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Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#61

Post by traceroute66 »

sega_sai wrote: post #53
traceroute66 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> BBC iPlayer, which is miles better iPlayer and "miles better" in the same phrase, really ? iPlayer has the most ludicrously useless interface. Low hanging fruit example: looking up things based on the schedule ? Forget about it. For clarity I'm not saying Channel 4 is the best, but at least they cover all the blatantly obvious low-hanging fruit that the BBC singularly fails to do.

I certainly prefer iPlayer interface to Netflix's one.

> I certainly prefer iPlayer interface to Netflix's one.

There is a lot I could forgive about the Netflix interface IF their search worked in a meaningful way.

But Neflix search interface is utter trash, I'm sorry but it is. And that sours the rest of the UI/UX.

Case in point:

If I search for "X language films" AND I select the appropriate option from the list that appears on the left (i.e. "X films & tv"), then I expect the list that is presented to be a list of films & tv in the language selected.

Instead what I get is a few films in that language, and then I get a bunch of Hollywood and other stuff.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#62

Post by cirrus-clouds »

For people outside the UK, Channel 4 is a national broadcaster in the UK with a remit to cater to minority interests and under-deserved audiences - as well as producing more popular content. Their funding comes from advertising - a unique situation which means they are a public service broadcast (PSB) who does not rely on an a license fee or public funding. This means Channel 4 content runs the gamut from trashy or 'low-brow' TV programming to more serious documentaries, high-end drama, arts and serious investigation reporting. The more 'popular' or 'low brow' programming brings in advertising to help fund the less popular, more specialised content.

The plan to privatise Channel 4 will kill much of the public service programming. The Government Minister that oversees Channel 4 is Nadine Dorries ("Culture Secretary"). She is so clueless, she was even unaware that Channel 4 was not publicly-funded when previously interviewed by other politicians.

Also, Channel 4 News is often less 'timid' than BBC News when investigating government actions. In a 2019 speech, the Channel 4 News boss said the media have the right to call politicians 'liars'. That can’t have been popular with the current Government (which enjoys the support of most national newspapers in the UK). Here is an example of a news interview of a government minister from Channel 4 News. You are unlikely to find something similar on BBC News:

Michael Gove interview on truth, lies and Brexit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO2zT9-B2X4

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#63

Post by shapefrog »

gpmcadam wrote: post #51
shapefrog wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you are confused as to the difference between democracy and capitalism. Indeed privatisation could be seen as anti-democratic; the motivation to sell it off (to sympathetic parties?) is because it is critical of your government or you want to maintain control of the media once you are voted out of power.

I'm not confused as to the difference, but thanks for the concern!

You are welcome.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#64

Post by [deleted] »

Veen wrote: post #60
doublerabbit wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You have to only if you watch broadcast TV, live TV, or use iPlayer. If you're not doing any of those things, then not paying isn't really a boycott. I disagree by not paying the yearly TV sub, they are not getting my yearly sum of money via protest. No, I don't do any of that, if the content was worth watching I would be paying for it.

The result of lots of people "boycotting" the BBC is that it won't be funded and will end up being sold like Channel 4. Many in the current government would love to break up and sell off the BBC. I agree that the Beeb is largely garbage at the moment, but I hope that it can recover from it's current malaise in the future.

[deleted]

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#65

Post by tialaramex »

doublerabbit wrote: post #31

That's another no-brainer to why I shouldn't pay for a TV License. I'm not going to support an organisation which cuts off my Scottish PM, refuses air importance. Produces poor quality entertainment and now wanting to sell a decent broadcaster from the UK. No seriously, to the down-voters; in the UK you have to pay a TV license. I find the quality of BBC programming really poor. C4 was decent, but if the government i…

For-profit newspapers in the UK are part funded by the "TV license" but Channel 4 is not.

Channel 4 is funded by advertising, and by its for-profit ventures like Film 4, which is one of the production companies for famous movies like "12 Years A Slave".

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#66

Post by janekm »

unmole wrote: post #30
janekm wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not even remotely odd, it is a vital defence of that same democracy. Private ownership of the media is a direct path to authoritarianism (Hungary: Orban, Italy: Berlusconi). When the government is "aligned" with the same media moguls who control the media (TV, newspapers) you have a huge problem for a democracy. Channel 4 was one of the few entities in the UK that stood out from that trend. In the current conte…

> Private ownership of the media is a direct path to authoritarianism State owned media can be a more direct path.

Yes forgot to mention that... you really need both (and arguably a solid set of regulations and protections of freedom of the press).

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#67

Post by Zhyl »

andrepd wrote: post #28
Zhyl wrote: post #2

From a Hackernews point of view the most relevant part of this will be their video distribution platform 'All4' (previously '4 On Demand'). All4 is one of the buggiest platforms of all of the big channels. The others may be lacking in features but even Channel 5 has a pretty smooth user experience. All4 consistently crashes, shows ads but then no programme, doesn't show programmes in its search results, doesn't keep…

Yes, yet more public assets are being sold off to private concerns, this time for doing things the current government doesn't like, but look at the positive side: their online streaming might become less buggy /s

I was deliberately not talking about the political aspect of this. I have my own views, but this is a technical forum and I thought I would highlight the technical implications of this decision for those that might not be familiar with them - notably people not from the UK.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#68

Post by dismantlethesun »

lapser wrote: post #50
Veen wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We must watch different programs on the BBC. I see BBC presenters and journalists criticizing the government every day.

To be fair, it's not up to the BBC to criticise. They should be reporting impartially and let the folks make up their mind.

What is and isn’t a critique is so subjective. What we really mean is that the BBC is willing to report news that doesn’t fast the government in a good light. Contrast this with day Al Jazeera which never has reports on the wrongdoings of its primary country.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#69

Post by Terry_Roll »

I cant decide if this is a good thing or not.

State broadcasters like the BBC are tied to conditions not normally imposed on privately owned broadcasters.

The BBC has probably the worlds best TV archive in the world, they did alot of the digitisation down at BBC Maida Vale.

I wonder when looking at Britbox if this is a backdoor/stealth way for Channel 4 to access & commercialise BBC archives when the BBC cant really commercialise its archive, and once that threshhold is crossed there is no going back unlike C4 doing it.

Sure the BBC sells stuff abroad like Topgear when it was good, the Clarkson, May & Hammond years but how do you get out of a tight contract without penalty other than get sacked for hitting someone and then earn massively more working for Amazon, the BBC didnt earn their true potential in commercial ventures. David Attenborough's stuff is a joint venture with US documentary channels and is now more a voice over role with an international team than a wholey complete BBC venture.

But Channel 4 & Film4 have also invested in some pretty good films to rival Hollywood output, so this might be a good thing for Channel 4 & Film 4, ____if____ they are tied up together in this privitisation. Does anyone know?

Even Tory Chancellor George Osbourne got a special mention in one of the Star Wars film credits, because of the tax perks the Govt gave to help lure Hollywood overseas to foreign studio's & locations, so I dont think this will be a bad thing especially with China investing heavily in the UK.

Re: Channel 4 privatisation to go ahead

#70

Post by kalleboo »

lapser wrote: post #59

What's really interesting is how cheap it is being sold for. The current figure being given is "around" £1 billion, which seems like low ball offer for the third biggest broadcasting company in the UK.

My experiences are mostly from other countries but it seems whenever the government sells something off it's always sold way under value...
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