The BBC On The Naughty Step

Remarkably, I see the BBC a little like a member of my family that needs scolding occasionally. In many cases I still like what the BBC does radiowise and compared to much of what is available across the world it can be said it is worth the investment the licence fee allows.

Another time, I may argue and discuss whether a guarantee of money coming in annually works for or against them. Also, in general it is public broadcasting but thanks to various operations away from these shores and productions shown on commercial television and radio abroad with a BBC logo attached and programmes now shown on commercial satellite channels that they have sold the programmes to or perhaps have a stake in for all I know a reputation built up over the years, it is supplementing its finances from the commercial world. Not forgetting the books, tapes and video's associated with programmes that air on the BBC. In some ways that is adapting to a modern business model.

A double edged sword being that if they make their own shows(good or bad)they are insular but equally if they commission a programme from an independent company or that company pitches an idea to the BBC can it truly be said to be a BBC programme because a logo is added to the Beginning and end credits? This quota of using independent producers I seem to remember was a Government idea forced upon the BBC years ago.

I seem to have an inkling the use of independent production companies was introduced during a time that there was only 4 stations broadcasting BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel4. With all the channels available in the UK now there are plenty of alternative broadcasters for independent companies to take their ideas to so maybe this forcing of certain broadcasters to use them should be taken away. With the provision that the BBC can continue to do so if it should wish to which is different to saying here is the quota that you must commission. I digress as I often do.

As I said earlier, I see it as a family member that I am generally proud of but it needs scolding but if anyone else comes along and does so suddenly I feel that I want to defend it, that's ok to criticise if you are a relative but woe betide anyone else doing so.

But recently I have actually bothered to see what they are offering not just via local radio alongside the national and National digital services but via satellite what is being offered to the people of Wales, Scotland and N.Ireland via Television and Radio. And there are some wonderful programmes of high quality being produced admittedly with a slant towards and patriotism for the people living in that part of the UK but for all that most of the schedule allows them to get the best of or all the output seen in England sometimes on another day or delayed by an hour. My point being that some of these programmes are worthy of being seen across the UK. But as often the opt out part of the schedule is the same everywhere so I am lucky to see some of these but have to decide which as you can only watch the one you have chosen.

Finally, my point...we know that BBC Television and BBC Radio 5 are promoting the annual Sports person of the year and they've moved it to NEC in Birmingham and offered tickets to the public so they can attend rather than the few in BBC television centre. However, a trailer came on before or after a programme on BBC Wales last night and I never knew this(is it a new thing or has this gone on for years?)

Another series that ex-toles the Welsh but is worthy of being seen across the whole of the UK.

On the other hand for all the great things the BBC still manage to produce and deserve praising for anyone who has been following recent events that many of us have been having on their website with many messageboards closing at short notice and how some of us even when being positive are finding our posts being removed and there is now no longer the chance to have a kind of re pore with your other posters. You also have no idea which posts will be allowed to remain on the site as one host or mod seems to have a different idea of what is allowed.

So I am afraid that our blogs and newly started sites will be more important and the way many of us will be able to stay in touch and hopefully other posters will find there way and join us and we'll be able able to say much more than we are able now. Plus we will not have the annoying software that means that you cannot respond immediately, on the BBC boards even if you wish to type one line of text you have to wait for about three minutes before you are able to post again.