It's a sad fact...bateleurSeptember 21 2002, 02:04:15 UTC
...but whose fault is that ? The BBC used to produce the best stuff going before pressure was put on them to compete on ratings - at which point they did the only thing they could and produced populist junk like everyone else.
Democracy and free trade - is there nothing they cannot destroy between them ?
Re: It's a sad fact...ieyasuSeptember 21 2002, 03:42:51 UTC
Yes, this 'pressure' which was put on them: with all due respect, the BBC didn't exactly put up much of a fight. They took a fall in the first round.
Besides, their non-populist stuff is even more dire. I mean, the Newsnight Review? Let's get four C-list sorto-celebrities to mouth off on how educated they are on books, politics, and arts. (Gratuitous jibes at George Bush no longer optional.) Woohoo for the license fee, we've got soft-core cerebro-porn.
Re: It's a sad fact...bateleurSeptember 21 2002, 04:43:21 UTC
Hey, I'm not defending that kind of rubbish ! News, sport and soaps are the essence of mass-demand driven programme selection. And as for 'celebrities'...
As far as I'm concerned the BBC no longer makes any programme which is not either (a) Designed to target high ratings or (b) Explicitly meeting some very obvious public service criterion such as being educational or of relevance to some clearly defined and worthy minority.
Re: It's a sad fact...verlaineSeptember 21 2002, 15:06:07 UTC
I hear they're in serious talks to bring Dr Who back again.
There's no solid guarantee - as ever - but it would be nice to think they really are looking into the possibility of bringing back some of their marketable, "flagship" programmes again, to save us from the current dross.
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Democracy and free trade - is there nothing they cannot destroy between them ?
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Besides, their non-populist stuff is even more dire. I mean, the Newsnight Review? Let's get four C-list sorto-celebrities to mouth off on how educated they are on books, politics, and arts. (Gratuitous jibes at George Bush no longer optional.) Woohoo for the license fee, we've got soft-core cerebro-porn.
Reply
As far as I'm concerned the BBC no longer makes any programme which is not either (a) Designed to target high ratings or (b) Explicitly meeting some very obvious public service criterion such as being educational or of relevance to some clearly defined and worthy minority.
At least if they do, I've never seen it.
Reply
I hear they're in serious talks to bring Dr Who back again.
There's no solid guarantee - as ever - but it would be nice to think they really are looking into the possibility of bringing back some of their marketable, "flagship" programmes again, to save us from the current dross.
Reply
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