broadcast, just dont try and compete with them. Produce a more limited range of quality British TV (good childrens programmes not masses of cartoons, good documentaries, plays and dramas not US trash and do away with the reality TV and gameshows.

 

Even Eggheads?

[franny]

Even Eggheads?

 

I would exempt that as an educational gameshow!

[buctootim]

Its trying to do too much - 12 tv and radio stations and a big website -and the quality has suffered. To be worth its licence the BBC has to differentiate itself from commercial channels, not compete with them. It needs to go back to a smaller output of higher quality programmes which commercial stations wont make. It also shouldnt be paying presenters massive wages - a cap of around £300,000pa would make sense.

 

It also has an important role in promoting Britain overseas - not through worthy and dull overt cultural programming - but by being the best of its kind. Ive lost count of the number of Americans and Scandinavians Ive met who think Britain is better than sliced bread, just because they grew up on BBC natural history, drama and comedy programmes.

 

Id axe Radio 1, 3 and 6, BBC 3 and 4 and the 24 hour news channel. Expand the website to allow overseas visitors access to all content and focus the world service on underdeveloped nations.

[Fuengirola Saint]

Sounds oddly like you are saying that we should pay for the BBC so that people who choose to go and live abroad, where they don't pay UK taxes get to use it?

 

I use the iplayer over here in Spain using a certain type of software which is free,it's a godsend because Spanish tv is terrible.

If you privatise it, it will be a crock of ****e, i do agree with streamlining it and cutting out all the dross like come dancing etc

[solentstars]

Not quite so keen, but privatisation works so it's the way to go. The BBC should be self sufficient and not rely on handouts like a single mum on a council estate.

 

and don,t forget the handouts to the royal family:lol: ,police ,army i,m all for privatisation for the wedding it works but a commie marxist like you is dead against it .

it would be like the old days of england when we had private armys and kingdoms.

[Sheaf Saint]

I use the iplayer over here in Spain using a certain type of software which is free,it's a godsend because Spanish tv is terrible.

 

 

:lol:

[aintforever]

I think the BBC is superb, I would hate to see it privatised. It's news and politics shows are unrivaled, the website is probably the best on the web and radio 5 gives great sports coverage.

 

It's great being able to listen to the radio, watch TV and go on a decent website without having some **** try to flog you something.

[Saint_Jonny]

I think the BBC is superb, I would hate to see it privatised. It's news and politics shows are unrivaled, the website is probably the best on the web and radio 5 gives great sports coverage.

 

It's great being able to listen to the radio, watch TV and go on a decent website without having some **** try to flog you something.

 

This. The BBC follows me around everywhere I go these days, online, TV, on my phone, in the car, its always my one stop for info / news etc. Privatising it would be wrong IMO, the bbc is the envy of ex-pats and other countries for a REASON.

[dune]

I think the BBC is superb, I would hate to see it privatised. It's news and politics shows are unrivaled, the website is probably the best on the web and radio 5 gives great sports coverage.

 

It's great being able to listen to the radio, watch TV and go on a decent website without having some **** try to flog you something.

 

I disagree about the News coverage which i think has gone down hill. I do watch Newsnight (although never as good when jeremy paxman isn't presenting it), but have started watching ITV news at 6.30 instead of the BBC News at 6.00.

[solentstars]

I think the BBC is superb, I would hate to see it privatised. It's news and politics shows are unrivaled, the website is probably the best on the web and radio 5 gives great sports coverage.

 

It's great being able to listen to the radio, watch TV and go on a decent website without having some **** try to flog you something.

got to agree i used to believe in privatising the bbc but have now am happy to pay my licence fee which is good value for money compared to when i had sky and they started to rip me every year with unjustified price increases.

[Saint_Jonny]

I disagree about the News coverage which i think has gone down hill. I do watch Newsnight (although never as good when jeremy paxman isn't presenting it), but have started watching ITV news at 6.30 instead of the BBC News at 6.00.

 

This confirms it. Dune is broken. We need a new Dune.

[aintforever]

I disagree about the News coverage which i think has gone down hill. I do watch Newsnight (although never as good when jeremy paxman isn't presenting it), but have started watching ITV news at 6.30 instead of the BBC News at 6.00.

 

Do you seriously want to put adverts in Match of the Day and Question time? **** off!

[dune]

This confirms it. Dune is broken. We need a new Dune.

 

As a shareholder in ITV, I thought i'd try their news out instead of BBC News for research purposes and was quite shocked it was better than the BBC's. That said I also tried Daybreak in the morning and after 20 seconds switched back to Breakfast.

[dune]

Do you seriously want to put adverts in Match of the Day and Question time? **** off!

 

Adverts or £145.50 for a licence for a set of channels that make up just a fraction of channels on freeview. I'd rather have the adverts or have the option to opt out of paying for the lefty bbc.

[badgerx16]

It's a good counter balance to the right wing bias of the Murdoch media conglomerate.

[dune]

It's a good counter balance to the right wing bias of the Murdoch media conglomerate.

 

The BBC is suposed to be impartial.

[badgerx16]

The BBC is suposed to be impartial.

It is, it's the rest of the media leaning to the right that distorts the perception of what the BBC does, it's merely left of Murdoch.

[rocknrollman no2]

I have Sky with thousands of channels on offer and yet after trawling through page after page of tripe,its always the BBC i end up watching.Although i think the licence could be funded differently,it should never be privatised.

Also as a socialist,i think the BBC is impartial and does offer a balanced view of the political landscape of Britain.If it was privatised,the BBC would just become another Murdoch mouthpiece.

[Junction 9]

I recently sat next to an American lady on a flight from Denver. We got talking politics as I was interested in her views on the Tea party etc.

She was extremely envious we had an impartial way of broadcasting in the UK and believe me the BBC is still the envy of the world. She has to watch Fox, say no more.

Anyway, all that aside, if Dune wants something the rule of thumb is do the opposite and that's the right way.

[Baj]

We have the finest broadcasting service on the planet, because of the way its funded and run. 'nuff said.

[Hatch]

We have the finest broadcasting service on the planet, because of the way its funded and run. 'nuff said.

 

Pretty much this.

[dune]

We have the finest broadcasting service on the planet, because of the way its funded and run. 'nuff said.

 

If you were to substitute "have" with "had" I would agree, but no longer do I agree. It is badly run and is agenda driven by it's Marxist unionised employees.

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

You need a life. To be concerned with this at 33 is the saddest thing I've ever heard. I pity you.

[dubai_phil]

The Beeb is an anachronism. Not in the UK but in terms of the global communications world these days.

 

Because it is hell bent on "not being commercial" it misses the chance to make real money (and reduce the burden on the Licence Payer OR provide funds for better productions)

 

People around the world have Satellite or Cable. The Beeb has thousands of hours of television of high quality in it's archives. Why oh why does it not provide a subscription Satellite service for non UK customers?

 

Sure it sells Dr Who & Top Gear to other networks, and it has two entertainment channels, but they basically show non stop episodes of Casualty, Doctors, MasterChef & Come Dine with me. All the garbage.

 

What is wrong with them selling a proper channel of their greatest series to people overseas? They still seem to think The World Service is some kind of charitable service - sort of Missionaries to the fuzzy wuzzies. The world has moved on from that. We WANT entertainment, we PAY for entertainment, so why on earth doesn't someone SELL us that entertainment instead of Holby fecking City & a 3 year old EastEnders

 

It won't affect the UK viewers FFS except to give the Beeb MORE money to make BETTER output to earn MORE money to make EVEN BETTER output

[dune]

They still seem to think The World Service is some kind of charitable service - sort of Missionaries to the fuzzy wuzzies.

 

 

I take it you get Dads Army.

[norwaysaint]

A lot of people would only realise how fantastic the BBC is once it's gone, and we'd never get it back the same. No it's not perfect, but it is leagues ahead of any channel available anywhere else I've lived. It's also not just the obvious channels, but things like cbeebies, a channel for children without adverts and that tries to use mostly programs with some value for kids, is far far ahead of any alternatives. On top of this the BBC provides loads of other services, as an English teacher I often use BBC learning resources with my students and again they are far superior and more diverse than any alternatives.

Like I say, it's flawed, but there's nothing and there never will be anything to match it. The rest of the world generally envies the BBC.

[SuperMikey]

If you were to substitute "have" with "had" I would agree, but no longer do I agree. It is badly run and is agenda driven by it's Marxist unionised employees.

 

Do you ever get laid?

[pedg]

and where exactly is the money going to come from if we no longer pay a licence fee? I am sure ITV and C4 are eager to share the countries advertising spend with the BBC or is to be paid for by having wall to wall 'public voting' shows? If the BBC was forced to take advertising ALL free to air british TV would be worse off, but maybe that what Mr Murdoch wants so maybe it might happen.

[dubai_phil]

 

I take it you get Dads Army.

 

Funnily enough

 

 

No

[Robsk II]

Not quite so keen, but privatisation works so it's the way to go. The BBC should be self sufficient and not rely on handouts like a single mum on a council estate.

 

So ITV and channel 4 deliver constant quality programming?

[pedg]

Not quite so keen, but privatisation works so it's the way to go. The BBC should be self sufficient and not rely on handouts like a single mum on a council estate.

 

But, and its a bit BUT, and once again shows how 'having a big idea' then falls flat on its face when actually start looking at what is involved. ALL the other companies that have been privatised took money for good/services and this source of money did not change after privitisation so there was no major effect on the market in which these companies operate. What you are suggesting is completely different as you are saying that somehow the advertising spend in this country which is enough to create a few good programs and a lot of crap programs on ITV/C4/5 is going to magically increase to cover the cost of BBC programs. Complete and utter twaddle really and not at all clearly thought through.

 

Also the BBC do not operate on 'a handout' they operate on the money from TV licences which I, and many others, are quiet happy to pay for for what we get.

[Robsk II]

Seconded.

[norwaysaint]

Not quite so keen, but privatisation works so it's the way to go.

 

That's an interesting blanket statement. How do you feel about the Tory party's decision to privatise North Sea Oil some years back? Norway kept it's oil state owned and as a result has a national surplus rather than any debt. That's badly managed socialist countries for you though...