The Dean

........... let's see what The Spectator thinks - for me, this is brilliant (I confess to being a hater of the left-wing agenda at the Beeb).

http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-week/...aving-the-bbc/

Kix

I agree, I reckon it should be run by people who think the daily mail is left wing...

So that's me and you matey eh?

Kix

I agree, I reckon it should be run by people who think the daily mail is left wing...

So that's me and you matey eh?

scot47

The Leader Farrage will sort all that out.

Eeyore

Standard bilge intended to give boners to knuckledragging right-wingers who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

And the idea that the BBC has an inherently left-wing bias is hilarious to anyone (such as myself) who has actually worked there, or indeed understands the history of the BBC's relationship with government (for the record, it has upset governments of all political stripes - Harold Wilson, in particular, was convinced that the BBC was spearheading a right-wing conspiracy against him).

Fossildog

Yeah right, the bbc has no left wing bias.

In other news, an unfortunate graphical glitch caused the screen outside the BBCs Salford headquarters to cause some embarrassment to the UKIP leader on the day it was revealed he used to march around singing Hitler youth songs (as claimed by a teacher with an incredibly long memory)

What are the chances of that happening eh?

Eeyore

I doubt you understand the first thing about it. Genuinely. You're just responding to the received opinion of a certain group of right-wingers who claim to want impartiality but actually don't.

Because of course, the hard-of-thinking assume that the glitch *only* occured when Farrage was on screen, right? They don't consider for a moment that it could have been like that for an extended period of time and made everyone framed in that way look like they had a Hitler moustache. Because the only photo is of Farrage, then only Farrage was affected and of course it *has* to have been deliberate.

Jesus.

If you're not paranoid and understand that stuff like that *does* happen (the internet is full of photos of amusing coincidences that are just that, coincidences), the chances aren't anything unusual.

Fossildog

Erm the picture was meant as a bit of fun.

scrubbedexpat141

My god you're condescending.

Garbatellamike

So why did a BBC internal report 2 years ago conclude the BBC had an inherent left wing bias and look to identify measures to resolve the problem.

The fact you worked there probably indicates to others you were part of the problem not an informed observer - a mistake to mention it as it weakens your credibility!

The Dean

Hilarious............... BBC accused of left-wing bias.............. left-wing man who admits he used to work there insults so-called right-wingers.......... QED.

Whatever.............. the core of the argument is to revamp its means of funding, which would be long overdue. As we have mentioned before on these pages, the way BBC bosses refer to the general public as 'shareholders' really irritates - I have no choice about buying the shares (even if I choose to watch only ITV, C4 and Sky, I still have to buy a license to fund the BBC), I do not get to attend an AGM, and I do not get the chance to vote on salaries, etc - and a year later, the shares are worthless (I know this, because a nice man from the Licensing Authority writes to me and tells me I have to invest a new sum of money for another year, and that my previous investment has expired worthless). Shareholders? Ridiculous.

Let's have advertising and/or direct subscription, with no service to those who prefer not to choose that package.

Charismatic

I know little about television media though I do enjoy BBC shows and documentaries. Actually as a public service it performs its duties well.

It seems to me the BBC does do unique and interesting work because it isn’t constrained by a commercial model, however like most I can see there is a need for greater accountability and organisational reform. I just hope they don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.

As for political bias at the BBC you often hear this accusation bandied about (since pre-WW2 I think ) but it seems pretty representative of political views in the UK to me and certainly doesn’t appear to act to stifle debate or hide factual information.

Eeyore

That's not actually what it said. And it was 6 years ago.

Yes, because there's so much credibility on display on a forum where just about everybody hides behind a fake name, isn't there? As as far as being an "informed observer" is concerned, I would put money on my having a much better understanding of the situation than anybody here who *hasn't* worked for the BBC.

Garbatellamike

yeah right

Eeyore

Which is about the depth of analysis I'd expect.

That's because the BBC is a public service. You might as well complain about the all public services that income tax pays for but which you personally may never use.

And of course, even if you never watch or listen to any BBC service (which is incredibly unlikely), you're still paying for television when you go shopping. A proportion of the price of just about everything you buy goes towards TV advertising. And where would satellite TV be without the BBC to produce most of its programming? Look at all the most popular secondary channels, such as Dave, and you'll find that the vast majority of their output is BBC programming.

You do realise that if the BBC switched to an advertising model, it would decimate the income of the existing commercial channels, many of which would be forced to close? There is only so much advertising money to go round, and if the BBC became eligible to receive it, it would grab a colossal chunk of it.

Fortunately, the general opinion among the British public still seems to be that the last thing they want is advertising on the BBC. As it becomes further and further deregulated on the commercial channels (meaning longer breaks more frequently), it's making them more and more unwatchable.

Direct subscription is a slightly less unpalatable option, but it's still a demonstration of being aware of the price of everything and the value of nothing.