I think Seamus Milne hit the nail on the head this morning when saying in the Guardian:
Of course, the British press has long been plagued by monstrous proprietors. In recent times, its owners have been particularly noted for their criminality, from Robert Maxwell to Conrad Black; Muslim-baiting and pornography, in the case of Express Newspapers' Richard Desmond; and tax-exiled feudal reclusiveness, in the shape of the Telegraph group's Barclay brothers.
And people wonder why I still believe in the bBBC, right wing biased as it is?
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You agree that the BBC is `right winged biased`,the BBC `must` be seen to be impartial with its broadcasting,as it is written into their remit for viewers licence fee funding.
At the moment it is not impartial and needs to `clean up` its act so as to retain its licence fee payers funding for the future,or go commercial as other TV broadcasting companies.
Personally I think the BBC has a strong left-wing bias, but that’s just me.
Of far more concern is the fact that people have no choice but to fund it, yet they spend large amounts of money on “entertainment” that could just as well be provided by commercial channels: £22m on the Voice, for example, to “compete” with Britain’s Got “Talent”. If it focussed on quality broadcasting then it could accommodate a far wider range of political viewpoints. As it is, 95% of its output has no public service component, and so when you talk about political bias you are really only talking about the remaining 5%. The rest has no content at all.
“The BBC is not impartial or neutral. It’s a publicly funded, urban organisation with an abnormally large number of young people, ethnic minorities, and gay people. It has a liberal bias, not so much a party-political bias. It is better expressed as a cultural liberal bias.”
Andrew Marr, October 2006
Yes, wasn’t that supposed to be a rhetorical question put forward for brainstorming discussion in a BBC staff seminar?
I and I think many other people would disagree that the BBC is right-wing biased, unless you speak of your perceptions of its coverage of economics issues only or only read left wing publications. There is an awful lot of criticism of the BBC that alleges it is far too left wing and politically correct in many areas? In which case maybe it is in the middle ground?
If we’re going to have limits in the amount of media proprietors are allowed to own, that is going to mean the break-up of the BBC.
I wonder how much the Leveson lovers have thought that one through?
Pardon?
Why?
What the heck are you talking about?
Because of the strong concentration the BBC have in television, radio, print and the Internet.
Come on, Richard.
Your logic makes no sense
What is wrong with that
It has mass popular support
Oh, OK, nice interpretation of media ownership concerns. The BBC is exempt from future changes because “it has mass popular support.” One rule for your interests, another rule for something else, I suppose.
It’s a state owned enterprise
63 million owners, I think
And governance that is clear
Let’s get real
Next you’ll be saying we need two tax authorities as competition is needed….
This is a hard one. I don’t deny that I am a lefty and so my viewpoint is swayed by my perceptions, just as we all are.
From all the comments I see everyone thinks that auntie is of the opposite opinion to the beliefs of the writer, and yes Richard, that includes you too.
I have had this argument many times, and found the same paradox, every time. Does this mean that the BBC is unbiased? Probably, but for one issue.. Fear!
With the tories selling off everything in sight, and some things that aren’t, dear old auntie is very scared and always is under a tory junta.Labour, for it’s sins, is only slightly better. She needs to be left to her own devices, free to say and do as she pleases, without the threat of legislation or any other punitive measures.
If you don’t see the beauty and intelligence of our auntie, I suggest you try foreign broadcasters and see and hear it for yourself. From my experience they pale into insignificance in comparison. Some are so amateur that they have had me in hysterics. Before anyone asks, I’ve watched and heard broadcasting from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Luxembourge, Greece, Thailand, Tunisia, Russia in communist times, Switzerland and Australia all from within the countries mentioned as part of my wish to immerse my self in their culture and (sometimes) in a vain attempt to pick up their language.
And I’m not even taking into account advertising, which drives me mad!
As a broadcaster no other channel offers better value for money for it’s subscription rate, take a look at what Mr Murdoch offers in comparison, Bruce Springsteen said it all with “67 channels and nothing on”, remember the beeb also has many radio channels, some local and one that is international and gives the UK a voice around the world. The USSR (as was) used to jam the World Service, which says an awful lot.
Auntie, you have informed, educated and entertained me and although I don’t always agree with you I still love you.
Anyone who picks on my auntie faces me coming round your house with my wire cutters!
Don’t even get me started on the move to Salford…
I know I’m biased….
And I’m not alone on the left in thinking this – on economics issues
But there’s another view on social issues in particualr, I know
Don’t forget the tax exile Rothermere, owner of Mail. May not be classed as reclusive like Barclays, but I have no idea what he looks like. Do you?
The BBC is mixed up. Its heart is liberal Oxbridge located somewhere in Camden. But like so many people and organisations that would like to be seen as a voice for reform and social justice it can’t quite live up to its ideals. It’s like a union leader or Labour minister who talks of a fair society whilst sending their children to private school. The end result is human fallibility and self interest trunps theoretical social justice. So the BBC is a rightie leftie schizo. It is an active participant in group therapy with Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Ed Milliband who all suffer from the same condition in slightly different states. You have to love them all for their failings. Everyday they face a constant battle to look good while concealing their dirty knickers.
“It’s a state owned enterprise
63 million owners, I think”
It is not owned by the state. And it is not owned by the public.
It is funded by a compulsory levy which if you do not pay will land you with a record, even if you do not watch the BBC.
There is either a level of media influence that is too great for all broadcasters, or not at all.
Whether it has public support or not is open to question.
What I do know is that people voluntarily pay subscriptions to a very wealthy man because they like the services he provides. 3 million people also read his newspapers.
The fact that I think there is nothing worth watching on Sky, or that the Sun newspaper prints a pile of bilge, is of no concern to me if other people want to watch or read his output.
Ah – I get it – paying for public infrastructure offends you
What do you prefer? Free riders?