BBC is threatened to become privitised.

[Karsol]

Being Of semi-German nationality I find that slightly offensive* and plus they are not really comparable.

I invoke Godwin.

*Specially when one of his Austrian jackboots shot my great-grandfather.

Oh, so Mr Clarkson is allowed to go on about the war, but when some random internet idiot mentions it, we're all up in arms!

And I was fully aware of falling foul of Godwin.

And, to address your original point, I apologise for any offence, but I'm sure you realise it wasn't meant with the intention of hurt. I also forgot it was you who had that relative.

I did the didn't I? Showing That I knew no offense was intended.

And the whole 'Don't mention the war' thing is just classic comedy.

Joking about the invasion of Poland isn't, nor is calling all German Nazi's

I would say that they need thicker skins, but I am too empathic for that. Though I do disagree with him occasionally, I think the majority of his persona outweighs the negatives.

[The Alma Mater]

And the whole 'Don't mention the war' thing is just classic comedy.

Joking about the invasion of Poland isn't, nor is calling all German Nazi's

Sorry - it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfl6Lu3xQW0

[Tagmatium]

I would say that they need thicker skins, but I am too empathic for that. Though I do disagree with him occasionally, I think the majority of his persona outweighs the negatives.

Kind of the keyword there, really.

*a moment passes, allowing the rusted cogwheels of this poster's mind to catch up with what the typing-fingers were doing*

Not sure why I flagged that word, as the few sentences I was going to type were just going to undermine my own opinions put forward on the last page.

[Karsol]

I would say that they need thicker skins, but I am too empathic for that. Though I do disagree with him occasionally, I think the majority of his persona outweighs the negatives.

Kind of the keyword there, really.

*a moment passes, allowing the rusted cogwheels of this poster's mind to catch up with what the typing-fingers were doing*

Not sure why I flagged that word, as the few sentences I was going to type were just going to undermine my own opinions put forward on the last page.

Shall I season your foot for you before you dine on it?

[Tagmatium]

Kind of the keyword there, really.

*a moment passes, allowing the rusted cogwheels of this poster's mind to catch up with what the typing-fingers were doing*

Not sure why I flagged that word, as the few sentences I was going to type were just going to undermine my own opinions put forward on the last page.

Shall I season your foot for you before you dine on it?

Nah, I've got left-over Chinese take-away tonight.

I wonder where Top Gear would stand if the BBC were privatised, though? They're basically a license to print money for the Beeb and they're also very heavily merchandised (you can get Top Gear Scalectrix tracks). I'd imagine companies would be falling over themselves for them.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

If they fuck-up Doctor-who, there will be blood spilt.

[Karsol]

Kind of the keyword there, really.

*a moment passes, allowing the rusted cogwheels of this poster's mind to catch up with what the typing-fingers were doing*

Not sure why I flagged that word, as the few sentences I was going to type were just going to undermine my own opinions put forward on the last page.

Shall I season your foot for you before you dine on it?

Nah, I've got left-over Chinese take-away tonight.

I wonder where Top Gear would stand if the BBC were privatised, though? They're basically a license to print money for the Beeb and they're also very heavily merchandised (you can get Top Gear Scalectrix tracks). I'd imagine companies would be falling over themselves for them.

May and Clarkson would quit, dunno if Hammond would.

[Helertia]

If they fuck-up Doctor-who, there will be blood spilt.

"Before I stop the Daleks, I think I better clear my sinuses with Orbits, the gum for fast and effective sinus clearing. Mmmm, Good!" *zap*

[Tagmatium]

If they fuck-up Doctor-who, there will be blood spilt.

I can imagine all the Tennant fanboys storming the BBC and demanding blood for that.

Of course, they're probably already going to do that over Matt Smith.

[Robustian]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm

The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting, and it would be compromised by business to be biased toward commercialism and public opinion./oppinion

The BBC is one of the MOST biased, and most SILLY of english news services.

I can't tell you how many times the BBC reports on something read like and remind me of a cartoon, rather than doing any informing.

Frankly, whole notion of state funded media is laughable in it's silliness. It is gauranteed incompetence.

[Tagmatium]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm
The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting, and it would be compromised by business to be biased toward commercialism and public opinion./oppinion

The BBC is one of the MOST biased, and most SILLY of english news services.

I can't tell you how many times the BBC reports on something read like and remind me of a cartoon, rather than doing any informing.

Frankly, whole notion of state funded media is laughable in it's silliness. It is gauranteed incompetence.

A lot less biased that a lot of the privately-owned news services out there.

I wouldn't dream of watching any of the Murdouche-News unless I wanted to have a laugh or get myself angry.

[The Alma Mater]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm

The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting, and it would be compromised by business to be biased toward commercialism and public opinion./oppinion

The BBC is one of the MOST biased, and most SILLY of english news services.

Compared to... ?

[Tagmatium]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stmThe BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting, and it would be compromised by business to be biased toward commercialism and public opinion./oppinion

The BBC is one of the MOST biased, and most SILLY of english news services.

Compared to... ?

Fox, of course!

[Helertia]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm

The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting, and it would be compromised by business to be biased toward commercialism and public opinion./oppinion

The BBC is one of the MOST biased, and most SILLY of english news services.

Compared to... ?

One that alway broadcasts his POV, I imagine
Actually, I'd say the most unbiased was Al-Jazeera

[Dumb Ideologies]

One that alway broadcasts his POV, I imagine
Actually, I'd say the most unbiased was Al-Jazeera

Nonsense. They stick their Arab biases in anywhere and everywhere. I mean, I saw their weather forecast just yesterday.

"Fog in the North and East, DEATH TO THE WEST, showers in the South".

[Helertia]

One that alway broadcasts his POV, I imagine
Actually, I'd say the most unbiased was Al-Jazeera

Nonsense. They stick their Arab biases in anywhere and everywhere. I mean, I saw their weather forecast just yesterday.

"Fog in the North and East, DEATH TO THE WEST, showers in the South".

*laughs extremely loudly*

[Vonnerz]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm

The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting, and it would be compromised by business to be biased toward commercialism and public opinion./oppinion

The BBC is one of the MOST biased, and most SILLY of english news services.

I can't tell you how many times the BBC reports on something read like and remind me of a cartoon, rather than doing any informing.

Frankly, whole notion of state funded media is laughable in it's silliness. It is gauranteed incompetence.

except is not funded by the state. nice try though

[Pope Joan]

The BBC News section is a powerful propaganda tool that the UK government would be foolish to surrender it has a reputation for fairness (even when it isn't) and is well regarded world wide.

As far as the entertainment section is concerned, there are two primary considerations. Did the BBC buy it or did it produce it? The BBC should not be using purchased content such as American sitcoms etc ( I don't know if they do this) . By doing this they effectively engage in unfair competition with other broadcasters. I also don't believe that they should be profiting from advertising in the same way that private broadcasters do.

I agree with you that the BBC has increasingly become a simple mouthpiece for prevailing government policy.

One of the things you'll notice about the BBC is that it gets accused of bias by everyone.

How much did they have to reveal about the Downing Street memo?

Hmmm?

[Sel Appa]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm

The report by the free-market think tank

I think that explains all we need to know.

The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting

Not quite. They have a heavy anti-Israel bias.

[F1-Insanity]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm

The report by the free-market think tank

I think that explains all we need to know.

The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting

Not quite. They have a heavy anti-Israel bias.

BBC is also heavily pro EU (ie anti democracy), pro Labour and anti religion (except islam, which they like).

They are not called Biased Broadcasting Corporation for nothing.

[Vonnerz]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm

The report by the free-market think tank

I think that explains all we need to know.

The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting

Not quite. They have a heavy anti-Israel bias.

BBC is also heavily pro EU (ie anti democracy), pro Labour and anti religion (except islam, which they like).

They are not called Biased Broadcasting Corporation for nothing.

Do you live in Europe? On what reasoning do you base your assertion that the EU is anti-democracy and that the BBC is heavily pro EU?

Also your allegation of a pro labour bias I find interesting. Would you care to bring some fact to back that up? Regarding the liking of Islam...well I see they still show Songs of Praise...and not Songs to the Minaret...so once more I would ask for some proof of this...please.

[Vonnerz]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm

The report by the free-market think tank

I think that explains all we need to know.

The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting

Not quite. They have a heavy anti-Israel bias.

I disagree with you regarding anti-Israel bias. I think they ask tough questions of Israel but is that not perhaps to the function of a new organisation?

[Dakini]

That would blow. Why should BBC be privatized? It's fine the way it is, widely respected as a fine example of good reporting.

Because a free-market think tank is going to say that everything should be privatized.

[You-Gi-Owe]

An independent think tank recommends that Channel 4 (i.e. not the BBC) be privatised and that the BBC sell its commercial wing, and that amounts to the BBC being threatened with privatisation?

That's like saying that if I got a group of ten friends together and we agreed that Channel 4 should be privatised the BBC was being threatened.

Lack of funding from the commercial wing could potentially ruin some of my programs.

Let's assume that there are people with money that like the BBC as it is and are willing to invest in it. People that agree with the current BBC political stance and programming. If those people buy the BBC and want to make money with it, would you be upset?

Yes, The market is fickle and the stance could change to get more viewers.

So, you think that money (if only to pay the bills) corrupts, even the good of heart?

Did not The phrophet Jesus say that in the temple of Jerusalem?

No. I don't recall that the Son of God said that in the Temple.
I recall his casting out of the moneychangers from the temple grounds because the Temple was a place of worship, not a den of thieves.
I recall giving to Caesar what belonged to Caesar and giving to God what is God's.

[The Republic of Lanos]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8458271.stm

The BBC must undergo a radical overhaul and Channel 4 should be privatised, a think tank has said in a report on the future of UK broadcasting.

The centre-right Policy Exchange said the BBC should cut the amount it spends on sports rights, popular entertainment and shows for 16 to 35-year-olds.

It also urges the government to drop its controversial "broadband tax".

The BBC Trust said any proposed changes must not put the public value of the BBC or its independence at risk.

The report by the free-market think tank said public service broadcasting was under strain and needed radical reform if it was to survive in the digital age.

It said the BBC should put quality before ratings and leave sport and popular entertainment to commercial channels.

Star salaries

It highlighted the reported £6m a year salary of Jonathan Ross, who announced he was quitting the BBC last week.

"The problem was not so much what the BBC paid, but what the BBC was doing in the bidding ring in the first place," the report said.

It recommended licence fee money should be spent on Channel 4 or E4, rather than BBC3, in order to reach 16 to 35-year-olds.

And it called for BBC Worldwide, which is the corporation's commercial arm, to be privatised and the BBC Trust to be scrapped.

Policy Exchange said a Public Service Content (PSC) Trust should be set up to promote public service broadcasting across all TV, radio and broadband.

The current UK broadcasting system was set up in the 1950s and now struggles to keep up with the extraordinary changes of the digital age
Mark Oliver, author of Changing the Channel

It would lead the way in tasks such as monitoring the delivery of BBC services and reviewing the effectiveness of the BBC's co-funding obligations.

The report also said government plans for a "broadband tax" to fund super-fast broadband should be scrapped and funded from general taxation, if it is shown to be necessary.

Meanwhile, Channel 4 should be privatised in 2012 but retain a public service broadcasting licence for at least 10 years.

The report said it should receive extra digital capacity, reallocated from ITV and perhaps the BBC.

Channel 4 should also be granted cross promotional and linked access to BBC new media services such as http://www.bbc.co.uk and the iPlayer.

The BBC Trust said any proposed change must not put the public value of the BBC or its independence against inappropriate political or commercial influence at risk.

Mark Oliver, the author of the report called Changing the Channel, was previously the BBC's head of strategy and has advised the government.

He said: "The current UK broadcasting system was set up in the 1950s and now struggles to keep up with the extraordinary changes of the digital age.

"It is clear that the 20th Century analogue institutions that were created are now worryingly out of date.

"We need a dramatic rethink if we are to continue to deliver public service broadcasting in an entirely new age."

The BBC, the world benchmark of unbiased (or little in the way of bias) reporting, and it would be compromised by business to be biased toward commercialism and public opinion./oppinion

it's not unbiased, i watched BBC world news, that's anti-American.