GB News

[MikeWM]

Do GB News talk about Brexit? The MSM seem to be petrified of mentioning the B word

The MSM seem quite keen on blaming everything that is bad about this country on the B word, whether remotely related or not, but I suspect that isn't quite what you mean

Yes, Brexit is raised fairly often, and I think most of the presenters voted for it. (Mark Dolan voted Remain, but he often points out that he's switched sides since. Like me!)

 

[MotCO]

If Dan Wootton and Neil Oliver leave

Is there any sugestion that Dan wants to leave?

 

[DC1989]

The MSM seem quite keen on blaming everything that is bad about this country on the B word, whether remotely related or not, but I suspect that isn't quite what you mean

Yes, Brexit is raised fairly often, and I think most of the presenters voted for it. (Mark Dolan voted Remain, but he often points out that he's switched sides since. Like me!)

You've got to be kidding haven't you? The daily mail etc barely seem to mention it!

 

[alex397]

The MSM seem quite keen on blaming everything that is bad about this country on the B word

With exception to many of the pro-Brexit rags that are all part of the ‘MSM’.

 

[MikeWM]

You've got to be kidding haven't you? The daily mail etc barely seem to mention it!

I don't really follow the Daily Mail closely enough, fortunately, to tell either way, but there seem to be quite a number of recent articles here - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/brexit/index.html - for example.

--

With exception to many of the pro-Brexit rags that are all part of the ‘MSM’.

True. As I've said before, I find both extremes of this argument rather tedious - the EU wasn't to blame for everything it was blamed for by some of the more aggressive Brexiteers, and equally Brexit isn't to blame for everything it is now blamed for by some of the more aggressive Remainers. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

--

Back to GBNews, and in possibly the least surprising development ever, the powers-that-be - having managed to remove Mark Steyn - now appear to be after Neil Oliver, and they've chosen the old favourite of 'anti-semitism' to try to get him removed. I don't particularly want to supply a link to such nonsense, but I suppose I should.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2...gb-news-to-stop-indulging-conspiracy-theories

The argument appears to be that he put forward some views that are slightly similar to some other views published in some old document that I've never heard of, which apparently also puts forward some anti-semitic ideas. And that one of his guests that came on to talk about one thing is also a supporter of some group or other, that has some articles by some other people, who have put forward some ideas that may be vaguely linked to anti-semitic ideas.

Truly desperate nonsense, but as we've seen with Jeremy Corbyn among many others, the media and politicians will happily run and run with this sort of ludicrous 'anti-semitic by vague association' argument until they get what they want.

 

[jon0844]

I'd love to know the section of the MSM that constantly go on about Brexit. Not The Sun, Telegraph, Mail, Express, and rarely mentioned on the BBC. Sky News can sometimes talk about it. Maybe Channel 4?*

It seems that if anyone is interviewed and asked about Brexit, the standard line now is to say that the best achievement was how the UK managed the vaccine by not being part of the EU - but recently many journalists, seemingly tired of this lie, have pushed back and pointed out the EU had nothing to do with it. One MP actually conceded in an interview (on Sky I recall?) and was quick to try and change the subject.

I am intrigued to see how the two main parties go into the election campaign on Brexit (as in where to go from here), as they won't be able to ignore it then. Likewise, I await how the 'MSM' cover that because if it's going to be in the campaigning, it can't be ignored.

* To be fair, the Telegraph and Mail on Sunday (which I think was always pro-remain?) has had some opinion pieces that were surprisingly negative about Brexit, and the Express seems to write many stories that make for good 'then and now' Tweets showing an original article a few years ago vs today, sometimes even written by the same author. I am not sure if the paper actually realises the irony, but they don't implicitly mention Brexit and usually just word it to suggest that it's something the EU has done since we left (as if we're being punished).

 

[365 Networker]

Jacob Rees-Mogg is the latest recruit.

Jacob Rees-Mogg joins GB News as he hails ‘bastion of free speech’

Tory MP will tackle political issues as well as 'good Somerset cider'

www.telegraph.co.uk

Apparently, Jacob Rees-Mogg will be taking Mark Steyn‘s former slot at 8PM.

 

[jon0844]

Apparently, Jacob Rees-Mogg will be taking Mark Steyn‘s former slot at 8PM.

Awesome. Nice to see another man of the people join the channel.

 

[Mojo]

Apparently, Jacob Rees-Mogg will be taking Mark Steyn‘s former slot at 8PM.

Interesting given this will be in the “working week” for MPs; their previous and current MP presenters have only ever had shows on Friday - Sunday.

Although, I suppose given Mark never used to do Fridays, it won’t intefere with the days he’s supposed to be in the constituency.

 

[jon0844]

Interesting given this will be in the “working week” for MPs; their previous and current MP presenters have only ever had shows on Friday - Sunday.

Jacob can always catch up on sleep during the day...

(Image taken from The Times newspaper)

 

[365 Networker]

For anyone interested, Steyn has now returned - but on his own website. You can watch his latest episode here:-

The Mark Steyn Show is back!

www.steynonline.com

 

[jon0844]

His site makes him look like a huge grifter. His opening page not only lays into GB News, but then asks multiple times for people to give him money - and he's after US$45 a quarter or $160 per year to be in his special club.

Or maybe you should take the Steyn Cruise later this year, with tickets starting at just US$2325 per person (2 people) or $3,376 for a single person, for a low-deck inside room (no windows). Of course, if you truly support him you'll be wanting to give him $5124 to $8928 for a suite...

"spend time with like-minded folks from around the globe as you dine and attend special events with your fellow Mark Steyn Club cruisers"

An echo chamber on the seas!!

 

[52290]

His site makes him look like a huge grifter. His opening page not only lays into GB News, but then asks multiple times for people to give him money - and he's after US$45 a quarter or $160 per year to be in his special club.

Or maybe you should take the Steyn Cruise later this year, with tickets starting at just US$2325 per person (2 people) or $3,376 for a single person, for a low-deck inside room (no windows). Of course, if you truly support him you'll be wanting to give him $5124 to $8928 for a suite...

"spend time with like-minded folks from around the globe as you dine and attend special events with your fellow Mark Steyn Club cruisers"

An echo chamber on the seas!!

Or you can go down to the pub and hear any old drunk, including me, rant for free. Well at least the cost of a pint.

 

[MikeWM]

Apparently, Jacob Rees-Mogg will be taking Mark Steyn‘s former slot at 8PM.

Seems an odd choice - I'd assumed he'd be doing a once-a-week show like Portillo. He's always struck me as someone who is a guest, rather than a presenter - he couldn't be more different from Steyn in presentation!

I think they'd have done better in the medium term leaving Laurence Fox there.

--

His site makes him look like a huge grifter. His opening page not only lays into GB News, but then asks multiple times for people to give him money - and he's after US$45 a quarter or $160 per year to be in his special club.

All the actual content appears to be free however - the monetised parts seem to be for 'perks' like commenting on videos.

 

[AlterEgo]

All the actual content appears to be free however - the monetised parts seem to be for 'perks' like commenting on videos.

You have to be a member of the Mark Steyn Club to watch videos of him reciting epic poetry. Hahaha.

Sunday Poem :: SteynOnline

Sunday Poem :: SteynOnline

www.steynonline.com

 

[MikeWM]

You have to be a member of the Mark Steyn Club to watch videos of him reciting epic poetry. Hahaha.

Sunday Poem :: SteynOnline

Sunday Poem :: SteynOnline

www.steynonline.com

Yes, ok, I should have said 'all the actual context that I'd be remotely interested in watching appears to be free'!

 

[Busaholic]

I remember the name Mark Steyn from a long-running BBC Radio Four series that I'm pretty sure aired on Friday evenings and may well have indirectly replaced Letter from America. I'm sure America was in the title but, typically, Wikipedia makes no mention of it. Does anyone else remember it? He probably tempered his language somewhat, but there was no pretending he was a raving liberal!

 

[Gloster]

I remember the name Mark Steyn from a long-running BBC Radio Four series that I'm pretty sure aired on Friday evenings and may well have indirectly replaced Letter from America. I'm sure America was in the title but, typically, Wikipedia makes no mention of it. Does anyone else remember it? He probably tempered his language somewhat, but there was no pretending he was a raving liberal!

There was a programme called Americana that is mentioned as a replacement for Letter from America, but Matt Frei and Johnny Dymond are mentioned as presenter; it only ran May 2009 to July 2011. Wikipedia doesn’t list contributors, nor is it on Steyn’s Wikipedia page, but it sounds like the sort of thing he would do.

 

[DelW]

There was a programme called Americana that is mentioned as a replacement for Letter from America, but Matt Frei and Johnny Dymond are mentioned as presenter; it only ran May 2009 to July 2011. Wikipedia doesn’t list contributors, nor is it on Steyn’s Wikipedia page, but it sounds like the sort of thing he would do.

The name Mark Steyn was unknown to me before reading this thread, but I used to listen to Americana, which aired (repeated?) at 19:15 on Sundays, when I was often driving. I only remember Matt Frei as the main presenter, though I think he had a female colleague whom I've forgotten. It often featured US politicians, who were much more reasonable sounding when speaking one to one than their speeches suggested. It went off air when an incoming R4 controller wanted the slot for some pet programme - I forget what that might have been now.

 

[Busaholic]

There was a programme called Americana that is mentioned as a replacement for Letter from America, but Matt Frei and Johnny Dymond are mentioned as presenter; it only ran May 2009 to July 2011. Wikipedia doesn’t list contributors, nor is it on Steyn’s Wikipedia page, but it sounds like the sort of thing he would do.

No, it wasn't that. It was definitely the 1990s and I have a vague memory (which could be false) that the word Broadway was in the title and it ran for 30 minutes a time. It was really before the internet era, so I don't think any info has necessarily been deleted, just that it may never have been there in the first place and Mr Steyn may have chosen for his own reasons to keep it that way! Johnny Dymond (about whom I know nothing) is the most obviously partisan BBC radio presenter on news and current affairs programmes I think I've ever heard in the Conservative and Establishment cause (he is also Royal Correspondent). His recent questioning of a supporter of the right of the general public to continue having free access to large chunks of Dartmoor was so framed by the viewpoint of a billionaire hedge fund manager who'd bought swathes of the moor in recent years as to be uncomprehending of anyone who saw fit to criticise said billionaire for his selfish court actions.

 

[Gloster]

No, it wasn't that. It was definitely the 1990s and I have a vague memory (which could be false) that the word Broadway was in the title and it ran for 30 minutes a time. It was really before the internet era, so I don't think any info has necessarily been deleted, just that it may never have been there in the first place and Mr Steyn may have chosen for his own reasons to keep it that way! Johnny Dymond (about whom I know nothing) is the most obviously partisan BBC radio presenter on news and current affairs programmes I think I've ever heard in the Conservative and Establishment cause (he is also Royal Correspondent). His recent questioning of a supporter of the right of the general public to continue having free access to large chunks of Dartmoor was so framed by the viewpoint of a billionaire hedge fund manager who'd bought swathes of the moor in recent years as to be uncomprehending of anyone who saw fit to criticise said billionaire for his selfish court actions.

Letter from America did not end until March 2004, much later than I thought and less than a month before Alistair Cooke’s death.

 

[Busaholic]

Letter from America did not end until March 2004, much later than I thought and less than a month before Alistair Cooke’s death.

Yes, I'd already concluded that the Steyn show wasn't seen in any way as a replacement for the great man's show, and must have run concurrently with it, possibly to an entirely different audience. The BBC hierarchy might just have been seeking to balance Alastair Cook's old-school Liberalist outlook (Manchester Guardianism) with a post-Reagan U.S. stance, especially in Washington DC and New York.

 

[Broucek]

Mark Steyn used to have a column in a UK newspaper (Telegraph?). It was rather less "out there" than some of his more recent material

But I remember very clearly some prophetic words which were along the lines of, "if 'respectable' politicians are not allowed to say the truth publicly, don't be suprised if less respectable ones don't do so instead". This was well before Trump...

 

[jon0844]

How many politicians of any persuasion want to tell the truth these days? They push a narrative.

Frankly, I can't think of examples of an MP not being able to talk freely. Being interrupted to have a statement questioned or debunked isn't being cancelled.

Nor are you cancelled when you can moan about being cancelled on social media with millions of followers, GB News, YouTube and your own blog...

 

[Cloud Strife]

Back to GBNews, and in possibly the least surprising development ever, the powers-that-be - having managed to remove Mark Steyn - now appear to be after Neil Oliver, and they've chosen the old favourite of 'anti-semitism' to try to get him removed. I don't particularly want to supply a link to such nonsense, but I suppose I should.

And this is entirely predictable. The owners have lost a lot of money so far on this, and Neil Oliver is incredibly offputting to potential advertisers. Advertisers simply don't want to spend money on his narrative, because the people who tune in for him are not going to be buying their products.

Like him or hate him, the reality is that 100-200k views on YouTube simply aren't enough to replace the revenue lost by hosting him. So he will be pushed, because this project isn't a loss-leader like Sky News is.

Mark Steyn has discovered the same problem: it's very difficult to monetise his views.

 

[jon0844]

Let Neil exercise his free speech standing on a soap box in a local park.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Let Neil exercise his free speech standing on a soap box in a local park.

And this is the point: that's the level of attractiveness to advertisers.

 

[jon0844]

And this is the point: that's the level of attractiveness to advertisers.

But they don't get that. They seem to think private companies should somehow be forced to advertise or else be boycotted for 'going woke'.

Which is always funny as they're all about non regulation of businesses normally.

 

[MikeWM]

And this is entirely predictable. The owners have lost a lot of money so far on this, and Neil Oliver is incredibly offputting to potential advertisers. Advertisers simply don't want to spend money on his narrative, because the people who tune in for him are not going to be buying their products.

Surely that depends on what the products are? Yes, I'd agree that the adverts GB News run for smart meters, and the NHS adverts with lots of people in masks, aren't likely to be looked on too favourably by the typical Neil Oliver viewer. But in the end I suspect very few people really care whether someone advertises on GB News or not, and the few that do care enough to change their purchasing habits accordingly, may well be equalled or outweighed by those who look more favourably on their products precisely because they do advertise there. Or perhaps not, but I'm not sure it is quite so clear-cut as people assume.

 

[nw1]

So they now have Nigel Farage, Michael Portillo, Esther McVey, Phillip Davies, Arlene Foster, Laurence Fox, Mark Steyn, Camilla Tominey, Andrew Pierce and Rees Mogg. Balanced?

Indeed.

Of these: Portillo is fairly neutral these days I guess? Comes across OK on his railway series, at least. Arlene Foster might at least have something useful to say about the impact of Brexit on the Northern Ireland situation, I guess, even though I generally disagree with the DUP's outlook on life. Farage, McVey and Rees-Mogg... nuff said. But I've got no idea who Phillip Davies, Mark Steyn, Camilla Tominey and Andrew Pierce even are!