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The BBC - is it worth fighting for?

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DerekC

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I see the Daily Mail's latest anti-BBC headline today is "Biased, Brazen and Contemptible". That strikes me as a good description of the Daily Mail, but that's not the point.

Once Brexit is out of the way the Mail and the right wing gang of MPs it encourages will see the destruction of the BBC as their next achievable target. That's partly driven by dogma, because they hate anything publicly owned, and partly by politics, because they see anything offering a balanced view as a threat. Despite all its faults, I want to fight for the BBC - but how? And do others think it's worth it?
 
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richa2002

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"because they see anything offering a balanced view as a threat." This is where your argument falls down and why the BBC is under threat. The BBC really isn't balanced. It is overwhelming stuffed with left-wing liberals and that is reflected in the content, no matter how much they try to give the illusion of balance.

The BBC 30 years ago was definitely worth fighting for. Maybe even 10/15 years ago. Sadly, it isn't now, and they only have themselves to blame.
 

Mutant Lemming

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The quality of the BBC has seriously deteriorated since it's move to Manchester but it is still far superior to having to put up with the mind numbing brain washing advertising. I have come to detest that Nesbit's voice and that peloton add is an abomination - so the BBC for all it's faults is light years ahead of the alternatives.
 

Bletchleyite

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"because they see anything offering a balanced view as a threat." This is where your argument falls down and why the BBC is under threat. The BBC really isn't balanced. It is overwhelming stuffed with left-wing liberals and that is reflected in the content, no matter how much they try to give the illusion of balance.

This again.

In my experience everyone thinks the BBC is biased against them regardless of political leaning. As such, that is probably decent evidence that it is not in fact biased against anyone.
 

DarloRich

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"because they see anything offering a balanced view as a threat." This is where your argument falls down and why the BBC is under threat. The BBC really isn't balanced. It is overwhelming stuffed with left-wing liberals and that is reflected in the content, no matter how much they try to give the illusion of balance.

The BBC 30 years ago was definitely worth fighting for. Maybe even 10/15 years ago. Sadly, it isn't now, and they only have themselves to blame.

This is tiresome wibble. Perhaps you could outline the sources of news you do trust so we may understand on what you base your views.

Despite all its faults, I want to fight for the BBC - but how? And do others think it's worth it?

Agree 100%. You only have to look at the kind of wibble ( as quoted above) that truly biased media outlets generate. It is both very sad and very worrying that large sections of society seem unable to spot obvious BS and instead lap it up as gospel truth. As a society we used to see through this kind of stuff.

In my experience everyone thinks the BBC is biased against them regardless of political leaning. As such, that is probably decent evidence that it is not in fact biased against anyone.

Agreed.
 

geoffk

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This again.

In my experience everyone thinks the BBC is biased against them regardless of political leaning. As such, that is probably decent evidence that it is not in fact biased against anyone.
I see the BBC as pro-Brexit, the main evidence being BBC1 Question Time, which has become the shouting shop of populism. With a few exceptions BBC interviewers give Government ministers and MPs from the Govt benches an easy ride. It cannot be really independent as long as it relies on the licence fee. I must admit I always now watch Channel 4 News.
 
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telstarbox

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I don't think that's a fair assessment. Question Time by its nature attracts people with strong views because people who aren't that fussed about the Brexit outcome won't apply to be in the audience.
 

LOL The Irony

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Someone proverbially drop an ICBM on this bullying, outdated organisation. They have like 5 shows worth watching and yet charge you through the nose for the pleasure of watching live TV and don't give any of that to the also publicly owned Channel 4.
 

theblackwatch

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"because they see anything offering a balanced view as a threat." This is where your argument falls down and why the BBC is under threat. The BBC really isn't balanced. It is overwhelming stuffed with left-wing liberals and that is reflected in the content, no matter how much they try to give the illusion of balance.

The BBC 30 years ago was definitely worth fighting for. Maybe even 10/15 years ago. Sadly, it isn't now, and they only have themselves to blame.

Strangly, a left-wing Corbyn supporter friend of mine thinks the BBC is anti-labour. It sounds a bit like this forum - we have those who say the forum is biased against rail staff and those who claim the complete opposite. Normally, that's a good sign that it's quite balanced...
 

Bletchleyite

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Strangly, a left-wing Corbyn supporter friend of mine thinks the BBC is anti-labour. It sounds a bit like this forum - we have those who say the forum is biased against rail staff and those who claim the complete opposite. Normally, that's a good sign that it's quite balanced...

Precisely my point. It's unashamedly investigative, which means it is biased against everyone, and so it should be. One of the best news organisations in the world.
 

Tetchytyke

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This is where your argument falls down and why the BBC is under threat. The BBC really isn't balanced. It is overwhelming stuffed with left-wing liberals

You're going to have to show your working out here.

Of the most recent chairs of the BBC Trust, one is an ex-Tory minister (Patten) and one is a current Tory minister (Fairhead). The current Chair of the Board is a director of those noted communist organisations Prudential PLC and Rio-Tinto.
 

AM9

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I wonder if many here saw the politically caricatured drame 'Years and Years' the last episode of which was screened on Tuesday. Ironically, with the plot reaching the general destruction of UK society, the final breath of the BBC was announced by Mary Nightingale on another (commercial) channel. Despite a few regular whingers on here periodically banging on about how biassed the BBC is (often a proxy whine about the licence fee), I think that generally there would a massive uprising if we get too near the final slashes of the Conservatives' sustained campaign of death of the BBC by 1000 cuts. It wouild rise again, as did the GLC (as the GLA).
 

edwin_m

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"because they see anything offering a balanced view as a threat." This is where your argument falls down and why the BBC is under threat. The BBC really isn't balanced. It is overwhelming stuffed with left-wing liberals and that is reflected in the content, no matter how much they try to give the illusion of balance.

The BBC 30 years ago was definitely worth fighting for. Maybe even 10/15 years ago. Sadly, it isn't now, and they only have themselves to blame.
I'm guessing you'd prefer Fox News.
 

Comstock

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I must confess I'm a little on the fence here. I definitely want to keep the BBC on air in some form. Whether the BBC needs to do as much as it currently does is less clear.

For example is there really much public service in much of the BBC1 daytime output, apart from the news?

I passionately want to keep the World Cup free to air, but does it really gain much from being on the BBC over ITV? It's not as though the whole thing is on BBC either. The rugby world cup has been on ITV only for a long time. Why not do the same for football?

Is there much public service in The Voice, or the One Show or.... there are many other examples.

And would a single banner advert per page on the BBC website really be the end of the world?

Do a few of the above and we could not only keep the over 75s free licence, but cut the licence for everyone else as well :)
 

Giugiaro

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It's been years since the last time I watched television on a regular basis, so I can't talk much about the BBC.

Though I recognize that the conglomerate is far more valuable than what people actually give it credit. We're talking about a company with an international presence, positioned itself in several media formats including Television, Radio, Internet, News Coverage, Original Productions, etc.

Selling out the BBC is like selling a vault full of gold for its scrap iron metal. The right wings now what they'll be getting in return by alienating the BBC from the public ring.
 
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DerekC

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I wonder if many here saw the politically caricatured drame 'Years and Years' the last episode of which was screened on Tuesday. Ironically, with the plot reaching the general destruction of UK society, the final breath of the BBC was announced by Mary Nightingale on another (commercial) channel. Despite a few regular whingers on here periodically banging on about how biassed the BBC is (often a proxy whine about the licence fee), I think that generally there would a massive uprising if we get too near the final slashes of the Conservatives' sustained campaign of death of the BBC by 1000 cuts. It wouild rise again, as did the GLC (as the GLA).

I think that might be a bit optimistic. The GLA rose because London just didn't work properly without some kind of central body to organise its government. The BBC is a bit of an anomaly and I very much doubt that once stripped of most of its revenue and audience it would rise again - it would become a public service broadcaster with little capability, particularly in the international field, and little influence at home. That's unless it was privatised, of course, which I am sure some of the zealots would love to do. The only effective weapon, as far as I can see, is to scare politicians into keeping their hands off by persuading them that interfering with the BBC is a vote loser.
 

Typhoon

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I see the Daily Mail's latest anti-BBC headline today is "Biased, Brazen and Contemptible". That strikes me as a good description of the Daily Mail...
Also of Fox News (and probably every other US news network). The high standard of news - national and international - on the BBC gives the other main terrestrial channels something to aim for (and, at times, surpass). I would hate us to move to a system where owners can direct the content of news programmes (whether they say they do or not), we already have that with, er, newspapers!

And do others think it's worth it?
Yes, if only for British based original drama rather than programmes set in Nevada, California, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Alaska or similar places ending in -a!
 

Mutant Lemming

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Commercial television advertising is far more political - it is overwhelmingly a force for the right and is often tantamount to brain washing at it's most insidious and yet some of you want to abolish one of the few remaining spaces not polluted by the filth the advertisers churn out. The BBC is not perfect but ad and sponsor free channels are worth paying double or treble the current licence fee.
 

Geezertronic

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News reporting aside, the BBC channels do show a lot of repeats throughout the day. Whilst new content during weekdays cannot be expected all of the time, they do show a lot of repeats
 

DarloRich

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I see the BBC as pro-Brexit, the main evidence being BBC1 Question Time, which has become the shouting shop of populism. With a few exceptions BBC interviewers give Government ministers and MPs from the Govt benches an easy ride. It cannot be really independent as log as it relies on the licence fee. I must admit I always now watch Channel 4 News.

The BBC is always going to have to be softer on the current governmental incumbent because they need to preserve the license fee. The same arguments were made by whinging Tories under the last Labour government.

Someone proverbially drop an ICBM on this bullying, outdated organisation. They have like 5 shows worth watching and yet charge you through the nose for the pleasure of watching live TV and don't give any of that to the also publicly owned Channel 4.

Could you set out the "like" 5 decent programmes? Is one Homes under the Hammer? Is one Bargain Hunt? Is one hole in the wall?

I passionately want to keep the World Cup free to air, but does it really gain much from being on the BBC over ITV? It's not as though the whole thing is on BBC either. The rugby world cup has been on ITV only for a long time. Why not do the same for football?

Are you seriously suggesting the ITV coverage of live football is anywhere near as good as the BBC? If so give your head a shake! ITV are awful and simply cringe worthy. They just don't get it. BBC do.
 

geoffk

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I don't think that's a fair assessment. Question Time by its nature attracts people with strong views because people who aren't that fussed about the Brexit outcome won't apply to be in the audience.
True. I would not want to lose the BBC and I think the licence fee is good value at under £13 a month. The BBC is required by its charter to be free from both political and commercial influence but too often interviewers let incorrect statements, lies and assumptions from politicians go unchallenged.
 

Comstock

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Are you seriously suggesting the ITV coverage of live football is anywhere near as good as the BBC? If so give your head a shake! ITV are awful and simply cringe worthy. They just don't get it. BBC do.
Really? I can't say I noticed much difference at the last World Cup except that ITV matches had adverts and the BBC didn't.

The duplication of sending two broadcast teams to Russia just seemed insane to me and not a good use of the licence fee.

But look, when it comes down to it, I'd take the status quo over no BBC at all any day.
 

EM2

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Someone proverbially drop an ICBM on this bullying, outdated organisation. They have like 5 shows worth watching and yet charge you through the nose for the pleasure of watching live TV and don't give any of that to the also publicly owned Channel 4.
Except the BBC isn't just TV.
Local radio, with (amongst many other things) ball-by-ball county cricket commentary, and live football commentary.
National radio, that appeals to pretty much every demographic one way or another.
A huge website.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, BBC Concert Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Singers, the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, the BBC Big Band, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Promotion of young classical singers and musicians through televised competitions.
Massive music festivals - The Proms and Proms In The Park, the Radio 1 Big Weekends, the 6 Music Electric Proms.
Promoting participation in sport, with things like the FA People's Cup.
Leading on development of digital content (like Ceefax and Red Button).
 

kermit

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I don't think anybody has even mentioned the BBC's fantastic radio output yet. I recently went on a long car ride with some Americans, and toggled between Radio 3 and Radio 4 and Radio 6 on the journey. They were absolutely blown away by advert-free music with passionate, knowledgeable presenters, and Just a Minute! Those three stations are, to me, worth the license fee alone. Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?
 

kermit

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Ha! Looks like EM2 and I were writing along similar lines at the same time!
 

DarloRich

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Except the BBC isn't just TV.
Local radio, with (amongst many other things) ball-by-ball county cricket commentary, and live football commentary.
National radio, that appeals to pretty much every demographic one way or another.
A huge website.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, BBC Concert Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Singers, the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, the BBC Big Band, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Promotion of young classical singers and musicians through televised competitions.
Massive music festivals - The Proms and Proms In The Park, the Radio 1 Big Weekends, the 6 Music Electric Proms.
Promoting participation in sport, with things like the FA People's Cup.
Leading on development of digital content (like Ceefax and Red Button).

but they are all horrible left wing and biased..................
 
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