Interesting article here suggesting that it is time that the BBC was sold off. I agree in fact it is long overdue. We need rid of this parasitical monstrosity.
But the wider consequences of selling off the BBC in its current bloated form would be even more beneficial than the obvious economic gains. The BBC has come to dominate political and social discourse to a degree that chokes off rational discussion. This is not just to do with its soft-liberal, politically-correct outlook and editorial line, though it is certainly that. The very existence of a dominant national broadcaster, whatever its outlook, stifles debate on anything contentious or unsettling to vested interests. The BBC is particularly unwilling to question the existence or direction of other bloated British institutions, such as the NHS or the education system, both enormously expensive and inefficient. It defaults to the idea that if there is a problem, then government should fix it. More widespread and open debate than we have had for decades would lead to a dynamic Britain, more of whose citizens would expect to work to cope with personal and national challenges.
Good article but it fails to ask the obvious question.
Why is the government in the TV business at all?
If the BBC was the Government it would be parroting the Coalition line. I think we all know the historic reasons for the relationship between HMG and the BBC.
I got the impression that the “national broadcaster” bit was the key factor. This is small “g” government, or the State, rather than the current Government. Obviously I’m going to agree with the argument put forth here because it’s the same one I’ve been whining about for years.
Yes, this article provides a good basis for the sort of open discussion which the BBC-NUJ is predisposed to censor.
The Coalition government should not stop at putting only BBC World Service on a quango list for abolition (to include BBC Arabic television channel); the whole BBC-NUJ shooting match should be put up for sale: the case is economic, political and cultural.
The BBC’s current funding arrangements do seem antiquated, but for me the issues raised are separate from those of bias.
For me, the BBC is part of the national fabric and it should remain so. What we need to do is purge it of the subversives who’ve turned it into Pravda. It can be de-Pravadised without being privatised.
“ It can be de-Pravadised without being privatised.”
How so? ….IMO the only way to “de-Pravadise” it is to “privatise” it.
But in any case I’d like to hear your reasoning.
The bias of Humphrys, Paxman, Naughtie etc is very easy to document. Do so and then purge them. Set up a Parliamentary Commission to defumigate the BBC with the aid of MI5.
If the Tory party won’t act against BBC bias, what chance an emasculated Parliament filled with yes-men and without a Conservative majority doing a bloody thing about it? Sorry, but the BBC as part of the national fabric is exactly the problem: it needs to be removed from the national fabric along with its insidious influence.
hippie, the only possible way this could happen would be to eliminate the News division. The BBC could then do the occasional current affairs broadcast for national events such as coronations, holidays, etc. (“national fabric” stuff, if you get my meaning), but that’s it.
The BBC don’t just exert their bias in current affairs. Comedy, Drama etc. all get their share of anti-Conservative digs. I remeber whole episodes of Monarch in the Glen and the Vicar of Dibley being openly blatant Labour PPBs. Also less-intelligent actors and actresses such as Maureen Lipman, Sheila Hancock, Kevin Whateley, Steven Tomkinson etc. either use programmes to make their irrational prejudices known or sometimes will use interviews to show how biased they are. At one time I would doubt they would keep a job at the BBC for openly showing allegiance to any party.
I remember that comedy during the eighties particularly and since very largely too has been used as a “Tory-Bashing” tool, like a sledgehammer really rather than a surgical knife. An excellent comedy offering featuring Armando Iannucci (sp.) called The Friday Night Armistice started attacking both parties equally at the start of its second series (I think it was the second series) but was soon pulled as it was not the one-sided “anti-Tory” message that was allowed by the Comrades at the top of the organisation. Whereas Spitting Image which hardly ever seriously attacked the left went on and on for years.
That’s true, Demon, but none of that has the same effect on public opinion as the news.
I wouldn’t underestimate it, its classic Goebbel’s propaganda techniques, only less subtle.
Viz a point made above, the way to get the Parliamentary mandate necessary to purge the Beeb is to start creating a climate of public opinion. A good starting step would be to compile dossiers on the worst offenders as mentioned above and publically call for their resignation, after giving them the opportunity privately to do the decent thing of course.
The BBC is as incapable of reform as the old Soviet Union. Get rid of it.
Yes an no. Today’s BBC will never decide to honour its Charter by itself. It must be obliged to do so. We live in a democracy, change can always come about if enough people are prepared to bring it about. Privatisation is frankly the easy option with consequences that could make things far worse in terms of bias.
True dat.
That was for Grant.
Any organisation that relies on the public purse tends to attract the leftists and the useless. The BBC is no different.
The TV tax was reasonable when it was setup as only the BBC existed, but now we have hundreds of other TV and radio stations the TV tax in its current form is not acceptable.
If the TV tax is ot remain it should be divided up amongst all the broadcasters with the promise that that money would be used to provide educational and informative TV (not pay for Eastenders for example)
But the real solution is easy, simply make the BBC pay TV, which it is already, except of course we all have to pay for it regardless of the fact we may not watch it.
The technical solution is here, the Tories must get on with it.
It’s too far gone, too bloated. Why mess around trying to de-louse it? Privatisation would sort it out quicktime and the money would come in handy too.
Pacific,
Yes, the proceeds of sale could be distributed to TV tax-payers andthe annual saving in the TV tax would stimulate the economy. Surely, all Beeboids would be in favour of that !
When Maggie opened up BBC programme production to ‘the market’ it often resulted in leftie BBC staff forming their own media companies and producing programmes probably more biased because it was easier for them and the BBC to get away with it as they were ‘twice removed’ from responsibility.
Hands up here all those who would like to see the BBC privatised on soley ideological grounds no matter how impartial it was?
“Hands up here all those who would like to see the BBC privatised on soley ideological grounds no matter how impartial it was?”
For me the ‘core issue’ is that no one should be forced to pay for a media product however impartial it may be. If a media organisation was to be impartial or broadcast everything in accordance to my way of thinking, even then I should not expect people to susidise my viewing habits any more than I should expect people who do not want to pay for it to susidise my favourite make of bread.
Meanwhile, BBC-NUJ-BECTU and their political strike:
“BBC news stars may snub ‘political’ strike: Anger at plan to black out the Tory conference”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316353/BBC-news-stars-snub-political-strike-plan-black-Tory-conference.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz10zvHrzkJ
I must say I am icreasingly dismayed by this website. I thought it was about BBC bias (of which there is much) but it seems to be about rabid Tory propaganda and scrap the BBC.
I’m no genius but surely, the way to sort the BBC is to put it under the control of a select committee instead of the Trust. If the people lean left the ruling body is left, if the people vote right, let the ruling body do the same.
I love the BBC. I do not love the people that have been running it for a while (decades).
The BBC’s panel shows have been a disgrace for ages. Look at Mock the Week. Frankie Boyle (love him or hate him) was the funniest guy there. Russell Howord, the most PC, gets a show.
Keep the BBC, get rid of the PC tossers.
Many people want to disband the BBC, perhaps not fully considering the insecurity and loss that might ensue. Others see the BBC as a symbol of stability which they want to save, hoping to improve it and make it understand us. Personally I don’t think alienating the BBC is helpful, whichever approach one has..
All websites have a chorus, like mini operas, but B-BBC must keep the freedom for everyone to ‘have a say’ without being constrained by political correctness. If we get a spell of right wing rants, or even left wing rants, it’s even more important for everyone to contribute, for balance, so don’t be dismayed, and don’t be put off.