[Non-footy] Do we really need the BBC anymore?

Yes the executive salaries and pension plans are ridiculously high, well into three figures and much higher than they'd get in the private sector, and then there's the left-wing bias, they even created a new position especially for an ex-Labour minister with a salary of £300k per year.

 

So you did not see drama like 'The Hour' ' Sherlock' 'The Village' to name but three! I agree BBC struggle to match the Sport Output and struggle to retain the 'so-called' "Crown Jewels" but that is because their hands are tied regarding the revenue stream. It is laughable that BBC 'critics' are happy to pay Murdoch and crew. £50 per month AND put up with hours of adverts (paid for by sponsors) to watch imported American Drama and comedy (OK- some of which is very good) but much output is repeats and old stuff played 'ad nauseum'. Going to an Ad break with one minute to the end of the programme then playing the final scene, credits and then going to ANOTHER advert break is also taking the P*ss. BBC licence costs less than £13 per month for which you get Radio, TV and internet access. yes, the sport is lacking but SKY even charge additional 'Box Office' fees for major events. Personally re SKY I would rather eat my own liver than subscribe to that money grabbing shower (although each to his own!)

 

Am I allowed to like both BBC and Sky?

 

Left wing bias? Give me a break. Where's the scrutiny of the NHS privatisation been?

Salaries are at best comparable with the private sector.

 

Always love this when BBC accused of bias. Labour govt complained about it, Conservative govt complain about it. Personally think they are fairly even handed and straight down the middle of most things.
There is always going to be some bias, it's virtually impossible to avoid because people have opinions, and people are formulating the news. Even if it's just a case of not reporting an item as much or concentrating too much on it that can be perceived as a bias.
Then again, there's a quote, "reality has a liberal bias"!

If you want to see true media bias just look at the US, and would you believe that many on the right there say that the media has a left wing bias!

 

Apart from Fox News it does, MSNBC is the most left-wing but then you also have the likes of the The New York Times.

The vast majority of TV programmes and Movies made in the U.S. have a left-wing slant as well as they're made by left-wing Producers and Directors and star left-wing actors, it's a closed shop.

 

MSNBC is slightly left of centre, but even then they are to teh right on many issues.

The whole left wing Hollywood thing is just pure ******** - as said before, facts tend to have a liberal bias!

You telling me that a programme such as 24 is left-wing? It's pure US government propaganda in their "war on terror".

Talking of left wing though - can't wait for the 2nd series of Aaron Sorkin's "Newsroom" to start.

 

...As I said "each to his own"

 

Left wing? Piffle.

 

You've managed to pick the only show on American TV show that's not left-wing, well there's that and Blue Bloods plus South Park which attacks left and right.

As for facts having a liberal bias, you're just showing your own bias there.

 

He wasn't stating that as a fact he was using the phrase/quote

 

" the only show on American TV show that's not left-wing"

Laughing. Virtually every show on American tv serves to propagate the American dream and individualism. Except for the very best shows like The Wire.

 

The scope of American broadcasting is too wide for either to be true. Possibly, if you are looking at the mainstream filter head on, but aspirational doesn't necessarily mean right wing. Much is done for for the target audience and the TV pig happens to be the middle of the country.

If anyone wants to to know what true, liberal broadcasting looks like, check out my hero of documentary film & television, the great Ken Burns. We don't have anything or anyone as near as good.

 

I have a lived in a few countries and must say that the BBC is very much superior to anything I have seen elsewhere.
If you look at RAI for example in Italy, Italians pay over a hundred euros for their licence fee (to get RAI) which is rubbish. Every night between 8pm and 9pm it's 'Deal or No Deal' - and I mean every night, seven days a week for about 6 months.
Prior to that there is another quiz program which has the same format, seven days a week for about 6 months. And they have to put up with advertising. They probably don't put so much effort into it as they have no-one to sell their productions to - only Italians speak Italian.

To be honest if the BBC didn't produce the programs it does, I'm not sure what other countries would put on. When I was in Australia it felt like I was in the UK because half the programs that were on were British-made, BBC or the like. Or copies of British ideas.