I see that the Sunday Times reveals how judging by the Golden Globe television awards, the prize for best free trip and luxury hotel stay should go to . . . the BBC!
It has emerged that the corporation spent tens of thousands of pounds flying directors, producers and stars from one of its leading costume dramas to Hollywood so that they could lobby for prizes at award festivals. A seven-strong contingent from the BBC1 series Cranford – including Dame Judi Dench, Dame Eileen Atkins and Imelda Staunton – flew business-class to lobby for nominations to the Emmys and Golden Globe awards last year. They and the BBC production team stayed at luxury hotels favoured by some of Hollywood’s biggest names. A second trip was made to the Golden Globe ceremony itself.
This strikes me as a criminal waste of our cash in order that the BBC can lobby for awards for itself. It’s narcissistic,indulgent and evidence of how the BBC promotes itself using our money.
their carbon footprint must be feckin huge
Wankers.
Beeninator: Ah but remember the BBC only wants the unwashed scum (us) to give up flying. THEIR CO2 is pure and fragrant and doesn't harm the planet. Roger Harrabin says so.
The other part of this story lies in the sentence "to lobby for nominations to the Emmys and Golden Globe awards". The awards racket should be exposed. The "best TV programme" game is a scam. How can anyone in the diverse entertainment industry ever be judged "best'?
The awards game is nothing but a way of hiking salaries. Oscar winners can add a big percentage to their fees. An award winning writer gets more from the Beeb than one who doesn't have such a tag. Once again the licence payer is being used to benefit the few.
Politics plays a big part in the nomination of programmes. The more left wing the better the chance of the BBC pushing your nomination. Remember, the decision to nominate is in the hands of the production company. The awards committee of, say the Sony Awards, doesn't see every show ever produced. They are sent likely examples by the production companies. Why do so many left-wing shows win awards? Answers please on a postcard…
Also, it is especially galling to see lefty actors, who's politics lead you to believe they espouse "equality" in all things, wallow in the adulation of their industry for being "best". I didn't know art was a contest.
This is a self-serving system. From conception to production to transmission to awards, it is a scam. To discover that it involves "lobbying" at the public expense makes it even worse. The article announces that among the lefty luvvies taking the trip were Dame Judi Dench, Dame Eileen Atkins and Imelda Staunton. Well, no surprises there!
Surely awards add to the programme's commercial appeal and bring more overseas sales. Every commercial broadcaster and studio recognises this and they all spend vast sums in pursuit of awards. Look at the Miramax Oscar campaigns. It's sound business sense. Next you'll be outraged that the BBC is spending money to make programmes
Robertpav, we don't fund other tv broadcasters on pain of impisonment. So who cares what they do. The BBC don't need "added value" to their product as they have no need to compete in the marketplace whatsoever. Surely even someone as thick as you could work that much out.
420 of them flying up to Scotland next week. We could slash the carbon footprint of our country overnight by closing down the BBC – sounds a sacrifice worth msking Beeboids and St Al of Gore would be so pleased he could probably justify a new hummer with the savings.
Can anyone please tell me what happened when Jugg Eared Marr interviewed Nick Griffin this morning?
I was hoping to see a thread here about it.
BBC's take on miscegenation-promoting, wife-cheating, illegitimate-offspring-bearing Marr vs (pick your own adjectives) Griffin:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8146585.stm
RobertPav 5:35
But the BBC is not a commercial broadcaster. It is funded by taxpayers, whether we like it or not. So it has an unfair advantage over commercial broadcasters.
That is why the licence fee should be scrapped and the BBC flogged off.
Grant 9:29
I'm not disagreeing with that. Of course the BBC enjoys a unique position. But if they completely ignored commercial realities, and failed to make and promote popular programmes, the BBC would be justly criticised for that. Of course there are instances of bias in it's output. But the ability of people on this site to see evidence of a vast left wing conspiracy at work in every BBC action detract from the valid points which are sometimes made. They're lost among the ranting and vitriol.
"It's not a conspiracy. It's visceral." (Quote from Jeff Randall, former BBC Business Editor)
Another word for it would be "groupthink." (George Orwell, former BBC employee)
@red lepond
We should find all the sticks we can to beat Andrew Marr with. But are we sure miscegenation-promoting sounds quite right?
I'm as keen as mustard on our robust agenda, but isn't there the slightest fragrance of the Ku Klux Klan about such a phrase?
David, please ban this moronic troll. I'm sure even the BBC themselves would like to see him pissed back down the toilet he has crawled out of.
It's not trying to debate or even disagree, it's entire aim is to give it something to do with it's empty meaningless day as it skips from dating site to dating site.
All this troll is doing is placing needless wear on our scroll wheels and giving the impression that this site is totally unmoderated.
@Ratass
All this troll is doing is placing needless wear on our scroll wheels and giving the impression that this site is totally unmoderated.
That is the last thing I would want to do, so copious apologies.
There is, though, a slight concern in the back of my tiny mind that the appearance of a phrase like miscegenation-promoting might give a similar impression.
Furious though we all are at the love-in for Obama, I didn't think we'd signed up yet for a full return to race-based laws. Did I miss something?
Troll, the instant I saw your user name my scroll wheel kicked in. So your posting was an even greater waste of your already worthless time.
DO NOT READ AND DO NOT FEED THE TROLL!!
'Leaks' of BBC's expenditure is most likely designed to justify plans to pass swathes of BBC licence payers money to ITV.
Nulabor (reportedly) already pays ITV millions of taxpayers' money on 'social engineering' tripe and adverts. It now seeks more, unsurprisingly, in the run up to the next General Election.
"BBC TOP DOGS SLASH BUDGETS…BUT AWARD THEMSELVES PAY RISES"
"BBC top dogs have received massive pay hikes in the last year – despite slashing programme budgets and staff in desperate cost-cutting measures.
"Director-general Mark Thompson’s total salary increased by £18,000 from £816,000 the previous year to £834,000 in 2008/09, its annual report and accounts showed today."
('Express'.)
Opinionated:
Don't think I've laughed so much all week. Strange how those who use the most foul and abusive language are the first to accuse others of being trolls!
We must head onwards, allies in arms, to stop the racial mixing at the BBC!
Keep up the good work 😉