December 12, 2003

ONLY ASKING

The Guardian is concerned at the potentially explosive issue of people being asked how the BBC might be run:

The government today launched its biggest ever public consultation about the future of the BBC, appealing to the millions of licence fee payers to air their views on the corporation's funding, structure and obligations.

A consultation leaflet published by the culture department today called Your BBC, Your Say asks members of the public whether they think the licence fee is the best way of paying for the BBC and, if not, for suggestions of alternative ways of funding the corporation - a potentially explosive question.

Potentially explosive answer: privatise it.

Posted by Tim Blair at December 12, 2003 12:07 PM
Comments

Uhhh, this is a tough one... lemme see... wull, golly... uh, Pry-va-tize it?

I mean, you know, have non-government people directing the BEEB so that it responds to the needs of the PEOPLE today, in recognition of market realities AND reporting criteria?

Uhhh, breathing through my mouth helps me think...

Posted by: SharpShooter at December 12, 2003 at 12:11 PM

Chaos, panicked screaming, and a frantic run for the exits ensued!

Posted by: Andrea Harris at December 12, 2003 at 12:34 PM

Privatise? How dare you suggest such a thing? That would mean they might have to pay attention to the public's interests rather than gently guiding them to the most 'prohpah progressive' point of view. Horrors! You must certainly be a minion of The Great Satan to even suggest such a thing.
(And I'm certainly a fellow minion for heartily endorsing the idea.)

Posted by: Kathy K at December 12, 2003 at 12:47 PM

Will this be reported by the ABC?.

Posted by: Gary at December 12, 2003 at 12:49 PM

The ABC will be agog with it, flaying the evil Blair (T.) for all it is worth.

Then John Howard will privatize the ABC together with the Viet Cong ex-Broadcasting Service.

The end. I wish.

Posted by: ilibcc at December 12, 2003 at 12:53 PM

Hmm. I'll bid $5000 for the Dr Who archives. If they want to sell it off piecemeal...

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 12, 2003 at 12:55 PM

I can't help but marvel at the naivity of you thinking simply removing government funding would make the beeb metamorphasize so that it responds to the needs of the PEOPLE today, in recognition of market realities AND reporting criteria

Like you really think the Times and CNN reflect the needs of the people?

Posted by: papertiger at December 12, 2003 at 01:15 PM

Wait a minute. That is very dishonest, and disingenuous of me, to call you all naive without proposing a solution.
To answer the culture department's question as to funding the BBC - don't.
Instead pound a stake in it's unliving yet still beating black heart, then chop off it's head and bury it chest down (lest it spring back to life, in a zomby, headless, state and attempt to dig itself free.)

PS Put one of those stonehendge rocks on top of the grave, just to be sure.

Posted by: papertiger at December 12, 2003 at 01:31 PM

Papertiger said "I can't help but marvel at the naivity of you thinking simply removing government funding would make the beeb metamorphasize so that it responds to the needs of the PEOPLE today"

I don't care what it or the ABC would turn into - it can be whatever it likes, just as long as I don't have to pay for it.

Posted by: Gilly at December 12, 2003 at 01:52 PM

People actually pay money to buy The Age.

So there. It works. Privatize away.

Posted by: ilibcc at December 12, 2003 at 02:19 PM

A free country that forces its citizens to pay for free information is [fill in the blank].

Posted by: -Ed. at December 12, 2003 at 03:45 PM

I love this bit:

Ms Jowell said that for the first time the future of the BBC would be decided by the "British people", rather than the "great and the good".

Because the "great unwashed" are neither?

Posted by: JohnJo at December 12, 2003 at 07:27 PM

The amusing thing about all of this is that middle class types are finally getting so fed up that are not as stuck to the licence fee. It is interesting to note that the Beeb is no longer producing anything close the quality of the shows that there comedy and drama department were known for. The private sector is producing the goods these days not the beeb. Auntie has lost its raison d'etre and is desperately grasping to save itself. The licence fee is going, it is just a matter of time when.

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at December 12, 2003 at 11:28 PM