Quote: Godot Taxis @ April 22 2010, 4:51 PM BSTI'd like to see a tax on men who don't have any hair on their chest. They can pay the tax or accept the fact that they are basically women.
we'd be racking it in on that one.
Election; what would your policies be? Page 5
Quote: Gavin @ April 23 2010, 7:56 AM BSTTax on kids. The more you have the more you pay.
Have more than four, and we take you first born, to be trained up and, once they turn sixteen, to do battle against each other, and bears, in the Fight Rink. The money raised by charging spectators for entry, drinks and heated meat in bread will go towards funding Battersea Dogs Home.
I do actually get a bit cross at the accusation of marxism levelled at the BBC. The BBC's charter reflects it's aim at "public service broadcasting." e.g. braodcasting for the greater good, above commercial interests with an aim to uplift and educate, as well as entertain. If you called Lord Reith a Marxist I suspect he would rise from the grave to kick your bottom.
Over the years this has grown to include; involve the isolated and unrepresented. The UK is perhaps unique in being a western capitalist nation with a large well funded PSB service.
The BBC is one of the absolute treausres of the UK and a gift to the world. There is no greater ambassador on all that is great about Britain.
Top have it ignorantly slandered by those who dine on Murdoch's slops is tragic. Rather like saying some one's farts smell whilst ignoring the man who shits in your pocket.
I do literally despair at the fools who listen to Dave Cameron about lessening the BBC.
That's something else I don't agree with David Cameron on, sooty.
Quote: sootyj @ April 23 2010, 10:20 AM BSTThe BBC is one of the absolute treausres of the UK and a gift to the world. There is no greater ambassador on all that is great about Britain.
I imagine other countries are extremely envious that we possess such a formidable device as the BBC.
Policy 2: Banking bonuses taxed at 90% until all the money's been paid back.
Policy 3: Revoke the right to vote from all people who say 'lookee-likee', 'in a xxxx-styleeee' or have ever shout the phrase 'back door' whilst playing football.
Dan
Pass a law that all politicians should have worked at least 5 years in the real world.*
*This excludes PR, the law and the media.
Quote: Nogget @ April 23 2010, 1:32 PM BSTI imagine other countries are extremely envious that we possess such a formidable device as the BBC.
I doubt it. Considering most of the best and most innovative programmes come from the US, it's hard to see what on the BBC justifies its public service remit anymore. BBC Three? If this was put out by Sky TV it would be taken as proof how bad Rupert Murdoch's "rightwing empire" was. The fact that this twaddle is being publicly funded is extraordinary.
BBC Two is now no more than a cookery and quiz show channel. BBC One as always, is aimed at light entertainment but it is hard to see Hole in the Wall as a high quality example.
The few science programmes are now so dumbed down it is incredible. The decline from Tomorrow's World to Bang Goes The Theory is obvious, the latter would have been on children's TV 20 years ago and appears to be modelled on How.
That leaves BBC Four, a more worthy channel certainly but hardly enough to make the world envious.
Mate, countries would be envious because something of the statue of the BBC would make for a powerful propaganda tool. The BBC is a powerful diplomatic weapon.
You are picking and choosing a bit there, cheesehoven. Kind of ignoring the BBC's dedication in other areas. Perhaps a brief look over their news shows or the way they handle sport would change your mind? How about success stories such as the revamped Doctor Who or long-running comedic panel shows such as QI or Have I Got News For You? What about their coverage of music festivals during the summer months? Or their political shows like Question Time? How about the radio stations? Innovative stations like BBC6Music or maybe established stations like Radio One and Two? What about music shows like Jools Holland which remains the only show on British television to actually broadcast new music?
Obviously I have just picked at what I personally consider to be the highlights of the BBC's output, but feel secure in saying that I watch them far more than any other broadcaster.
You ask for innovative programme-making but I don't particularly find that there is any level of innovation going on elsewhere in the British television industry which begins to compete with the BBC. Yes, the US manages to put out a few more shows a year than the BBC does which we could consider 'good' or 'innovative' - but we do get the filtered version of what goes out over the US airwaves. No broadcaster here will pick up a flagging or dire American show, so we will only see the very best of what they create. Beyond this you're comparing the output of what basically amounts to an entire continent with the output of one broadcasting corporation on a relatively tiny island nation. There is no real contest when America has more talent to draw upon and more finance to mobilise it.
I love the BBC. I can't believe anyone in this country would begin to think about getting rid of its publicly-funded status.
And if the BBC is so unpopular why does it have such mighty viewing figures?
Yes the US does produce some fine TV but most of the stuff we're talking about comes from HBO. e.g. a station with a huge budget due to it's premium charges.
And BBC3 rubbish? It has way better figures than any of it's rivals, it's also a proving ground for new talent so there will be some duffers.
Sky stuck the Pacific on flippin movies so they could charge even more. No BBC expect a lot more of that.
The idea British TV would become a clearing house for US TV adding a bit more profit. Wellthat's why our cinema is depressingly awful.
I think the BBC could easily be slimmed down. BBC 3 and BBC 4 could be combined to make one highly innovative station. Radio 1 and 2 could be sold. BBC News...what's the point?
It's about the most popular news station in the world. Well maybe up there with CNN. The idea of having BBC news replaced by Sky News which is like Fox for idiots is truly depressing.
In fairness Sky Arts has done an impressive job and Channel 4 probably deserves a bigger slice of the government funds (Dispatches, Peep Show etc are better than the BBC).
Quote: sootyj @ April 29 2010, 5:55 PM BSTIt's about the most popular news station in the world. Well maybe up there with CNN. The idea of having BBC news replaced by Sky News which is like Fox for idiots is truly depressing.
I'm not convinced BBC News is that good. Or any rolling news channel, for that matter. They're all just padding.
Oh right rolling news in general that's a good point. I think if they were more around analysis and less shock wow going to our person in the field. They'd be better.
But as longer as they meet a demand I'd rather the UK had one of the few good ones.
Quote: sootyj @ April 29 2010, 5:51 PM BSTYes the US does produce some fine TV but most of the stuff we're talking about comes from HBO. e.g. a station with a huge budget due to it's premium charges
I would imagine that the budgets of the other networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) are much greater than HBO's due to advertising revenue.