It’s bad enough that Britain has already ruled any possibility of boycotting some or all of the Chinese Olympics even as China brutally crushes all those who dissent against its thugocracy in Tibet. But now we see that the BBC is sending its biggest ever squad to China to cover the Games. I guess the attraction of being in a Communist regime for weeks on end care of the British tax-payer is too good a chance to miss! An amazing 437 BBC staff will be China bound but the only reason we know this is because the folders with addresses, passport numbers, pictures, and hotel details of this battalion have vanished from Television Centre in west London. What amuses me is the BBC “fear” that the files may have been stolen, possibly for identity theft or an attempt to embarrass the BBC over the number of staff going to the Games. How paranoid are they? Guilty feelings?
Just because you’re paranoid….
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No chance of that. WE can expect Hillhunt and Angry young Alex to ponce their way to China with the “BEEB”
Yes, all the way over the dead bodies of those pesky monks. Still, it’s a great sporting spectacle, right?
Oh come now,there are over a billion Chinese,437 is a paltry number to send,Besides, the BBC can afford it having raised the license fee.
437, now that’s a lot of carbon footprints.
In the same way that the novel/film ‘Fahrenheit 451’ became symbolic of oppression, perhaps we could adopt the term ‘Carbon 437’ when referring to the beeb’s profligacy and hypocrisy?
There is absolutely no need for this army of people to trudge off to China. The majority of the coverage will be supplied by the host broadcaster – so no need for camera crews/sound people etc.
Today al-Beeb seems to feel the need to send off Gary Lineker and Sue Barker etc. to whatever global jamboree is happening. Why?
Once upon a time, e.g. World Cup ’78 in Argentina, the hosting (by Frank Bough) and punditry (by Jimmy Hill et al.) was carried out back in the studio in London – not Buenos Aires.
But now, with the babble about carbon footprints being propagated by the likes of, er, the BBC, they send off a superjumbojet-load of people across to the other side of the world.
For the 2006 World Cup Lineker, Hansen etc. were holed up in some studio bubble in Berlin – not at a stadium mind, oh no just some square with a nice Berlin backdrop – from where they introduced games.
What a disgrace, flying them out there to do something that could be done back in a studio in London just like uncle Frank Bough used to do.
Not content with making one round trip and using German hotels for the month, the BBC’s on-screen pundits made multiple round trips.
Now contrast this with the Chinese media. Although the Euro ’96 football tournament had (obviously) no Chinese participation, there was considerable interest over there with audiences being measured by the hundreds of millions.
The Chinese broadcasters sent over I believe a team of 2 (two) to England.
There’s an example for you BBC.
I like the identity theft hypothesis. 🙂
I guess the crims could complete their freshly-stolen identities by carrying a copy of the Guardian newspaper, leaning to the left, mentioning the illegal Iraq war in every sentence they speak, waving and smiling at anyone who looks remotely muslim.
Mind you – it’s hard to build up a convincing disguise if you never look at yourself in the mirror.
🙂
Hey give the guy’s a break, many of them are will be contributing to Britain’s Olympic efforts in China – in the –
Bum Wrestling
Knob-end Tossing
4×100 m Coke Line Relay
Synchronised Lying
events.
We can look forward to at least another 4 Gold medals for Britain.
“WE can expect Hillhunt and Angry young Alex to ponce their way to China with the “BEEB””
Actually I am be boycotting the Olympics and am considering whether to boycott Chinese produce in general. Trouble is I eat a lot of ginger.
As for the BBC, if Britain doesn’t have the balls to boycott the Olympics officially, then BBC Sport can hardly be blamed for not taking a stand either.
Think of the savings if their tickets were all made one-way.
With 437 staff they could probably take two stands.
I’m afraid that’s not possible Hugh. As 437 is an odd number, they would have to have 218 taking one stand and 219 taking the other. This would of course violate principles of impartiality.
I believe that equates to about 1.5 BBC employee to every British competitor. Incredible.
And expect them to send several hundred staff out to cover the US Elections, whilst Sky manage much better (and balanced) coverage with a much smaller team.
Travis Bickle:
You talking to me?
.
I boycott every olympic games…..because it’s mind numbingly boring.
“There is absolutely no need for this army of people to trudge off to China.”
On the contrary,there are not enough,the entire infestation of the BBC should relocate permanently to China.Essential outsourcing in these hard times.
Ah c’mon guys ‘n gals,
China: the land where ten thousand prison camps bloom;
The Olympics: a billion-dollar drug-soaked doze-fest; and
437 Islam-loving Beeboid yakkeroos to tell us all about it.
What’s not to love?
king chillout:
I boycott every olympic games…..because it’s mind numbingly boring.
————————————————-
Is the right answer. Unless of course, they introduce couch-potatoing as an Olympic event, then I’m a shoe-in for a gold medal.
With 437 Beeboids travelling what are the odds that one them will be “doing a Grooverider”?
My god. The coke budget alone for all of those BBC employees must run into several million pounds.
“My god. The coke budget alone for all of those BBC employees must run into several million pounds.”
Yes,but just think what it will save on air fares.With ant luck they will get a stop over in somewhere like Dubai.
With 437 Beeboids travelling what are the odds that one them will be “doing a Grooverider”?
Anonymous | 29.03.08 – 5:48 pm
Or a…
Bacon(Richard)
Speight(Mark)
Kershaw(Andy)
Wrench(Nigel)
Greening(Kevin)
Deayton(Angus)
Walker(Johnnie)
Would it be possible for one of the BBC folks who frequent this site to look up the travel rules for flights of this length to see if they are relieved of the ignominy of travelling coach. Will it be business or first class? Love to hear the cost for those tickets.
I think they should be made to walk, you know it makes sense.
If they set out now, they should get there in time with a bit of luck (detours via – Lebanon, Gaza, Egypt Saudi, Iraq, Iran Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir etc. etc.) in fact they can get to see all their favourite places on the company (so to speak).
Re: Any Beeboid thinking about doing a Grooverider while on their China-junket
The penalties in the PRC can be grim…
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-06/27/content_626601.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-06/25/content_6289692.htm
If 437 go out, how many will return?
If I count correctly there are 28 separate sports in the summer Olympics. Given that the photography and technical aspects will be provided locally what would a team of 437 (about 15 per sport) find to do?
“Given that the photography and technical aspects will be provided locally what would a team of 437 (about 15 per sport) find to do?”
Take drugs and fornicate – “It’s what they do”.
Those wondering what the 437 strong BBC team in China will find to occupy themselves should refer to the BBC article:
“But the corporation insists the 437 going this year – 33 more than the Athens games – will provide more than twice as much output as four years ago.”
Which rather begs the question; where are they going to show all this output? Any one who remembers the Athens games will recall that the event was hardly ignored by the BBC. And when. Because of the +8 hour time difference* between Beijing & the UK. all of the events will be taking place whilst the UK audience is in bed asleep. There is no point in having any live coverage whatsoever because it can be expected to attract record low audience figures.
*I’m not sure of what the Chinese policy toward daylight saving is but if the time difference drops to 7 hours in the summer months it’s only going to be of interest to those wishing to get up at dawn to see the finals of the synchronised pole vaulting.
Divide 437 by the number of gold medals Britain will win… Anyone taking bets on better than 100 to 1?
David Cameron was last night accused of paving the way for the destruction of the BBC after he threatened to hand £250million of its money to other broadcasters.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=549428&in_page_id=1770
Lurker in a Burqua | 30.03.08 – 1:10 am : “David Cameron was last night accused of paving the way for the destruction of the BBC after he threatened to hand £250million of its money to other broadcasters.”
Splendid idea. I know were my vote would go if I were still residing in the UK (which I haven’t for over 20 years).
London to Beijing – who gets the air miles? 5059 x2 x 437
C’mon you lot.
Which one of you in here as got that file?
i wonder how many Sky are sending..
Why should the BBC get all the licence fee money? That money should be for producing high quality decentp ublic TV. Not “chav” TV which the BBC seems to increasingly turn out.
Another Jolly for Beebites, another virtual holiday. Oh yes, some of them will work hard, no doubt the front line staff, the engineers, techies and one or two runners, reporters and assitant producers.
But the rest of ’em?? Swilling Tsing Tau beer and scoffing peking duck, and all at our expense.
I bet there will be quite a few senior staff there who do bugger all except enjoy sucking on the tellytax payer’s teat… nice “work” if you can get it.
Well I’ve been a big supporter of Biased BBC ever since it started. And I am in full agreement with what David says here. And I believe he has really generated some excellent debates on here. But hey some of us raised this very subject on other threads a number of days ago. And the reason it was raised on other threads was because there wasn’t a general thread to put it on. So David please credit where credits due and do keep up the good work.
To bring the subject slightly closer to the subject of bias in the BBC, you know otters really like grapes? I was as surprised as you.
“you know otters really like grapes? I was as surprised as you.”
You mean you have only just found out?
It’s a disgrace to be honest.
They are not interested in sporting excellence, they just want to cover a few protesters and blow it out of all proportion.
a bit like the BBC helicopter hovering over 10 anti global warming muppets during the summer camp by we so sad
to be honest! I do not know what is going on in China or Tibet – but I find myself disbelieving everything the bbc says
Angry Young Victoria said “To bring the subject slightly closer to the subject of bias in the BBC, you know otters really like grapes? I was as surprised as you.”
Here’s how it relates to bias – if the BBC makes this kind of investment sending 437 people to try out the Peking Duck at Beijing restaurants and they’re all looking forward to their sidetrips to the Great Wall, Forbidden City etc. how do we know that the BBC will report any pro-Tibet protests without bias?
They won’t want to offend their hosts will they?
Sepp Blatter and FIFA get the Panorama treatment so why not the IOC and the China games? Where is Screamer Sweeney’s investigation about the Games’ construction death toll? Or Gavin Hewitt looking into the suspicion of ongoing drug abuse by Chinese competitors? The clampdown by the Chinese authorities leading upto the Games?
If the BBC starts digging into these areas with the same relish that they do when looking into Amerikkka and Dubya then China might start playing tough. A whole load of Beeboids might find their little jolly gets cancelled.
Can’t have that can we? So, don’t expect the BBC to go the extra mile when reporting on Tibetan protests.
I hope the Chinese are successful in their crackdown on little Tibetaner racists.
I’m cancelling my BBC subscription during the olympic games. I don’t want to fund a broadcaster that appeases the Chinese regime by screening its prestige event. As I only have a TV for Sky football cancelling my BBC subs for a month or so in summer will hardly affect my TV watching.
And why should I pay for olympic coverage anyway – the olympics are boring and no other UK broadcaster would want them.
I suspect the BBC loves the Olympics because it’s full of ridiculous ‘sports’ that only the environmentally aware middle classes give a toss about. Equestrian?? shooting?? cycling?? rowing!!!??? Meanwhile no doubt the Englandless European Championships will be staffed by the increasingly demented Motson and a couple of work experience remedials, despite the majority of the population having far more interest in watching Germany v Italy than Paula Radcliffe falling over.
WoAD:
I hope the Chinese are successful in their crackdown on little Tibetaner racists.
WoAD | Homepage | 31.03.08 – 10:30 am |
I really hope you are joking. Are you mental?
Pete:
I don’t want to fund a broadcaster that appeases the Chinese regime by screening its prestige event.
An excellent stand for principle, although most people would argue that the Olympics is an international event which just happens to be in China this year.
Presumably you long ago cancelled your Sky football subscription because of Rupert Murdoch’s long-established and profit-driven kowtowing to the very same Chinese authoritarians, for example:
1. Pulling World Service Radio from his Chinese service Star TV because its series on Mao’s human rights record offended his heirs.
2. Pulling out of publishing Chris Patten’s book on Hong Kong for similar reasons.
3. Putting $5.4 into the People’s Daily, the epicentre of Chinese state media.
.
Anonymous: some good points.
“how do we know that the BBC will report any pro-Tibet protests without bias? They won’t want to offend their hosts will they?”
We don’t, but it’s a little early to speculate now.
“Sepp Blatter and FIFA get the Panorama treatment so why not the IOC and the China games? Where is Screamer Sweeney’s investigation about the Games’ construction death toll? Or Gavin Hewitt looking into the suspicion of ongoing drug abuse by Chinese competitors? The clampdown by the Chinese authorities leading upto the Games?”
Anywhere I can read up on these stories?
“If the BBC starts digging into these areas with the same relish that they do when looking into Amerikkka and Dubya then China might start playing tough. A whole load of Beeboids might find their little jolly gets cancelled. Can’t have that can we?”
You’re probably right on this, but at this point it is all speculation.
“So, don’t expect the BBC to go the extra mile when reporting on Tibetan protests.”
I don’t expect the BBC to go the extra mile on any political issue. It is neither the right nor the duty of the BBC to go digging into individual political issues.
It is neither the right nor the duty of the BBC to go digging into individual political issues
So how do you justify the innumerable programmes about the Iraq War and its aftermath?
Er, that was:
3. Putting $5.4million into the People’s Daily, the epicentre of Chinese state media.
.
“So how do you justify the innumerable programmes about the Iraq War and its aftermath?”
Not quite an extra mile in my book. The BBC should avoid having its own pet topics. If popular interest in Tibet reaches the same level as Iraq or Israel-Palestine, then the BBC should give it that much coverage, but it’s not the BBC’s job to push issues to the surface.