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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the BBC really should be shut down?

430 replies

Loeri · 06/09/2013 07:45

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.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 06/09/2013 09:31

the BBC is funded by the tax payer- it isn't free for anyone, even if you don't have a tv or a tv licence you still end up paying through taxes

friday16 · 06/09/2013 09:31

"shows like Sherlock, Luther, Dr Who and Merlin that Americans love and put on their TV channels."

Actually, they don't. Those are mostly broadcast on BBC America (Luther, Doctor Who, Merlin), and the one that isn't (Sherlock) is in the graveyard that is PBS Masterpiece Theatre, probably interrupted every ten minutes by a man playing an electric organ and asking for money for the annual funding drive.

The number of BBC programmes that are sold to US broadcast (or even cable) TV is vanishingly small. It might even be zero: are there any current examples of a BBC programme being broadcast on anything other than BBCA or PBS?

friday16 · 06/09/2013 09:32

"it isn't free for anyone, even if you don't have a tv or a tv licence you still end up paying through taxes"

It is effectively free for the over-75s, many of whom pay no income tax and very little VAT.

ivykaty44 · 06/09/2013 09:34

over 75 do pay tax so it is not free for them either

fluffiphlox · 06/09/2013 09:34

I would pay the licence fee for Radios 3 & 4 alone.

Please note the spelling of licence. In British English, the noun is spelled 'licence' while the verb is 'to license'. (Cf: advice/advise, practice/practise). HTH.

reggiebean · 06/09/2013 09:34

Loeri sorry, did you not refer to two shows from the 70's to back up your argument earlier? Confused

Original poster
Loeri · 06/09/2013 09:34

It should be done away with. Those who want to pay for the kind of programmes that "only the BBC can make" should launch a subscription service for a channel that shows those programmes. Rather than mugging everyone else to pay for their minority interests. How can it be right that single mothers on council estates are jailed for not paying the license fee so that poshos can watch Opera and Classical music?

OP posts:
KoalaFace · 06/09/2013 09:35

Doesn't matter if it's "high drama" or not. If people like it and watch it your opinion of it is irrelevent surely?

Why would BBC not put it on BBC America and get the ratings themselves? The point is the Americans watch it and from the amount of attention they get online I'd be shocked if they weren't successful.

ivykaty44 · 06/09/2013 09:35

so which countries have purchased BBC made shows in the last ten years, and which shows where they that these other countries loved so much they paid money for them?

Original poster
Loeri · 06/09/2013 09:35

"Loeri sorry, did you not refer to two shows from the 70's to back up your argument earlier? confused"
I did? Which ones?

OP posts:
friday16 · 06/09/2013 09:36

"friday16 why are you okay watching the iplayer?? It's the same programming, funded by the same "corrupt" organisation... So you don't want to have to pay for the privilege of having the BBC, but you're quite happy using their services for free??"

Yup. If the devil himself wants to give things away, I'll take 'em, even if I wouldn't give him a penny of my money. Refusing to pay has an effect, on a large scale. Refusing to consume, rather less so.

I've paid my license fee, on the nail, for thirty years. And the thanks I get is Roly Keating being given 300k, off the books, because he's a nice chap, and no-one can quite find who authorised it. They clearly don't need my money if they've got enough to spray around like that.

friday16 · 06/09/2013 09:37

"Those who want to pay for the kind of programmes that "only the BBC can make" should launch a subscription service for a channel that shows those programmes."

This. It worked for HBO, after all.

reggiebean · 06/09/2013 09:44

Right... So it's a terrible organisation that is corrupt and evil and has shit programming... So I'll "protest" by visiting their websites and watching said shitty shows?? There is far too much logic in that for me to digest this early. Hmm

They're already talking about requiring a licence to use iplayer, which I think is a brilliant idea.

If you don't want to watch it, don't pay your licence fee, and don't use their services, including the news, weather, and radio. But for you to suggest it be shut down is beyond mad.

Pachacuti · 06/09/2013 09:45

I'm no Murdoch lover but look what happened to him and his organisation when crime and wrongdoing was uncovered - where's the universal revulsion of the BBC? Where's the forcing of closing down a part of it due to the historical actions of others ?

What happened to him and his organisation was what most commentators at the time dismissed as a cynical management damage-limitation stunt, predicting that the Sun would launch a new Sunday edition instead (which is exactly what happened). At the time that the scandal broke News International had already announced plans to introduce more integration between its titles. Rebekah Brooks initially kept her job, then resigned but was widely believed to be (and didn't deny when asked) still drawing her salary from NI.

FreudiansSlipper · 06/09/2013 09:46

Homeland will cost far more than BBC drama's to make just with the cost of paying their actors they can afford to do this Showtime/HBO etc because the charges they make in advertising. Not only is the news and radio second to none but documentaries and David Attenborough's fantastic series are too

watching TV in the states is annoying adverts every few minutes takes away the enjoyment ans as for TV in France, Italy and Australia well it just does not compare at all

Original poster
Loeri · 06/09/2013 09:46

Nobody is forced to pay for any of Murdoch's products. The BBC are arrogant, they know that people are forced to pay for them no matter how corrupt they are and how crap their programmes are.

OP posts:
Pachacuti · 06/09/2013 09:49

ivykaty -- off the top of my head I know that Sherlock and Doctor Who are syndicated globally, and BBC children's programmes are also sold quite widely, as are the BBC Natural History Unit's documentaries. I'm sure there are many others.

specialsubject · 06/09/2013 09:49

'best programmes come from the US'...

ha ha ha...breathless with laughter!!

Original poster
Loeri · 06/09/2013 09:51

"ha ha ha...breathless with laughter!!"
Why? Where do you think the best programmes come from?

OP posts:
friday16 · 06/09/2013 09:51

"Rebekah Brooks initially kept her job, then resigned but was widely believed to be (and didn't deny when asked) still drawing her salary from NI."

She is, however, facing a jury next month on charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and a bunch of other stuff. Several of those have potential life sentences, and it's generally felt that if she's convicted she'll be lucky to escape prison. She will, obviously, never work in journalism again. Her husband is facing similar charges. The trial has been delayed for a month for legal reasons that cannot be reported (we can only guess) but now looks pretty certain to start by late October.

Now, the BBC staff who supervised handing over licence-fee money without authorisation. What's happened to them? Oh yes. Nothing. What about the BBC staff who engaged in a cover up of child abuse and conspired to prevent the cover up being revealed? Oh yes. Nothing.

gordyslovesheep · 06/09/2013 09:56

I am sure if any criminal activity is uncovered the CPS will decide if they will persecute - or are you suggesting the BBC control the police?

OP I think we ALL get that you don't like the BBC - you seem unable to accept that other people do!

Don't pay the Licence Fee and stick to box sets and online viewing - job done

I think £12 a month is great value for what I get in return

KoalaFace · 06/09/2013 09:57

The thing that bothers me about the BBC is that they don't seem to be held accountable for how they spend money. I'd like to see police investigating and pressing charges for any allication of public money to individuals that wasn't earnt.

I don't even know we should be complaining to about this though?!

I am sticking by my guns though and saying I don't want it to be done away with. Just over hauled.

Pachacuti · 06/09/2013 09:57

BBC Worldwide annual report here -- doesn't contain an actual list, but apparently Doctor Who , Parade?s End , The Paradise and Ripper Street each sold to over 120 territories.

KoalaFace · 06/09/2013 09:58

Allocation. Allication isn't a thing...

RedPencils · 06/09/2013 10:02

Ivykaty
The Strictly format is licensed in dozens of countries, including America. Same with Top Gear.

I believe they also have a version of GBBO in US as well.
A lot of cBeebies content (Teletibbies for instance) is sold around the world too.