40% of BBC staff go on strike and guess what?
Discussion
It doesn't make much difference. The program schedule is largely unaffected:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4572147.stm
If I were a worker (perish the thought!) and nearly half of us went on strike to protest about future redundancies, but us going on strike didn't make very much difference, then surely I've vindicated the management's decision! Major own goal in my view.
If they're that crucial, then let them be snapped up by ITV, Sky, Channel 4, etc, who have to make a viable business out of broadcasting and are not supported by Tax payers.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4572147.stm
If I were a worker (perish the thought!) and nearly half of us went on strike to protest about future redundancies, but us going on strike didn't make very much difference, then surely I've vindicated the management's decision! Major own goal in my view.
If they're that crucial, then let them be snapped up by ITV, Sky, Channel 4, etc, who have to make a viable business out of broadcasting and are not supported by Tax payers.
Funny that you should say that. I know a few people who are at the BBC helping them through some transitional IT work. Basically the story goes that there has been a huge amount of recruitment in recent years.
Remember Greg Dyke? Well he initiated it with the war cry of "programming is king" and basically told the production crews to get anyone they needed. Did think it was strange that everyone jumped up and down when he resigned - well basically they all know that with him leaving their jobs are on the line!!!! There are a huge amount of people who just sit around all day and do nothing. In fact its even worse on the IT side; there are hundreds trying to justify their roles now that they are under the control of Siemens... but thats another story.
To illustrate the fact, redundancies of 4000 and it wont affect programming. Makes you think.... Greg Dyke? Thanks a bunch....
Remember Greg Dyke? Well he initiated it with the war cry of "programming is king" and basically told the production crews to get anyone they needed. Did think it was strange that everyone jumped up and down when he resigned - well basically they all know that with him leaving their jobs are on the line!!!! There are a huge amount of people who just sit around all day and do nothing. In fact its even worse on the IT side; there are hundreds trying to justify their roles now that they are under the control of Siemens... but thats another story.
To illustrate the fact, redundancies of 4000 and it wont affect programming. Makes you think.... Greg Dyke? Thanks a bunch....
Not as simple as you think I'm afraid. Going on strike for one day will just affect the live progs. such as News/Today etc. and more Radio than TV. It won't make much difference to the overall output. Also the overall number of people working at the BBC hasn't changed that much, even under Birt(k)they just got shot of some in one area(programme making) and took on more in another(admin/accounts). Overall they do work a bit harder than they used too, however I think Thompson's cuts will have more effect and be more severe.
I bet the viewing ratings will rise, I will stick BBC on tonight just out of spite 
I used to work in a TV studios, its amazing how many people seem to be sitting round doing nothing, the guys in the control room used to watch Big Brother & MTV all day, They were busy at news times though of course.
At the end of the day, its a business, and if they need to make cuts then they should do it.
However my partner disagrees with me
I used to work in a TV studios, its amazing how many people seem to be sitting round doing nothing, the guys in the control room used to watch Big Brother & MTV all day, They were busy at news times though of course.
At the end of the day, its a business, and if they need to make cuts then they should do it.
However my partner disagrees with me
I must admit to being a little confused this morning, when, instead of the dulcit tones of John Humphries proclaiming the end of the world through global warming, we had Ken Clarke espousing the virtues of the early days of 40s be-bop jazz, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and all 
Please go on strike some more...
Please go on strike some more...
FWIW I've got no problem paying the licence fee and am happy enough with the stuff the BBC produce, particularly the news, current affairs. But from friends who work in TV news there seems to be no question that the staffing levels at the BBC are out of all proportion to those of other news organisations ... not the number of journos, but the technical staff. For example, at Bloomberg a lot of the news readers are reading the news while simultaneously controlling the pop-up graphics, their own sound levels, operating the camera and auto queue. The same journos also record the same stories as audio-only and file them to their radio station. They had to invest in a bit of technology to do this, but it's a very cheap way to operate as the head count is kept so low. The flip side is that they can also afford to pay their staff vastly better than the BBC does. I'm not suggesting the BBC should reivent itself in the image of Bloomberg ... god forbid ... but they could learn a great deal from them nonetheless.
MrV said:
Does the TV licence fee cover online, radio etc as well as tv?
Yep and no vidio and dvd sales plus selling programs abroad all help pay toward it to
Due to the bizzare structure of the BBC, you are right in that commercial aspects to the business cant directly contribute to programming. However, different BBC businesses such as BBC Worldwide can resort to advertising and commercial sales to support them. Therefore the license fee pays for domestic TV and radio and a few other things. But a lot of the international programming isnt funded by us. BBC Enterprise for example does generate a profit, but this is re-invested into other BBC businesses......
srebbe64 said:
If I were a worker (perish the thought!) and nearly half of us went on strike to protest about future redundancies, but us going on strike didn't make very much difference, then surely I've vindicated the management's decision! Major own goal in my view.
i think you are spot on.
with so few people in the building, if i were a manager i'd be looking very closely at how today went on the office floor to see if you could cut a few more jobs.
They said that the average wage at the BBC is £31K, plus (I think it said) £29K in benefits and training.
They compared it with the real (freelance) world where staff can get far less, sometimes nothing, and sacked in a moment regardless of track record. No wonder the lardy Beebsters are hanging on.
They compared it with the real (freelance) world where staff can get far less, sometimes nothing, and sacked in a moment regardless of track record. No wonder the lardy Beebsters are hanging on.
parrot of doom said:
That licence fee is ripping us off.....
Bullshit.
Your both correct. The concept and the ideology behind the BBC is superb. The idea that the nation should be protected from the bias of capitalist led media by a state run Tv and radio network is great and I believe we should have it. Unfortunately the Womens Green BBC (WGBBC) has systematically waged war on common sense. As a result no male oriented programmes were available at all for a while and now we are still without any significant motor racing, test matches and even football was curtailed for a while. Not too long ago the BBC cancelled Top Gear.
The truth is the liars and spivs that have hijacked the BBC are no longer true to its ideals, they bombard us with PC bullshit on a daily basis. Its is no coincidence that all the male stuff is gone, the one soap they produce is crap and every news item contains PROOF that man made climate change is here despite the reality that no evidence to support such a postulation exists.
The license fee is a rip off and its tragic. The BBC is monstrous, yet the assertion is also monstrous. Scrap it all and start again.
The BBC gave up motor sport (and airshows - where's the competion for them?)because they weren't interested in showing them. Why?
Beacuse the generation of programme makers, producers and presenters who were interested in such subjects have all retired or died. The BBC is now dominated by "politically" or commercially driven individuals - many of them female who chase lowest common denominator TV ratings and/or the perceived female audience.
Having said all that, I still think that the BBC should survive - it just needs a good kick up the bum (and more airshows).
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 24th May 07:55
Beacuse the generation of programme makers, producers and presenters who were interested in such subjects have all retired or died. The BBC is now dominated by "politically" or commercially driven individuals - many of them female who chase lowest common denominator TV ratings and/or the perceived female audience.
Having said all that, I still think that the BBC should survive - it just needs a good kick up the bum (and more airshows).
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 24th May 07:55
simpo two said:
They said that the average wage at the BBC is £31K, plus (I think it said) £29K in benefits and training.
They compared it with the real (freelance) world where staff can get far less, sometimes nothing, and sacked in a moment regardless of track record. No wonder the lardy Beebsters are hanging on.
I know a fair number of people in a wide range of roles at the Beeb and am surprised to hear that. I would have put the figure at a few K''s less than that. I was under the impression that working for the BBC was viewed as being so good that they could get away with not paying staff market rates.
When I worked there in 2000 I was surprised to see how little the vacancies advertised in Ariel (the internal magazine) paid, although things could well have changed.
off_again said:
mcecm said:
Does the TV licence fee cover online, radio etc as well as tv?
Yep and no vidio and dvd sales plus selling programs abroad all help pay toward it to
Due to the bizzare structure of the BBC, you are right in that commercial aspects to the business cant directly contribute to programming. However, different BBC businesses such as BBC Worldwide can resort to advertising and commercial sales to support them. Therefore the license fee pays for domestic TV and radio and a few other things. But a lot of the international programming isnt funded by us. BBC Enterprise for example does generate a profit, but this is re-invested into other BBC businesses......
BBC Worldwide exists to supplement the BBC's licence fee income through the commercial exploitation of BBC intellectual properties - books, audiobooks, videos, DVDs, merchandising, magazines, programme & format sales, UKTV etc etc. This works in a number of ways, but chiefly through Worldwide's upfront investment in new BBC programmes and projects on the one hand and the profit Worldwide makes on the other.
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