I'm not going to get too involved in this debate, but I think the BBC is one of the best (if not the best) broadcasters in the world.
Yes it's public funded, and this I appreciate is contentious, but in the main the money is ploughed into UK productions. I personally hate commercials and am not keen on a lot of US programmes (with exceptions to some, e.g. Simpsons, Family Guy).
It'd be a nightmare if the BBC got it's money from advertising, although it's worth noting that outside of the UK the BBC does advertise (e.g. is sponsored by Rolex). It also gains a lot of revenue by selling it's programmes across the world, especially on DVD.
As for rags like The Sun, they have a strong following, and are loved by many...but the majority of people DON'T read The Sun. I don't like being told what to think, and like many would much rather take in the news and make my own judgements.
As for Jonathan Ross, whenever I've spoken with him he's very down to earth and is never up his own arse (which may be contrary to many people's views). As for what he's paid, would you complain if you were on the same money?
I think we should keep the BBC as it is it does a great job please do not make the same mistake as many people make and just look at TV out put they have a brilliant web site and array of radio and the world service loose the TV Licence monies and you would loose the lot
I must say though, I have just had a browse on the BBC i player, and very good it is too.
Anyone reading this 'argument',and I use the word advisedly, would find it obvious why John Gaunt has his fans and what his appeal is to those people.
He replaced a long line of similar broadcasters(eg James Whale, Richard Littlejohn etc) who achieve a certain level of success due to their lowest common denominator approach to audience.
I dont suggest that he and men of his ilk dont on some level truly believe what they state, its not even for me to say that they are bad broadcasters - that would be conceited and arrogant of anyone - what I can say with a fair amount of confidence is that the media in all its forms is largely a meritocracy to the core. As such history has shown us that people who broadcast on this level have almost always reached a certain level of success and notoriety and then gone no further. We can fairly assume that this is dictated by the consumers of media as a whole and so it would once again be wrong to contradict it as a judgement of their true merit.
The problem with the 'giving people what they want' approach to broadcasting and media is very similar in my mind to what I think of as the Tesco mentality. Tesco used exhaustive monitoring of statistics to establish what they believed were the most popular products (common denominators)then they set about pressuring producers to supply vast amounts of these products at low prices. What we have ended up with are low quality versions of the original products and because of economic pressures, suppliers who are unable to provide any real alternatives which limits our choice and prevents any like Sky work on similar principles by providing huge chunks of programming that will appeal to as many people as possible. This of course means anything new or experimental or original is vastly approach is what the BBC remit specifically forbids.
I for one am sad that my young son will possibly live in a world where he will taste golden delicious instead of coxs orange pippins and may have to make do with the latest clone of Friends rather than the next Monty Python.I can only rely on my faith that human nature and intelligence will win out over those that promote short sighted ill informed views because they shout the loudest.
Just one of the BBC's missuse of PUBLIC finds.
I am not sure how productive Gaunties ideas are in this case. If he's having a go at fat cats in the media or the principle of it, he may find himself considered for a salary reduction, or reduction in his allowance of media usage.
But like anything in the media and especially the press, he writes to sell newspapers, because he has an audience who wants that kind of viewpoint and opinion. Is that really him? we wouldn't know unless he had us round for Sunday lunch maybe.
The BBC has to work like any other successful business. It has to charge in excess to keep ahead of its demands and expectations. But it has generally been a worthwhile and succesful enterprise, providing something for just about everyone.
