The BBC, it's role in society?

The BBC, it's role in society? (Full Version)

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Aneirin -> The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 4:01:53 AM)
The British Broadcasting Company, an 'institution' we are all in Britain forced to pay into by right of law a licence fee. We have to pay purely for the ownership of a television, it does not matter if we do not watch a BBC programme, or only use the tv to view satellite or cable tv, we have a tv, we pay, simple as that. Even the way the collecting of fees is implemented, a case of a citizen is guilty until proven innocent. If one does not have a tv, you are not believed until an enforcement officer has viewed your home to see if you are telling the truth, then it is as if you are on probation, they still wholy do not believe you.They apparently send out ,'detector'vehicles to areas where they know there has not been a license paid for, in the hope they can catch someone using a tv without a license. On the whole the BBC, an institution not worth it's salt, the programming, who does it serve, what is it's target audience? From what I see the BBC is not what it once was, priority programming going to the extra channels that people pay extra for, what is left is lousy.Only on occaision does a rare gem shine through, a documentary or play worth watching. And so, the tv is on now, notoriously bad British daytime terrestrial tv and programmes about properties, not homes for people, but houses as commodities to make profit on.Something which I feel is not helpful with many people now struggling with payments perhaps of this kind, and perhaps influenced by this type of programming. As the tv is on through the day, up comes programmes on making money, quick profit, buy to sell. I feel tv has too much of an influence on people, the programmers should be very careful with their programming and should reflect the current need, who else thinks this, and what do you think of the BBC and license fee in general ?

Zensee -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 4:17:29 AM)
I don't know about the BBC's entertainment programs (living in Canada) but the BBC news is top notch. We have the CBC here, modeled somewhat the same. I don't watch TV but frequently keep the CBC talk radio on in the background to keep up with current events, science and special interest programs. While some accuse it of a left wing bias I find it is pretty balanced in its reporting (of course). And there is no advertising abrading your ears every three minutes - sweet! I know publicly funded broadcasters are controversial but I think our CBC is crucial to maintaining and developing our national character and maintaining a sense of cohesion across our vast and underpopulated land. Perhaps the BBC does something similar for Britain, albeit under different conditions. Z.

meatcleaver -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 4:18:43 AM)
While I have my criticisms of the BBC, they do maintain a standard of TV that in parts is interesting , thoughtful and informative. They don't have enough money to maintain the high standard 24 hours a day so of course they fill in time with cheap day time TV and repeats. However, look at countries that have no state funded TV to maintain standards with which commercial channels have to compete and you get utter shite. If you really think the BBC makes bad TV, come to Europe, you will see that many countries buy BBC programmes and some of those programmes are the best on TV and watched by many. Because the BBC is making good programmes it means that British independent TV has to compete by making good programmes too. The amount of British TV watched in Europe is more than any other country apart from America which provides wallpaper TV to fill in air time. I have watched BBC (and ITV) programmes on Dutch, Belgium, German, French TV. If the BBC goes, you can bet ITV will go down in quality to the point both will disappear from international markets. When was the last time you saw foreign programmes on British TV, apart from US wallpaper TV? I understand that in the pseudo-modern age people feel they need to interact, even with any old shite, rather than see themselves as passive consumers of quality. However, you aren't passive when you are consuming quality, your brain is working and it isn't when you're interacting with shite. I suggest you limit your TV to the quality programmes and stop using the zapper to surf shite.

meatcleaver -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 4:22:50 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Aneirin On the whole the BBC, an institution not worth it's salt, the programming, who does it serve, what is it's target audience? People who cherry pick their TV or otherwise read or do some other interesting activity?

RCdc -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 5:17:45 AM)
This is Darcy I feel that the license fee is a little unfair, given that I have to pay it regardless of whether or not I watch the Beeb, whereas I can choose what other channels, if any, I wish to subscribe to. However, when on the rare occasion the BBC produces something as wonderful as the recent Planet Earth documentary series, for which independant funding woul dhave been pretty much impossible to raise, then I forgive them for fleecing me for the cast majority of the garbage that they put on.

Taintedblood -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 5:25:06 AM)
i don't watch the BBC much so begrudge paying the licence but i wouldn't not do it. i bought my first house 2 years ago and remember applying for my tv licence and having a blonde moment as it where. a black and white tv license was less than a colour one and i couldn't get my head round why anyone would want a colour tv license if a black and white one was cheaper - a few days later i realised it was the tv that would be colour or black and white and not the actual paper and ink used for the license.

seeksfemslave -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 5:40:21 AM)
The BBC, the BBC #*%! Covering foreign affairs, documentaries, general entertainment, investigative reporting almost everthing except contemporary domestic politics I think it varies from the good to the excellent. Current politics they are a disaster: arrogant,heckling, know it all do fuck all kind of smart arse graduates who need a good kick up the "jacksee", totally biased, clearly edit answers without broadcasting questions to make sure the "right" attitude is broadcast. A common trick I know but this is supposed to public service broadcasting. No advertising is excellent. Method of financing needs to change. Zensee: please forward your licence fee to me and I will ensure the BBC receives it.

HalloweenWhite -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 5:54:25 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Aneirin The British Broadcasting Company, an 'institution' we are all in Britain forced to pay into by right of law a licence fee. We have to pay purely for the ownership of a television, it does not matter if we do not watch a BBC programme, or only use the tv to view satellite or cable tv, we have a tv, we pay, simple as that. Even the way the collecting of fees is implemented, a case of a citizen is guilty until proven innocent. If one does not have a tv, you are not believed until an enforcement officer has viewed your home to see if you are telling the truth, then it is as if you are on probation, they still wholy do not believe you.They apparently send out ,'detector'vehicles to areas where they know there has not been a license paid for, in the hope they can catch someone using a tv without a license. On the whole the BBC, an institution not worth it's salt, the programming, who does it serve, what is it's target audience? From what I see the BBC is not what it once was, priority programming going to the extra channels that people pay extra for, what is left is lousy.Only on occaision does a rare gem shine through, a documentary or play worth watching. And so, the tv is on now, notoriously bad British daytime terrestrial tv and programmes about properties, not homes for people, but houses as commodities to make profit on.Something which I feel is not helpful with many people now struggling with payments perhaps of this kind, and perhaps influenced by this type of programming. As the tv is on through the day, up comes programmes on making money, quick profit, buy to sell. I feel tv has too much of an influence on people, the programmers should be very careful with their programming and should reflect the current need, who else thinks this, and what do you think of the BBC and license fee in general ? I agree 100% the BBC are a lazy money grabbing lot. The reason we have to pay is because they're too arrogant to advertise. Then, if you don't pay their rent for them you get find a £1000. The programs they put on are junk-eastenders,all those pointless "homes under the hammer" type shows. As for the other channels, I noticed they have to advertise-otherwise how could they afford it all? the thing is, why bother with it in the first place? it doesn't start untill 7.00 pm and then you get more reality t.v shows like you do on BBC's 1 and 2. More is not better, its just more. I read that Richard Hammond (the guy who nearly died in a car crash on Top Gear" recovered in a BUPA hospital, the only reason he could afford it was because of his wages....which WE provided!!. Most of us couldn't afford BUPA. The Government are a bunch of wimps for putting BBC on a pedestal, acting like its part of why britain is great They shoud force the BBC to advertise and actualy -make- money instead of getting the givernment to allow them to FORCE us to pay their rent for them.

HalloweenWhite -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 5:56:43 AM)
Im sorry...did you think the paper would be in black and white and not the picture on the t.v? is that what you said?. Oh dear, I have days like that too! lol :(.

seeksfemslave -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 6:03:35 AM)
quote: HalloweenWhite The Government are a bunch of wimps for putting BBC on a pedestal, acting like its part of why britain is great They shoud force the BBC to advertise and actually -make- money instead of getting the givernment to allow them to FORCE us to pay their rent for them. To add insult to injury the BBC does make quite a lot of money I believe. Its just that they waste zillions as well. It makes me larf when they think they have a God given right to broadcast top sports events. What they really are worried about is the "peasants" getting uppity and asking...I want football why should I be forced to pay for drama ? By the way Home DIY programmes I love.

Taintedblood -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 6:06:23 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: HalloweenWhite Im sorry...did you think the paper would be in black and white and not the picture on the t.v? is that what you said?. Oh dear, I have days like that too! lol :(. indeed i did it perplexed me for days as to why it would bother people having colour over black and white until i realised they meant the actual tv set picture

meatcleaver -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 6:20:30 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: HalloweenWhite I agree 100% the BBC are a lazy money grabbing lot. The reason we have to pay is because they're too arrogant to advertise. Then, if you don't pay their rent for them you get find a £1000. The programs they put on are junk-eastenders,all those pointless "homes under the hammer" type shows. Get rid of the BBC and see what shite British TV will descend into. Yes there is a lot of junk wallpaper TV but that is due to the demand to have 24 hour channels but the BBC at its best is the best and I've said it before, it sells its best, certainly all over Europe. I have to agree though, most people who watch TV prefer to watch shite, hence the viewing figures for wallpaper TV and only the minority want quality TV. But think about it, do you really want Fox News? Do you really want to confuse programmes with adverts to such a point you don't know if you are watching a programme or an advert as in America? I have sixty channels from various countries and though I'm not a big TV watcher (I cherry pick), the channel with the most interesting and informative programmes by far, are the BBC's.

RCdc -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 7:04:45 AM)
Dr. Who Question Time Torchwood Life on Mars (with Ashes to Ashes coming soon) Planet Earth Spring Watch Autumn Watch Long Way Round Spooks Despatches BBC World Service Panorama This Week To name but a few Yeah - BBC is soooooooooooo crap. [8\|] the.dark.

kittinSol -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 7:10:34 AM)
How much is the licence fee now, anyway?

RCdc -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 7:17:46 AM)
I think its about £135 for colour - black and whites much less. the.dark.

RealityLicks -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 7:22:25 AM)
£130. And you get four TV channels, six radio stations, plus a local station, plus the World Service, a fairly good news site and they still keep a couple of orchestras going. Its a complicated iossue about their funding - are they doing all they can to fulfll what htey were set up to do? Wheres the arts? Fuck it - wheres the documentaries? But cruddy daytime schedule, out of touch soaps and slender factual programmes apart - we're probably better off with it. When i used to drive a lot for work, Radio 4 (and even 3, cos I'm well pretentious) kept me sane. Outside Soviet Russia where would you hear a concerto, then a discussion on Bessie Smith and a round up of cinema, without a commercial break on a 2 hour motorway blatt? What have the Romans done for us?

MrRodgers -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 7:39:10 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: RealityLicks £130. And you get four TV channels, six radio stations, plus a local station, plus the World Service, a fairly good news site and they still keep a couple of orchestras going. Its a complicated iossue about their funding - are they doing all they can to fulfll what htey were set up to do? Wheres the arts? Fuck it - wheres the documentaries? But cruddy daytime schedule, out of touch soaps and slender factual programmes apart - we're probably better off with it. When i used to drive a lot for work, Radio 4 (and even 3, cos I'm well pretentious) kept me sane. Outside Soviet Russia where would you hear a concerto, then a discussion on Bessie Smith and a round up of cinema, without a commercial break on a 2 hour motorway blatt? What have the Romans done for us? BBC News is second to none and looked upon that way by many all over the world. Some regard it as the most objective western source of world news. The financial support should come from general revenues with no 'fees' at all and if I under the situation correctly...is a non-profit. Non-profits can have profits just distributed back into support and programming. The problem arises that once those profits are high...nowhere to go but into pockets (big salaries) and waist.

kittinSol -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 7:53:22 AM)
Exactly. A hundred and thirty quid for a year's worth of programs isn't very expensive. The BBC can't produce 100% top notch programming... I hear the distress of those that don't actually watch or listen to the BBC, but how can it be funded otherwise than by a general licence fee? All in all... I say it's pretty good value.

RCdc -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 8:00:23 AM)
This is Darcy I have to concur with *the.dark.*'s list of quality programmes - sometimes I am too harsh (not always a bad thing [;)]) Thanks to RL, though, for reminding me of the website. That I do value, and would happily pay to subscribe to if it wasn't provided free (well, in theory, anyway.)

kittinSol -> RE: The BBC, it's role in society? (2/6/2008 8:09:15 AM)
Right... because if the BBC wasn't funded by the licence fee or an other form of direct taxation, it would have to rely on advertising. And we all know what that does to any kind of media: it turns it into total crap.

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