BBC makes dumbing down its official policy
news not entertainment | 14.03.2006 23:55 | Culture | Education | Indymedia
It was obvious that this is what they were doing anyway but now the powers-that-be are making it official. The BBCs lofty purpose is now simply to entertain the masses rather than inform...
The government has told the BBC that the important thing is to provide entertainment and not drown in "worthy" ideas. The Beeb , must take fun serously according to Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell. She has set out the new guidelines that will govern BBC output over the next 10 years in a White Paper to the Commons.
While the 'independent' BBC isn't state controlled as such, the White Paper sets out conditions for renewal of the BBC's Royal Charter, it's license to broadcast, which expires at the end of the year.
The government has apparently spent the past two years consulting the public on what they want from the BBC. No body ever asked me, but perhaps that's because I don't have a TV anymore (but that hasn't stopped the Licensing 'Authority' from chasing me every couple of weeks). Nether-the-less, the government claims that audiences want entertainment above all else so say goodbye to investigative reporting (if such a thing still exists anyway) and say hello to more celebrity reality TV.
"There was strong public support for this.... ", claimed Ms Jowell. "Licence fee payers told us it all sounded a bit worthy." she continued.
Well, at least Indymedia is still free to publish unentertaining content ;-)
While the 'independent' BBC isn't state controlled as such, the White Paper sets out conditions for renewal of the BBC's Royal Charter, it's license to broadcast, which expires at the end of the year.
The government has apparently spent the past two years consulting the public on what they want from the BBC. No body ever asked me, but perhaps that's because I don't have a TV anymore (but that hasn't stopped the Licensing 'Authority' from chasing me every couple of weeks). Nether-the-less, the government claims that audiences want entertainment above all else so say goodbye to investigative reporting (if such a thing still exists anyway) and say hello to more celebrity reality TV.
"There was strong public support for this.... ", claimed Ms Jowell. "Licence fee payers told us it all sounded a bit worthy." she continued.
Well, at least Indymedia is still free to publish unentertaining content ;-)
news not entertainment
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
Video killed the radio star
15.03.2006 01:40
BBC One has just recorded its lowest ever peaktime rating. Its chat show Davina and a Panorama special on the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes attracted less than 12% of the Wednesday night audience.
ITV1's share of viewing fell to 21% last year. In 2000, it was 29%, and it's not that long since it was over 40%.
Many people have been tempted by the promise of 'choice' on digital or satellite, while others have ditched TV completely.
At an evening class for people wanting to learn skills in radio production, over 40% of the class said that they didn't watch TV. This was interesting not because it represents the general public but because it mirrors that fact that many many people involved in media production don't actually consume the product themselves.
The internet is where an increasing number of people are turning to for both news and entertainment.
Apparently the number of hours people spend online now exceeds those spent watching TV.
While video never really killed radio, traditional broadcast TV has certainly taken a battering from the digital revolution and will continue to hemorrhage viewers, especially with the BBC towing the party line for new labour.
- long live digital culture
Punctuation!!!
15.03.2006 06:43
Lynne Truss