New what has the BBC ever done for me
New what has the BBC ever done for me
Author
Discussion

Ridgemont

Original Poster:

9,415 posts

159 months

Saturday 25th July
quotequote all
I may have missed a thread covering.


So:

2026 version:

https://youtu.be/koftLxmT6Wc?is=6SSXqm550ErZyj-h


The original version 40 years ago.

https://youtu.be/lUzQ2qIgG6Y?is=LD-h6f6ETf4DWKBa

Personal view: it’s not exactly what it was but mileages vary obviously.

Are you convinced?
40 years ago I was. Not so much now.





towser44

4,157 posts

143 months

Saturday 25th July
quotequote all
Had to laugh listening to Talksport/Talk Radio overnight last night. They were talking about Romesh and how he is literally on every BBC show going and he is the one asking the question, What has the BBC done for me ha ha!

Ridgemont

Original Poster:

9,415 posts

159 months

Saturday 25th July
quotequote all
towser44 said:
Had to laugh listening to Talksport/Talk Radio overnight last night. They were talking about Romesh and how he is literally on every BBC show going and he is the one asking the question, What has the BBC done for me ha ha!
It s a bit odd: maybe I missed it but yes the phrasing seemed to change from us to me and in Romesh s case clearly a lot smile

768

20,375 posts

124 months

Saturday 25th July
quotequote all
It just felt like a parade of BBC faces. Fine if you're into the celeb culture, but for the purpose of the BBC it seemed a weak defence. Mind you, the fact they're feeling the need to invest in a defence says a lot on its own.

MrBogSmith

6,238 posts

62 months

Saturday 25th July
quotequote all
As AI-generated content and disinformation become more widespread, news organisations like the BBC are becoming increasingly valuable. With so many people getting their news from things like X, professionally verified journalism is arguably more important than ever.


dbdb

5,137 posts

201 months

Saturday 25th July
quotequote all
MrBogSmith said:
As AI-generated content and disinformation become more widespread, news organisations like the BBC are becoming increasingly valuable. With so many people getting their news from things like X, professionally verified journalism is arguably more important than ever.
I agree and would want to preserve the BBC because of that. Disappointingly, it is rather biased in its coverage and tone and often fails to contextualize properly. I wouldn't want it to be dismantled though.

Ridgemont

Original Poster:

9,415 posts

159 months

Saturday 25th July
quotequote all
768 said:
It just felt like a parade of BBC faces. Fine if you're into the celeb culture, but for the purpose of the BBC it seemed a weak defence. Mind you, the fact they're feeling the need to invest in a defence says a lot on its own.
Well to be fair it felt it had to do it 40 years ago.

I’ld be interested to know Cleese’s view nowadays, now that he has gestated into the colonel smile

S600BSB

8,101 posts

134 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
The Beeb is still brilliant vfm - not just the tv but also the radio. Needs to be cherished.

Alex Z

2,036 posts

104 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
768 said:
It just felt like a parade of BBC faces. Fine if you're into the celeb culture, but for the purpose of the BBC it seemed a weak defence. Mind you, the fact they're feeling the need to invest in a defence says a lot on its own.
Yes, they absolutely do need to defend themselves because a reform government would do everything in its power to either shut them down or make them a source of government propaganda (despite having given Nigel loads of coverage).

They are a huge national asset and should be protected. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

Jamescrs

6,279 posts

93 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
S600BSB said:
The Beeb is still brilliant vfm - not just the tv but also the radio. Needs to be cherished.
I personally don’t use any BBC services, I watch no live TV and stream music from YouTube Music in my car or podcasts therefore to me the BBC is irrelevant and I see no reason to cherish it.


grumbledoak

32,526 posts

261 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
The state's propaganda apparatus is not going anywhere. This is just more of it.

As fewer and fewer people are paying the licence fee it would be nice to see it come out of general taxation.

The Mad Monk

11,330 posts

145 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
Yeah, but,

S'posing I don't watch the BBC, why have I still got to pay for it?

I have had one of my brilliant ideas - if you want the BBC and watch the BBC then pay for it - by subscription.

If you don't watch it and don't want it, then you don't pay for it.

Now, that seems very fair to me. I don't want Sky, so - I don't pay for Sky.

I don't want Netflix, so - I don't pay for Netflix.

I don't want the BBC, why have I got to pay for it?

PurplePenguin

4,108 posts

61 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
S600BSB said:
The Beeb is still brilliant vfm - not just the tv but also the radio. Needs to be cherished.
Yeh right
Make it a subscription service without threatening people with prosecution for not having a “licence” and let the BBC stand on its own two feet.
If they are that brilliant, there will be no doubt

119

19,252 posts

64 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
Yes but they contribute a bazzillion pounds to the economy!

Im on the fence tbh.

We do watch a lot of TV and a lot is over the terrestrial channels with a dusting of PPV.


butchstewie

66,728 posts

238 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
Whilst it's no doubt good value for money in terms of what you get for what you pay I must admit I do find myself wondering how in 2026 we have a system where you are forced to pay to fund something you might never watch or listen to just so you have "permission" to watch something else that you might not have to pay to watch or might have to pay to watch so you're paying twice.

That is slightly bonkers IMO when you think about it.

ARH

1,955 posts

267 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
The Mad Monk said:
Yeah, but,

S'posing I don't watch the BBC, why have I still got to pay for it?

I have had one of my brilliant ideas - if you want the BBC and watch the BBC then pay for it - by subscription.

If you don't watch it and don't want it, then you don't pay for it.

Now, that seems very fair to me. I don't want Sky, so - I don't pay for Sky.

I don't want Netflix, so - I don't pay for Netflix.

I don't want the BBC, why have I got to pay for it?
My thoughts exactly, even to the point where I have considered breaking the law by not paying the tax, as I do watch some other channels live and record live TV. I recorded or watched no BBC programs over the last 2 months, why do I have to pay for it. As for thirer news services they are so biased it is unbelievable.

GetCarter

31,156 posts

307 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
BBC brings more money in from abroad than the entire UK Fishing and Textile industries combined.

Along with Reuters it is the most trusted news agency in the world, reaching hundreds of millions globally in over 40 languages. It consistently ranks at the top for international trust and editorial independence.

It obviously has many faults, but the 'soft' power it exerts throughout the world is immeasurable.

Randy Winkman

21,988 posts

217 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
My only criticism is that for those of us that watch a fair bit of BBC TV and listen to loads of BBC radio ...... by heck the advert is on a lot. A real lot.

That's typical BBC though. I mean, how many times did I see the TV ad for Amandaland? furious

LittleBobbyTables

6,121 posts

214 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
Most people who do have issue with it would be happier if they moved to a modern funding model.

S600BSB

8,101 posts

134 months

Sunday 26th July
quotequote all
Randy Winkman said:
My only criticism is that for those of us that watch a fair bit of BBC TV and listen to loads of BBC radio ...... by heck the advert is on a lot. A real lot.

That's typical BBC though. I mean, how many times did I see the TV ad for Amandaland? furious
Tbh, I value BBC radio more than the tv. Would hate to lose it.