Just the BBC...this week's podcast

It has been difficult to say something new about the current problems which face the current incarnation of the BBC. However, the Lesley Riddoch Podcast tries to do just that. There is a ’spirited’ discussion and some revelations. It’s not all serious. You will learn about ‘the Commissioner of Fridges’ and the multiple choice license.

Comments

[Alex Wilson]

Thatcher described the BBC as the 'last bastion of restricitve practice'. I think she was taking a potshot at the leviathian that is still the BBC stuffed full of Oxbridge fallout and as remote from the world as its possible to get.
Public school practices protected by a Tax squeezed out of the 'little people'.
The BBC is the Uber Quango just like its smaller cousins ie Creative Scotland. Run by an elite and a protected part of the establishment.
This is the 21st century, the digital age. Maybe the journalists at the BBC know this but their bosses don't.
I agree with the SDA. De-criminalise the license Tax and then abolish it all together. The BBC can then offer 'customers' an encrypted service and people can have free choice as to whether or not they wish to subscribe.

[cynicalHighlander]

The BBC is part of the problem throughout the UK as they have and still are protecting the establishment. They demonised the Occupy movement on air as they were attacking the establishment. Look at the financial mess the UK is in yet the BBC has ridiculed anyone who criticised the financial/economic 'experts' by sniggering at them after the interview. We have a revolving door syndrome of passing the jobs around from those in power so as not to destabilise the proper order. The licence tax needs to be voluntary at least if not abolished altogether.

[cynicalHighlander]

Stephen Jardine: Aunty’s crisis cuts us all

[cynicalHighlander]

Oops that link didn't work.

http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/opinion/comment/stephen-jardine-aunty-s-crisis-cuts-us-all-1-2631483

[Mike Vickers]

Interesting pod with neither winner.
As Chris said in the final strap line Next week we will back with the real world.
I thought that’s what News Night was supposed to be presenting.
How much air time / paper space has been wasted on Jimmy Saville –it’s water under the bridge. If NewsNight wants to waste its time seeking a follow up then it should be censored whether the guy they pick is the right guy or not.
It would be nice to be able to choose what programmes I want to watch / listen to but I now have that with the IPlayer and personally I don’t choose Gardeners Question Time either but some do. I choose to listen to In Our Time and I sometimes watch art programmes on BBC4 but that’s my choice. I did by the way hear that excruciating slow execution of the Directory General by John Humphries but that was fortuitous or not according to your taste.
Personally although I have signed up for Twitter some years ago I soon got fed up with it and have returned to the Beeb. I don’t want 24 hours of gossip relayed round the world. Much better a well thought out and well written column in the Scotsman.
But back to Chris and his selection of programmes – I would support your choice and applaud the World Service but surely in the act of voting you are bringing out the worst of democracy in providing services only for the majority (though I suspect Gardeners Question Time is more popular than you think). Surely it is the basis of the BBC to cater for all tastes not just the majority. And do away with the BBC and you loose this right to all.
Incidentally I note that 56% of the UK would vote to leave the EU given a referendum – will this be featured on NewsNight tonight or do I have to continue to read the Observer (well actually it came up in the on-line Guardian)

[Mike Vickers]

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t condone in any way what Jimmy Savile did or any of his fellow travellors and I believe that all the identified cases need following up by the Police and the victims supported wherever the social services can help but in my view there is nothing to be gained now in washing all the dirty linen in public and that includes New Night.