To think the BBC really should be shut down?

[Loeri]

After the child abuse scandals, and now this where BBC execs have been given payments far beyond anything they were required to be given, isn't it time that the BBC was just shut down? It can't really be said that it makes the best TV in the world anymore, the best TV programmes come from the US and have done for well over a decade now. I just don't see the purpose of the BBC in 2013. It is arrogant, bloated beyond belief and seems only to exist to provide cushy jobs for the Guardian set.

The child abuse is nothing to do with the BBC - it's to do with the child abusers, who also worked for the commercial stations.

"friday16 Her idea was to start a BBC/HBO channel, and broadcast it worldwide. My point was, you would need to pay out the nose to have those broadcasting rights to air it in other countries, whether online or not, which is why very few sites legally exist in more than one country, so it's not actually a viable option at all."
Who would you have to pay broadcasting rights to, if the programmes were all made by the BBC?

Who would you have to pay broadcasting rights to, if the programmes were all made by the BBC?

Erm... The countries where you wanted to air your programmes?

Do you really not understand how it works? Or were you picturing some sort of world media domination by the BBC?

Loeri, do you love adverts then? I hate them. Even having to fast forward them is a drag.

Agree with Duelling about child abuse. Could have happened at any TV station.

WowOoo Agreed!

I am astonished that anyone would argue that the US doesn't produce the best adult television programming by absolute miles when it has done so for years. Mostly through the development and emulation of the HBO model we have seen the most creative, influential, groundbreaking television ever - The Wire, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Deadwood - the list goes on and on. Serious, intelligent, mesmerising viewing.

This isn't to say some good programmes don't come from the UK in general and the BBC in particular. Luther, The Hours and Top of The Lake come to mind - though it is more accurate to say the BBC funded ToTL through the Australian based channel UKTV, (owned by BBC Worldwide) after the ABC pulled out. It certainly didn't develop it.

Moreyear - that's drama.

What about the population that doesn't only watch drama?

Reggiebean: "Erm... The countries where you wanted to air your programmes?"

I don't know what you are talking about! So the BBC would have to pay (for example) the government of the United States so their citizens could subscribe to an online TV service? You really think that?

Am proud of the BBC and its quality, variety and innovation. All large organisations have their problems but compared to what we could be left w/ I think we are very lucky.

All my overseas friends rate it very highly. Try watching French TV for a few weeks- beyond the pale.

Pachacuti thank you for answering the question.

It doesn't seem that they are selling very many programs - why is that if the BBC make the best tv in the world?

I would be quite happy for iplayer to be locked and pay per view or whatever to make it payable. Then it will be interesting to see whether people were actually willing to pay for programs

The child abuse is to do with the BBC, there was fear and people were scared to report it due to the reaction of the bosses at the BBC a blind eye was used, so it was a culture that was assisted by the company

I am not a Great British keep everything British type of person and enjoy the diverse channels we have in this country, but The BBC is probably the oldest British Institution and has its place both in history and present.
How on earth anybody can relate it to the child abuse scandals is beyond me.
Should Corrie be taken off air, ITV shut down?

Moreyear Right now the critical consensus is that the best drama is coming out of Scandinavia. :shrug: It's not, as it happens, the sort of drama that is particularly to my taste. But there you have it.

The American critics seem to believe that Sherlock and Downton Abbey are two of the best TV dramas around at the moment. I have no comment on those either One can only assume since they nicked it to rebadge it as Homeland, that Americans also rate Hatufim.

US news and current affairs broadcasting is, largely, a joke. As is their arts coverage.

As it happens many of my 'all time favourite' drama shows are from the US. But it is clearly ludicrous and ill informed to make the blanket statement that 'the best TV programmes come from the US and have done for over a decade'.

Loeri Yes, I really think that... because it's true...

Please do yourself a favour and look into licensing agreements and international streaming rights before spouting off nonsense. Maybe the BBC has something on their site about it?

Reggiebean, you haven't got a clue what you are talking about. REALLY. "International streaming rights"? On the WORLD WIDE WEB?

abuse was reported ...to the POLICE ...who dismissed it - should the police be closed down too?

it was wrong but it was 40 years ago - you simply can not whole the entire current BBC responsible really can you?

I watch a lot of the BBC's out put - I like it - I m happy to pay for it - so I say leave it alone :)

Ha! Right, okay Loeri. I'm the one who doesn't have a clue!

[pats you on the head]

YABU however you have made me laugh with some of your comments.
Are you a Daily Mail journalist doing 'research' on what the public think of the BBC so you can write another inept & tedious article??

Great entertainment for a Friday OP, some of your concise & lucid views will keep me chuckling all day.

"the best TV programmes come from the US and have done for well over a decade now"

Thank you for giving me a good laugh today.

That's one of the silliest things I have heard in a while.

Loeri Reggiebean is right and you are wrong. You really are remarkably ill informed.

Why would the BBC have to pay these "INTERNATIONAL STREAMING RIGHTS" to stream content they produced and own themselves on the WORLD WIDE WEB? I've never heard anything so ludicrous in my life. You're wrong. It's no different showing it in the US or anywhere else in the world than it is to showing it in the UK. That's why it's the WORLD WIDE WEB. FFS. Get a clue.

OP, we're talking about proper telly. Not YouTube.

'Cushy jobs'?? Maybe for the management, but the programme makers are incredibly hardworking and dedicated to making top quality television programmes for you.

Olympics? Yeh, that was shit wasn't it? Children's programmes? Crap the lot of them. Lets have more cartoons, repeats and adverts. In fact lets just hand all out media over to Murdoch.

I'm sure it's over-managed and top heavy, and management could be streamlined. But no, the BBC should absolutely not go.

Explain to me how I am wrong Russians. What examples can you show me of TV companies having to pay the governments of countries in order to show their own content online? You are talking utter rot. Seriously. You are totally wrong on this.

I too am proud of the BBC. Until recently, I lived in an international residence which subscribed to channels from all over the world on behalf of its residents. We were the only British people there, yet nobody bothered with any of the other channels and chose the BBC over any international channel for coverage of events (Eurovision & the Olympics spring to mind) for the quality. Having moved elsewhere abroad I can no longer access the BBC except furtively and I miss it a lot. I use iplayer, 4od, itvplayer and hula, and iplayer by far the most.

It's been argued on this thread why should the majority have to pay for the BBC when only a minority want to watch it, but I think the strength of pro-BBC responses here prove that not to be the case.

You can't compare dr who with game of thrones, as they are for entirely different audiences. And have you seen the American take on a popular BBC format - the apprentice?!