Why, in a democracy, is one of the pre-election debates going to be on Sky??

[said]

Story here Not that I'm convinced about these deabtes - reducing politics to personalities etc - but some of use do not buy into Murdoch.

Isn't Sky News on Freeview? Really don't know but thought it was?

Is it Sky News? Not read my own link . Oh god, don't diffuse my anger so quickly

And some of us only watch sky news as they are less bias than the BBC.

David Cameron's relationship with news international is interesting. I believe he was interviewed in Loaded and said that Sky+ was (can't remember exact words but something like the best thing since sliced bread). It's about the BBC.

On the other hand, Murdoch is not the devil he is painted, is he? He is a successful businessman. AFAIK, it is the Sky Sponsorship of our Premier League that makes it the worldwide pull that it is (China, Africa), which is pretty useful for the British economy.

What is the worst thing about Murdoch? He is republican. He owns a slightly alarmingly large proportion of UK media. All his outlets advertise each other. But he is not planning world domination, is he?

One man, one(ish) vote. Murdoch's the man, and he tells the muppets how to vote. Simples.

Er SAID you answered your own daft question, because we live in a democracy

'What's the worst thing about Murdoch?' - It's that he tries to drive all his competition out of business, using any means necessary.

I've never paid for a Murdoch product and I never will. However, re. the debates - multi-channel age and all that; would have been difficult to justify having all of them on terrestrial channels.

"'What's the worst thing about Murdoch?' - It's that he tries to drive all his competition out of business, using any means necessary."

What big business doesn't look at tesco's and alike, it's the nature of the beast.

"One man, one(ish) vote. Murdoch's the man, and he tells the muppets how to vote."

Much like the bbc then.

"David Cameron's relationship with news international is interesting.

I believe he was interviewed in Loaded and said that Sky+ was (can't remember exact words but something like the best thing since sliced bread)."

That's very interesting indeed. Celebs shoehorn random mentions of Sky+ into interviews because that way they get it free.

I'm shocked at Dave, though. I'd expect a prospective Prime Minister to be above freebies. Must be because they're not allowed to put it on exes any more.

By the way. Are you sure it wasn't in GQ?

Dave's trying to reach out to the ordinary man but not that much.

""One man, one(ish) vote. Murdoch's the man, and he tells the muppets how to vote."

Much like the bbc then."

The BBC is legally bound to be neutral, and given the number of times the Conservatives won elections prior to Sky's existence/wide audience, with the BBC the primary source of tv news, and Labour's success since Sky DID have this sort of reach, I'm unsure as to how you can make such a claim.

Somone mirroring your views back to you does not make them unprejudiced. It arguably makes them the reverse. If you don't feel the urge to throw something at a news report at least once a week, IMO they're doing something wrong.

"Isn't Sky News on Freeview? Really don't know but thought it was?"

Even if it is, not everyone has had the digital switchover, so there may well be pensioners who have BBC 1, 2, ITV, C4 and Five (if they're able, even that isn't available across the whole UK on UHF). Those pensioners have no immediate need to get Freeview, and would be unable to see the Sky News debate.

Therefore it seems a perfectly reasonable question.

I suspect the answer is that with Sky having several million customers, they can easily claim to be news source number 3 on TV, and a growing source for (off-peak) news on (commercial) radio, too.

Has been a while since I bothered with TV news but I assume C4 or Five sometimes do their own news, but may have completely switched to using news from ITN or Sky.

Certainly many commercial radio stations must be paying for news output from the Sky News Centre as it means that (overnight, for example) they just switch inputs for 2 minutes and play what comes off a satellite feed from Sky, easy as that.

Tallulahbelly how do you know he gets it for free ffs. Oh yes you woz there when they sealed it with a nod and a masonic handhake.

"The BBC is legally bound to be neutral.."

Is that why there are enquiries going on at the moment about their lack of neutrality both in the political news and with regards to climate change?

Even the guy who wrote DR who in the eighties has come out and said he was asked to write it against maggie thatcher...

The BBC is not and never will be neutral it's full of leftie fascists like their political editor Robinson and if they weren't one long party political broadcast for the labour party then why do the conservatives want to dismantle it so badly?

Sorry, but until you care to explain what you meant when you said "every child removed from the pool earns a year paid leave" in a debate about social workers and children, I find it hard to take anything you say seriously. I note you've ignored about six people on that issue. (In the interests of fairness and neutrality I do find it hard to take nananina seriously on much, either.)

Talking about "leftie fascists" in a democratic first world country does make you appear a tad eccentric too, it has to be said. And a complaint does not a finding make, just in case you were confused on that issue... along with so many others.

Um, Nick Robinson is a Tory, in fact, as is James Landale (dep BBC political editor). Remember the enquiry into David Kelly's death and impact on the BBC? Not exactly all cosy, is it? BBC criticises all political parties. Hard to see how any can exactly describe it as a cheerleader for the current govt.

Perhaps part of DC's warmth about Sky comes from 2 things:

• Murdoch has said The Sun (and, as like as not, his other UK newpsapers) will be supporting the Tories;
• Andy Coulson, Tories' head of communications, is an ex-Murdoch lieutenant, editor of News of the World.

Paxman hates Tories he cant conceal his bile,
his interview technique is crap and I dont actually think he is very clever. Andrew Marr is much better.Ihope the Sun re-hash their old standby headline on election day (if Gordo looks like winning it). "Would the last person left in Britain today please switch the lights out". Much more gravitas than "Phew wotta scorcher". Iwas quite partial to "Brrr" as well.

Don't you think Paxman is pretty contemptuous towards all politicians?

Er not really I saw him interviewing Estelle Morris in the wake of the A level fiasco a few years ago if you remember she had to resign and he was silky with her and did not ask any hard questions. He just finds it difficult to concealhs contempt for the Tories. Marr is much more skilful

I've seen him be very polite to Anne Widdicombe too, though. Didn't Morris resign because she said she wasn't up to the job? So either he finds it hard to be tough on women, or he respects sincerity regardless of shades of belief.

I agree that Marr is a fantastic broadcaster - streets ahead of N Robinson, imo. Still really miss him.

If the second that might explain why he has such contempt for most front benchers.

(Sorry jkklpu, tried to add a line that was cut.)

Agree with you both on Marr.

"I've never paid for a Murdoch product and I never will. However, re. the debates - multi-channel age and all that; would have been difficult to justify having all of them on terrestrial channels." Why though, pw? If they weren't all on terrestial tv (assuming that they are) how could that be right?

"Talking about "leftie fascists" in a democratic first world country does make you appear a tad eccentric too"

Yes because we've never had any of those have we?

'We'll keep the red flag flying here'