BBC coverage to be given the "Olympics treatment"

[Guest]

I watched the last part of the beebs Africa series last might...

so good on so many levels.

As far as performing a public service, in helping people be aware of how important everything on the planet is, I really can't imagine anyone, anywhere doing a better job. Very sensitively done, reasons for hope and optimism, while at the same time implying that time is running out.

Who else would have the resources, including the time, to make a programme like that?

[James Bolivar]

the difference between McD's and the BBC is that McD's is shit and the BBC isn't.

Yes, you'll say differently. But the BBC's rep proves you wrong.

Edited February 7, 2013 by James Bolivar

[Guest]

If it isn't conspicuously doing good, if it is just popular for the sake of popularity then in what way is it morally superior to Fox? The difference is I don't have to pay to support Fox. The BBC does not have a moral right to exist - it gains one only through providing a real public service. Otherwise, if people really want nature porn and current affairs then the commercial sector will provide.

[James Bolivar]

It's not simply nature porn. If that's all you think it is, then it makes sense that you say the things you do

[eFestivals]

Well Maccy D is hugely popular and they do now have salad and tell you how much transfat they put in the lettuce; like a public service.

and the difference is....?

While lots of people eat in McD's, the vast majority still think it's shit. The same does not apply with the BBC.

That said, I still think there is some mileage in the old values of educate and inform and if you have to entertain along the way to achieve those then fine.

and yet when it informs - world views, and the like - you call that "liberal bias".

And when it educates, you already know it all already so there's nothing for you. Yeah, I know, you've been proving it constantly with your posts here.

I do accept that the vast majority of BBC viewers and listeners want, more than anything, entertainment from their state media provider and that is fine, but if that entertainment is not also a vehicle for delivering a public service then why should I pay for it when I don't use it?

yet it is a vehicle for delivering a public service. It hooks them in with entertainment, and keeps hold of them to inform and educate.

If it isn't conspicuously doing good, if it is just popular for the sake of popularity then in what way is it morally superior to Fox?

priceless.

The difference is I don't have to pay to support Fox.

and yet you do - you cannot escape paying for it even if you have no TV, unlike with the BBC.

Or are you going to tell me that you buy everything you consume from a subsistance farmer who has no other contact with the outside world?

The BBC does not have a moral right to exist - it gains one only through providing a real public service.

which it has gained and kept.

You failing to recognise that fact does not change that fact.

Otherwise, if people really want nature porn and current affairs then the commercial sector will provide.

and yet the commercial sector has proven itself unable to provide those - hence their almost-complete absence from the main commercial channel.

The BBC has to appear to be impartial to conform to its Charter - it strives to appear to present a spectrum of views, but it places three-quarters of its job ads in the Guardian.

in the only newspaper with a media section (oir least, it did have. Not sure if it still does).

Wow, a trade using a trade paper. Who'd have thought it eh?

The BBC is recruiting from a left-liberal minority and that jaundices everything it does

you really are politically confused, aren't you?

You really should give up taking the word of Murdoch or the Daily Hate Mail or whatever trash you read as being anything useful.

It is not the BBC's job to counter the clearly self-interested privately owned press; it has to be without bias in and of itself.

What part of countering the self-interested privately RAVING RIGHT WING owned press with balance do you think is outside of the BBC's charter? PMSL.

Whether you like it or not at least half of the UK population are right-of-centre on social and economic issues; as evinced by the last election (and the six before that if we are to accept your version). And, even though your statements on the topic suggest these people are less deserving of an opinion, they are licence payers too; it is also their BBC.

yep - and they don't subscribe to your raving right wing views. What part of that has passed you buy?

====

I notice that you've given up using the USA's TV as your dreamteam of broadcasting, can I ask why that is?

Might it be that it was as I suggested, that you've never actually experienced it to know just how utterly dreadful it is?

Have you never noticed that almost all yanks who have experienced the BBC say how much they'd love the same quality broadcasting in their own country?

It's not via luck that the BBC is the world's most respected broadcaster, the UK's most respected broadcaster, and the world's favourite source of news. And it's not because it's failing in its remit either. It's because it is very very VERY good (despite its many faults) and that no other broadcaster from anywhere in the western world gets close to it - and yet that's not because the BBC has greater money to create that greatest service either.

[eFestivals]

I haven't watched any BBC natural history programming in years - it was beautiful, but shallow, so I gave up.

care to name a broadcaster that does better in that subject area?

(remember, TV is 'popular culture', it's not a science class!).

[Guest]

I haven't seen it. I haven't watched any BBC natural history programming in years - it was beautiful, but shallow, so I gave up. I'm glad they are doing something better, the problem for me is that I lost the habit of watching Auntie and every time I try to dip in I am disappointed. If they can do better, if they really do fill a public service remit then my argument against the licence fee evaporates. I hope that's what happens.

[The Nal]

I haven't seen it. I haven't watched any BBC natural history programming in years - it was beautiful, but shallow, so I gave up. I'm glad they are doing something better, the problem for me is that I lost the habit of watching Auntie and every time I try to dip in I am disappointed. If they can do better, if they really do fill a public service remit then my argument against the licence fee evaporates. I hope that's what happens.

[Ed209]

This week on James Bolivar, New Labour were socialists and David Attenborough is a useless c**t

[strummer77]

if they really do fill a public service remit then my argument against the licence fee evaporates. I hope that's what happens.

[James Bolivar]

(remember, TV is 'popular culture', it's not a science class!).

[James Bolivar]

This week on James Bolivar, New Labour were socialists and David Attenborough is a useless c**t

[James Bolivar]

While lots of people eat in McD's, the vast majority still think it's shit. The same does not apply with the BBC.

[eFestivals]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tonyblair" data-cid="3917508"><p>pondering the death of many species, including our own is shallow..?<br />&nbsp;<br />oh well</p></blockquote><br />yep, that's shallow. People like JB already know the exact reasons why they died.<br /><br />They were murdered in their beds by commies who'd been watching the BBC.<br /><br /><img data-cke-saved-src="/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.png">http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.png" src="/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.png">http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.png" class="bbc_emoticon" title=":P" />

[James Bolivar]

They provide tons of educational programmes and materials for schools remember. If that isn't public service then god knows what is.

As for the Maccy Ds comparison, no thats an awful one.

[James Bolivar]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tonyblair" data-cid="3917508"><p>pondering the death of many species, including our own is shallow..?<br />&nbsp;<br />oh well</p></blockquote><br />yep, that's shallow. People like JB already know the exact reasons why they died.<br /><br />They were murdered in their beds by commies who'd been watching the BBC.<br /><br /><img data-cke-saved-src="/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.png">http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.png" src="/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.png">http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.png" class="bbc_emoticon" title=":P" />

[Ed209]

if were to choose to be derogatory I might style him the Paul Raymond of Natural History broadcasting.

[eFestivals]

And yet they keep on eating it - that's very odd.

convenience and speed counts for something - but it doesn't count for 'like'.

The point is: the same is not the case with the BBC.

And I've not said the BBC is shit - just not fulfilling its public service remit.

and to justify that statement as correct, you first have to state what its public service remit is (its remit, not what you think its remit should be!!!) and then you have to say how it's failing to meet it.

Even the most raving right ring nutters who are ideologically opposed to everything about the BBC cannot demonstrate that it fails to meet its remit - which is why the BBC still exists.

ITV is shit, but I'm not paying an hypothocated tax for its upkeep.

you are.

The fact that it's hidden from you in everything you purchase does not mean it's not there.

[eFestivals]

OK - that was funny, maybe some lefties have a sense of humour after all.

Unlike you to fuck up the quotes though Neil.

I'm doing development for the mobile site, and switching back and forwards with the skin causes these fuck up for some reason.

[The Nal]

Heres the evil bastard himself talking to Mark Lawson about it.

[strummer77]

Heres the evil bastard himself talking to Mark Lawson about it.

Edited February 7, 2013 by strummer77

[Ed209]

Heres the evil bastard himself talking to Mark Lawson about it.

Edited February 7, 2013 by Ed209

[James Bolivar]

The clueless piece of shit did a Q&A on twitter yesterday as well. Interesting read

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qmbqn/live

edit: warning James, this a link to a bbc website. You might find it offensive

[bigbilly]

Had it on very good authority that the Beeb will only be filming one more stage then normal. So pyramid, other, holts, Jp +???

Not read the full 14 pages but seems some BBC bashing going on. Don't want to get invoked in that but I will say that the guys who mix and record the sound for TV and radio are up their with the best sound engineers in the world

[Morse Code]

Had it on very good authority that the Beeb will only be filming one more stage then normal. So pyramid, other, holts, Jp +???

Not read the full 14 pages but seems some BBC bashing going on. Don't want to get invoked in that but I will say that the guys who mix and record the sound for TV and radio are up their with the best sound engineers in the world