Remember that letter from the luvvies lavishing praise on the BBC?
The Telegraph reports that the Times has discovered that ‘BBC Radio 1’s longest-serving presenter Annie Nightingale, who is one of the letter’s 29 signatories, said she had been invited to be a signatory by Ben Cooper, the controller of Radio 1.
She the paper: “I bumped into Ben a couple of days ago. He said Danny Cohen [the director of BBC television] was putting this letter together and said, ‘Would you like to be included?’ I said, ‘Yeah’. I understood vaguely what it would say. I didn’t read the letter before it went out.” ‘
So that spontaneous celebrity protest letter in support of the BBC was a BBC dirty trick?
Questions in the House? I’d have thought so. No such questions raised about this on the Today programme as they discussed the BBC…..listening to 5Live right now and the BBC is again the subject….can’t help thinking a couple of the last callers were BBC employees…suspicion raised when they kept saying ‘we’ when they should have said ‘the BBC’…also, not unexpected, when one caller said the BBC had an element of bias…guess what….a flurry of denials from those other callers…they’d never ever seen or heard bias…no really! Any possibility Danny Cohen has been ‘suggesting’ his young employees ring in to 5Live and plug the BBC?
Not sure why anyone would be surprised about BBC dirty tricks, Hall has clearly been using the BBC’s resources, ie the licence payers money, not to merely to advise what he thinks the BBC can do but to demand its structure and capabilities be shaped to his vision. The BBC did try to get Murdoch closed down so what can we expect…so much for helping to create a diverse plurality in the Media…only if you speak ‘BBC’, if you don’t they attack you and try to close you down.
Ah so it was Danny Cohen all along. The man who got rid of Clarkson and was behind Snog,Marry, Avoid. Who diminished the BBC again?
Enjoyable article in the Guardian today, concerned about changes the Government might make to the BBC.
Reader responses to the article are terrifying, nearly 100% old school Stalinists, frothing at the mouth.
Come on Cameron, privatise the BBC PDQ, most Guardian readers will die of apoplexy. Yippee.
One of the regular assertions of the left – repeated, hilariously, in a new book by Charlotte Higgins* – is that the BBC is biased to the right. This was spectacularly evident in the much derided and infamous report on BBC bias, produced by Cardiff University (and written by people with a long association with the BBC). The argument seems to be that if accusations of bias from the left and the right outweigh each other, then BBC must be perfectly balanced.
What tripe. What defines the BBC’s bias is the direction the present noise is coming from. Who is squealing the loudest? Who has most to lose? Who is in danger of getting their PR arm cut off? And It’s not the right.
The BBC has grown too big, too powerful, too politically correct. It has decided for itself what we should and shouldn’t see and hear according to the values that it imposes on us all. It is unaccountable and undemocratic. It has to end.
[*For her book, ‘The New Noise’, Charlotte Higgins, took six months out to embed herself in the Corporation, to ‘get under its skin’….and according to the Sunday Times, then ‘went native’.
Higgins, by the way, is chief arts writer for the Guardian and member of its editorial board. The idea that she embed herself in the BBC came from her then editor, Rusbridger.
That she found the BBC had a right wing bias comes as a complete shock, given her provenance, as was the need to embed herself in the Beeb. She could have walked across the fucking corridor to do her research!]
If those self-serving, self-obsessed, smug, politically correct and deceiving tricksters at the BBC reported the truth, for once, on why our entire public infrastructure is buckling and unravelling – e.g. stories like this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3163219/Migrant-baby-boom-means-one-four-infants-born-UK-mother-born-overseas-figure-reach-one-three-2021.html
– then maybe, just maybe (but I doubt it as I don’t like being forced to pay for something I don’t choose to watch, no matter how good it is) this metro-trendy left-wing pro-Labour agency would get some sympathy. The truth is, the BBC, more than most, have done much damage to the traditional shared cultural practices in this country through their incessant politically correct indoctrination agenda. I despise them. They have wilfully endeavoured to alter the fabric of this nation, and are serially unapologetic about such treacherous machinations. I would like to make an exception for the likes of Andrew Neil, who I feel is top quality and does his job properly.
Seek the real power behind the BBC & such conveyors of News-A global financial system that seeks to dominate & completely control the democartic process by unlawfully undermining sovereign nations such as the United Kingdom, from within, to take humanity step by step towards global governance on corporate terms. The BBC have amongst their people at the top of the organisation, those under the control of powerful bodies directing the course of public manipulation of current affairs. The real truth rarely surfaces.
The BBC used to be better when they made programmes like this…
disgusting as always from the bbc
It’s absolutely no surprise to find Cohen’s mucky paw prints all over that ‘celebrity letter’ – he, along with Hall, have taken the BBC into full combat mode against the ‘Tory Cutz’. From the over-earnest (and therefore completely transparent) swish new pro-BBC propaganda piece currently infecting BBC TV between programmes (but especially just before the main news), to yesterday’s telling Media Show (R4), where the BBC was repeatedly described as being ‘under siege’ (with Labour MP Chris Bryant for total separation from reality)… find the programme here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b061t68f
Make no mistake: the BBC are ‘fighting back’ with both gloves on. It’s gonna get dirty and I’m not confident ‘witless’ Whittingdale has any stomach for a fight against a belligerent, bloated, cash-stuffed broadcasting behemoth able to call on its massed-ranks of true believers to infect the airwaves 24/7 with pro-BBC propaganda.
Fighting the BBC is like fighting the Civil Service – going out-of-band with ‘what is possible/thinkable’. The skills required to rise in the BBC and the Service are exactly the same – a dedication to the organisation, right or wrong, and a vulture-like morality. It won’t hesitate to use any dirty tricks it can – briefing, smearing, rebuttal – if pushed, it will appeal to the EU, the ECHR, any ‘superior’ body which may be capable of finessing our government’s authority.
It will be incredibly difficult to achieve any meaningful reform, which cannot be rowed back on or simply ignored. The BBC is the soul of the Establishment, and will use all the formidable levers on communication in its possession to defend itself. The only possible way to defeat it is through speed and agility, and I don’t see any of that in this current government.
Oh, so that’ll be Danny ‘Atlantis’ Cohen, would it? The achingly PC clown who bet the farm (or at least a large chunk of it) on a programme so appalling that even he had to admit defeat – after wasting several millions on a second series of the dross-fest.
Cohen, whose remarkable track record led to his appointment as Head of Tripe at the BBC. You know, such unforgettable TV as, er… and um….
It is going awfully well for our Danny on the ‘quiet word in corridors off the books’ front.
Speaking of jerks…
http://order-order.com/2015/07/16/bbc-licence-fee-lobbying-circle-jerk/
‘Using licence fee payers’ cash to lobby MPs not to cut the licence fee because – as they claim – there is no room for cuts in the corporation.’
I forget, how many are now being paid by the BBC using the BBC licence money solely to keep the BBC in clover… 140…147…200+ ?
Amongst many worthy comments there are doubts on FoI success with Danny’s latest wheeze…
One of the Sky paper reviewers..a Sun editor…was saying a couple of days ago that the BBC Luvvies letter would have taken at least three months to organise.
Spontaneous not…Pre planned YES.
I do hope more than a few at least ask, if only for the BBC to say it’s not saying because it doesn’t have to say. Again.
Gets better (if not, perhaps, for the future DG on the BBC. Apparently):
http://order-order.com/2015/07/16/bbc-accidentally-reveal-hand-in-lobbying-letter/
Maybe they need more staff on higher salaries to prevent this kind of thing?
Going well for Danny and those he is RTing as in support of him and the BBC (oddly not mentioning any other tricky matters… luckily some posters… soon to be blocked in the spirit of trust and transparency for which the BBC and staff are renowned… are):
Great. Let’s experiment with a subscription model.
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-07-16/bbc-licence-fee-could-be-replaced-with-a-subscription/
Looking at the poll, I make that 80% of the public don’t want the licence fee.
Maybe the politicians would be better listening to other than what the BBc feeds them?
Hilarious. Whoever thought that Palin didn’t still have a talent for comedy has been proved well and truly wrong!
The Home Guard has been mobilised:
2014
December
We have just learned that the BBC has recently launched an Alumni scheme for all those who were employed at the BBC past and present. With Charter renewal approaching BBC Corporate Affairs has apparently decided, and I would argue not before time, that it might be sensible to communicate with those who worked for the Corporation in the past and helped build its reputation. Many of us individually still continue to represent the BBC in the pub, over the hedge, on the bus, whether we like it or not. As the debate about the future of the BBC intensifies making sure that its ‘critical best friends’ are acknowledged, respected and well-briefed is not at all a bad idea.
http://www.bbcpa.org.uk/news2014.asp
Great find, Private Pike !
Another excellent example of Beeb hypocrisy, remember their shock and horror at the small business letter supporting the Tories?
Ha!,
Although I named the wrong person it was obvious to me yesterday that this letter was not spontaneous and must have been organised by someone within the BBC.
Coming in the same week as the Green paper is released this is yet another own goal by the BBC management who will ultimately lose as the government have once again been reminded of just how political the BBC really is.
I have heard many statements and interviews. Including ones saying the public love the bBC. I have not head one statement that is in the general arena, that there are a body of people who for various reasons do not like the bBC. I think the bBC is incapable of expelling it’s lefy bias. Therefore it needs to be killed, brokenup or go commercial.
The save the BBC campaign is underway. This came to me from 38 degrees. Sign the petition to save OUR BBC.
Our BBC is under attack. Today, the government announced plans to cut popular programmes, undermine its funding, and – worst of all – challenge its independence. [1]
If we lose the BBC, we’ll be left with the likes of Rupert Murdoch controlling our news. The same media baron who’s had countless closed-doors meetings with David Cameron. [2] Unlike other parts of the media, the BBC is fiercely independent – and that’s exactly why the government is trying to dismantle it. [3]
The government thinks it can tear our BBC apart by stealth – slowly slipping in cuts and changing the rules. But if hundreds of thousands of us create a huge public outcry now, we can show David Cameron it’d be a political disaster to destroy our BBC.
Click here to sign the petition to save our BBC now – it takes 10 seconds to sign:
Bollocks.
This one is better and was first …………………………….
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/end-the-bbc-licence-fee
The BBC is now like a tiresome child wanting more sweets. As with the child the only way to deal with it is to stop it getting it’s sweets.
Judging by the bawling coming from the luvvie quarter they think the sweetie ration is already stopped.
What a shower of self serving pricks.
Annoy Nightingale able to be stirred from her 4am slot on Radio Sussex then?
Smell of old dope and patchouli clings to that empty has-been.
She`d say ANYTHING as long as matron didn`t hold back on her Werthers Original.
Another no-hoper like Janice Long who owes it all to not having a penis…the BBC is one long pension trough for the likes of her.
A difference between ‘lefties and righties’ is that if anything the left hears doesn’t reflect to the absolute without exception what they believe then it is wrong, and the media they heard it from is wrong and and biased to the right. People on the right however tend to accept that difference of opinion should be heard and be quite right to be heard and is democratic, as we aren’t afraid of scrutiny as the left are hence their vitriol whenever they are questioned robustly, if at all! I have always believed that the left loathe freedom of speech and opinion in the media as it does make them look rather stupid when compared to the basic ‘left nurture’ versus ‘right nature’ fundamental view point of civilization and human nature.
Five live had a lefty caller today saying how wonderful it was that the BBC was ‘edgy’ and why not have a black ‘ Caesar ‘ what does it matter? I would have suggested she would be better off watching a sky sci fi channel or Disney channel rather than the BBC as they are true fantasy channels. However another caller linked in to her call stated that the BBC bias came out very clear in its treatment of Farage in his interviews. She started raising her voice over his in true lefty democratic style and basically said with her hands fingers in her ears ‘ la la la la , the same Farage that was on the leaders debate la la la …. clearly choosing to miss the word ‘interview’ and not ‘debate’ ( or am I crediting her with too much savvy ! ), and shouting she had never heard such rubbish over and over again, needless to say the interviewer never asked her to shut it.
The other argument in support of the BBC extortion tax is that it is only the cost of a bar of chocolate a day. I don’t eat chocolate ( hardly ) so why should I pay for the cost of a bar each day?
It is wonderful of course that the BBC is now in the spotlight I believe this is the start of a positive change in the offing that is probably 25 years later than it should be.
‘Better late than never’
John Whittingdale is also on the Council of The Freedom Association.
The seven principals of a free society: (1) Individual freedom (2) Personal and family responsibility (3) The rule of law (4) Limited government (5) Free market economy (6) National parliamentary democracy (7) Strong national defences.
So if the illusive Whittingdale really does want to save the BBC from itself, then he must ultimately free the BBC from its Charter obligations and therefore abolish the governments role in enforcing a state licence fee for broadcast media, and setting the BBC free, as a left-wing anti-Tory media organisation for its many openly Labour supporting employees. A BBC as FREE as the FREE press has been FREE, for hundreds of years, thanks to the English Civil War, but not thanks to Leveson. FREE from Tory licence fee payers, UKIP licence fee payers and any other enemies of the BBC forced to pay by the evil socialist method of compulsion.
But I believe Lord Hall and most of the lefties at the BBC are very confident that if the BBC was set FREE from state control, (now under Tory control) then they seem to be very confident that this would destroy the BBC. Presumably because the BBC is so out of touch with the public that few would pay to watch the BBC. Most would just watch the FREE channels on a truly FREE FREEVIEW.