I think the BBC is a different issue. Murdoch is intent on doing the above, the BBC is doing it out of fear and incompetence as well as perennial government pressure.
edit: at its best, the BBC is one of Europe's most important institutions, and its news services are the best in the world. Radios 1 & 2 are for a specific audience, just as R3,R4, 5live, 1xtra & 6music are. I would argue they each cater to their audiences excellently.
TV is where it lets itself down, as it is under constant external pressure (both real and perceived)to offer the dumb crap that its commercial rivals do, and also to find supplementary revenue streams, hence the distinctly distasteful influence of BBC Worldwide (the reason no season of Dr Who is allowed to leave the Daleks alone, and why there has to be constant new versions of them - BBC Worldwide controls all the merchandising and funds part of Dr Who's budget).
The biggest problem, however, is that most of its commissioning editors are Oxbridge clowns with no talent or instinct for what they do.
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feckler https://twitter.com/LeonardEctric1, Tue 5 Feb 2013, 15:26,
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i don't think it's fear but i agree with incompetence. i think over-funding is a massive issue combined with a lack of creativity. ITV led the way with huge rating soap operas so the BBC followed, same with reality shows and new style 'talent' shows etc, simply for a share of the ratings. the DQF idea would be great, if they did it, because the ratings would follow, but they don't. they don't ask what would be good, they ask what will get ratings i.e. what's the lowest common denominator. why aren't the BBC producing any great dramas like HBO and the rest? maybe you're right, it is fear of not getting ratings, when the finally did get The Wire they scheduled it like utter twunts.
EDIT: i take issue with 'one of europe's most important institutions', when i lived in germany and later france i have no recollection whatsoever of any of the natives expressing any view on it at all, the frogs always bring up Mr Bean and Benny Hill, but they were ITV.
their news coverage has its failings IMHO, the line between reportage and editorialising is very fucking blurry at times.
(, Tue 5 Feb 2013, 15:42, Share, Reply)