Dissolve the BBC?

[YouSir]

What do you think? By the ineptness of those involved and the strong arming of the Tories it's swirling around the sink hole really, ready to be sold off bit by bit sooner or later. So, should it just be fucked off now?

 

[Buddy Bradley]

The BBC is so many different things that it doesn't seem fair to judge the entire corporation based on only one small aspect of it.

 

[Lord Camomile]

While certainly not a fan of it in its current state, I can't help but feel get rid of it and you'll never get it back.

The vast network of resources and experience that it has would, as you say, dissolve, and we'd be left even further in the hands of profit-driven entities.

 

[Saul Goodman]

Just get rid of the paedophiles and scrap the license fee.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

While certainly not a fan of it in its current state, I can't help but feel get rid of it and you'll never get it back.

The vast network of resources and experience that it has would, as you say, dissolve, and we'd be left even further in the hands of profit-driven entities.

Yep, this. The BBC is a total disgrace atm politically. Fuck's sake, Sky News is now better and more questioning, so there is clearly a lot wrong. But its services are still unique. The bit I use principally is the radio - 6music, 4, 3, 5 for sport, WS. Its radio services are, imo, a lot better than its TV services. They are what I would miss most.

 

[AmateurAgitator]

I can't say I care about the BBC, stopped paying my license fee years ago, was fed up with the daily state propaganda. I just use the internet now.

 

[jontz01]

For all the shite, if you dig deep there is still some good programming in there. Music and arts mainly. Just.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

For all the shite, if you dig deep there is still some good programming in there. Music and arts mainly. Just.

They still come up with the odd gem. eg Line of Duty. But that is also the kind of thing that could be commissioned elsewhere.

 

[skyscraper101]

Just get rid of Eastenders it's been shite for years, and all those lame dancing and singing shows. Maybe Jools Holland too. His time is definitely up.

 

[Crispy]

Most of the good things the BBC does would be next to impossible in the private sector.
The news department is govt. propaganda, but always has been. There's a lot else worth keeping though.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Most of the good things the BBC does would be next to impossible in the private sector.
The news department is govt. propaganda, but always has been. There's a lot else worth keeping though.

Paradoxically perhaps, the bit of the BBC that really is under more nakedly direct government control, the World Service, is one of the best parts of the whole organisation.

 

[YouSir]

Most of the good things the BBC does would be next to impossible in the private sector.
The news department is govt. propaganda, but always has been. There's a lot else worth keeping though.

Some stuff might not get made in the private sector but that doesn't mean there aren't better funding models than the BBC for it. And ultimately that's all it is, an unwieldy funding model with terrible management. Just happens to be one where an entire class bubble has developed to position it as an 'institution'.

 

[NoXion]

All broadcast television in its current form should be abolished, and the freed-up airwaves should be instead be used to promote local artists and other more worthwhile cultural endeavours.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Some stuff might not get made in the private sector but that doesn't mean there aren't better funding models than the BBC for it. And ultimately that's all it is, an unwieldy funding model with terrible management. Just happens to be one where an entire class bubble has developed to position it as an 'institution'.

What other models do you have in mind?

 

[DotCommunist]

Paradoxically perhaps, the bit of the BBC that really is under more nakedly direct government control, the World Service, is one of the best parts of the whole organisation.

that'll be all its mi6 funding

 

[littlebabyjesus]

that'll be all its mi6 funding

Paradox may be putting it too strongly. But it's ironic, certainly.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

I’m struggling to see why anyone would want to abolish a publicly owned, and nominally democratically controlled, organisation.

 

[Winot]

that'll be all its mi6 funding

FCO funding of the World Service stopped in 2014. Direct govt fund only up to 2020 apparently.

 

[kabbes]

I’m struggling to see why anyone would want to abolish a publicly owned, and nominally democratically controlled, organisation.

Because its supposed democracy is actually just more representationism controlled by those who already have plenty of power. With the result that it acts as a sock puppet for the state, but with the veneer of journalistic independence to make it seem like its support of the state is somehow worthwhile.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Recently bought Tom Mills' book about the BBC, but haven't read it yet so I'll bump this thread in around 6-7 years once I have

 

[kabbes]

On the plus side, it has just put the whole of Battlestar Galactica on iplayer and I missed that the first time round so am enjoying watching it immensely. All hail the BBC

 

[editor]

I've lived in America and seen what it's like without the BBC. And it was unbearable.

Be happy to support alternative means of funding - and an almighty kick up the arse at the BBC - but I remain happy to pay for something that doesn't bombard me with fucking shit adverts. And how much I'm prepared to pay is based on the quality of the output.

 

[maomao]

State propoganda funded by a regressive tax. What's not to hate?

Having said that could we wait a couple of years till I don't need cbeebies to look after my kids anymore.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Because its supposed democracy is actually just more representationism controlled by those who already have plenty of power. With the result that it acts as a sock puppet for the state, but with the veneer of journalistic independence to make it seem like its support of the state is somehow worthwhile.

It does feel like this debate mostly hinges on the news/journalism arm of the Beeb, with most of the other stuff generally being accepted as not an issue (personal tastes notwithstanding). Although arguably a lot of its specialist arts programming has been falling by the wayside too, over the past decade or so.

 

[kabbes]

It does feel like this debate mostly hinges on the news/journalism arm of the Beeb, with most of the other stuff generally being accepted as not an issue (personal tastes notwithstanding). Although arguably a lot of its specialist arts programming has been falling by the wayside too, over the past decade or so.

Its attempts at documentary-making generally are pitiful. Iplayer does have some decent world documentaries but (like BSG, joking aside) I don’t need a state broadcaster in order to get syndicated shows from other broadcasters.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Because its supposed democracy is actually just more representationism controlled by those who already have plenty of power. With the result that it acts as a sock puppet for the state, but with the veneer of journalistic independence to make it seem like its support of the state is somehow worthwhile.

This is all true. But how does abolition, and allowing neo-liberal moguls to be the sole provider, improve matters

 

[kabbes]

This is all true. But how does abolition, and allowing neo-liberal moguls to be the sole provider, improve matters

Is that the only possible alternative?

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Is that the only possible alternative?

Under the current government and culture? Yes.

 

[kabbes]

Under the current government and culture? Yes.

Well, the important thing is always to limit our thinking to the current government and culture.

 

[maomao]

This is all true. But how does abolition, and allowing neo-liberal moguls to be the sole provider, improve matters

It doesn't but it would allow us the schadenfreude of watching the pointless would-be journalists on News 24 trying to get proper jobs.