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New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

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Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#31

Post by teamonkey »

Angostura wrote: post #9
cturner wrote: post #3

If they're smart they'll try to create a profit model oriented around online services, and switch their revenue stream to be funded through this. Currently they're funded through the "TV charge" which is a nasty footnote to life in the UK. Regularly I get hatemail through the letterbox telling me what a bad person I am for not paying the fee (mandatory for all owners of televisions), presuming that I have a TV. Yes,…

I'm quite surprised at that; they have a fairly good database and if you don't have a telly they will usually knock you off it after asking. Nice emotive use of 'hatemail' though. Personally, I very much hope the BBC sticks to its existing funding model.

I received letters from them for years after telling them (repeatedly) that I don't have a TV.

Hatemail is about right. The letters all but implied that I was lying, that I was a criminal; they told me about all the ways that they would prove that someone like me could be found to be a criminal and they told me about how they prosecute people like me. They ended with a message about how to contact them if I reconsidered.

I wish I'd kept the letter now, it was a horrible piece of bullying.

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#32

Post by gadders »

timthorn wrote: post #30
gadders wrote: post #29

As a Brit, I wish they would ditch all the "me-too" rubbish they do to ape commercial TV - Soap Operas, Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice etc, and concentrate on the quality stuff such documentaries, arts etc.

I sympathise - there's nothing to beat BBC Four - but Strictly Come Dancing is a massive moneyspinner as a format and helps pay for the quality.

Then just sell the format abroad and not show it in the UK :-)

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#33

Post by _delirium »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #20
gradschool wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The idea is that the BBC maintains its independence by being financed through its own separately collected tax. The alternative is a system like they have in Australia where the state broadcasting company is a mouthpiece for the party in power, or like in the U.S. where commercial television speaks mainly for corporate interests. Out of all the taxes in the U.K., this is the one I resent least (especially because it'…

The issue is that they will keep sending you very aggressive letters if you don't pay. Regardless of whether you own a TV or not. I remember receiving one letter that said something to the effect of: "Right now, we're off to the magistrates to get an order for the police to come to your house, interview you under caution and potentially arrest you". This was a house that I had only just moved into and didn't have a T…

That's one reason I'd rather just move to funding through a normal tax. The license-fee is a bit of an anachronism from when only better-off people had televisions, so it was to exempt the poorer people who couldn't afford one.

In Denmark it's more or less moved that way, except it's still annoyingly collected separately: you have to pay it if you have: 1) a television; or 2) an internet-accessible screen of any sort, including ownership of a laptop or smartphone. Since that includes just about everyone, it's basically historical baggage that it's not a regular tax. They're not at all aggressive in collecting, though—perhaps because Danes tend to follow the rules without much trouble, so there's not much need to be aggressive. I didn't realize I was supposed to pay it until I'd lived here for a year, and eventually signed up online after getting a friendly letter explaining what DR is, what they do, and what I should do.

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#34

Post by adrianhoward »

gadders wrote: post #29

As a Brit, I wish they would ditch all the "me-too" rubbish they do to ape commercial TV - Soap Operas, Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice etc, and concentrate on the quality stuff such documentaries, arts etc.

I don't. I hope they carry on providing a broad set of different kinds of content for the whole population.

As soon as stuff starts getting ditched the tyranny of the majority means that you're not going to end up with documentaries and arts programming :-)

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#36

Post by adrianhoward »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #22
andrewthornton wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you explain a little more about how this system works? You have to pay for TV?

In the UK, if you watch any broadcast TV at all including cable or satellite you have to pay a TV license fee. This is a completely separate fee to whatever your cable/satellite service provider charges. This license fee is paid to the BBC and used to support their programming regardless of whether or not you consume their content. Basically this means that sometimes you can be forced to pay for stuff you simply don'…

This license fee is paid to the BBC and used to support their programming regardless of whether or not you consume their content

And "programming" means more than just TV. It covers the radio, web stuff, etc. etc.

(there used to be a radio licence in the UK too in years gone past - abolished in 1971).

As ever wikipedia has the gory details http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_Uni...

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#37

Post by adrianhoward »

cturner wrote: post #3

If they're smart they'll try to create a profit model oriented around online services, and switch their revenue stream to be funded through this. Currently they're funded through the "TV charge" which is a nasty footnote to life in the UK. Regularly I get hatemail through the letterbox telling me what a bad person I am for not paying the fee (mandatory for all owners of televisions), presuming that I have a TV. Yes,…

If they're smart they'll try to create a profit model oriented around online services, and switch their revenue stream to be funded through this.

I'd be fascinated to hear details on how they can fund the £3.5 billion-ish the Beeb gets through each year via the licence fee by a profit model oriented around online services :-)

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#38

Post by arethuza »

gadders wrote: post #28
arethuza wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Whether or not they really are impartial is largely a matter of opinion" The BBC seems to be consistently hated by governments of every party, so they are presumably doing something right.

Not really, no. They were "hated" by the last Labour government, purely because of the BBC's anti-war stance. On most issues, such as the EU, the environment, Israel and the Middle East etc their opinion seems to follow that of the Guardian (a left-leaning Newspaper).

"BBC's anti-war stance"

If nothing else I guess that shows that they aren't simply a government mouthpiece.

And it's hardly that they are anti-war (I can remember their coverage of everything from the Falklands onward) - they were anti Gulf War 2 but then most people in the UK were...

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#39

Post by RossM »

lucian1900 wrote: post #35

It'd be nice if they at least removed some of the restrictions iPlayer (DRM, country).

iPlayer shouldn't be assumed to be 'free' to use. The BBC is paid for by the UK license fee-payers (the majority of the population) - there's no reason why other countries should be able to access it. Not to say that I'd be against charging a subscription for overseas access though.

Re: New BBC chief vows to re-invent content, not just re-purpose it

#40

Post by adrianhoward »

gadders wrote: post #28
arethuza wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Whether or not they really are impartial is largely a matter of opinion" The BBC seems to be consistently hated by governments of every party, so they are presumably doing something right.

Not really, no. They were "hated" by the last Labour government, purely because of the BBC's anti-war stance. On most issues, such as the EU, the environment, Israel and the Middle East etc their opinion seems to follow that of the Guardian (a left-leaning Newspaper).

Yes really.

I lived through (pause to count...) eight prime ministers. I can't recall any of those governments loving the BBC to death :-)

For some reason vaguely impartial reporting seems to annoy politicians - left or right.

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