We (most of us I suspect) have in the past come to regard the TV Licence fee as being an endearing, traditional little payment given to a treasured “Aunty”, and we gratefully administered this stipend in the knowledge that we would receive golden nuggets of culture and entertainment and in return we had the warm feeling that we were supporting a loved relative.

I think I supported this attituide for many years, especially in my youth in the 70s and 80s when I soaked up so much good culture from the Beeb such as classical music, art, cinema, science and politics. TV progs like Chronicle, Horizon, Arena, Panorama, Michael Wood, Ascent of Man, Tomorrow’s World, themed film seasons of noted film makers, operas, etc come to mind as being the peak of their genres, I’m sure there are many others that I have forgotten.

I was aware of a slight luvvie/media/lefty bias in the BBC’s output in those days but this was far outweighed by their excellent output.

This attitude of mine fast disappeared in the 1990s, when quality started plummeting and political biasedness increased.

I think it can be symbolised by comparing Paxman’s infamous grilling of then Home Office minister Michael Howard where he was asked the same question over and over again with great vigour. Then conrast that with Paxo’s rather comic-book, lame caricature of a Spanish inquisitioner who often allowed NuLabour politicians to get away with unchallenged lies about much more serious national issues.

Beeboid supporters will mention BBC4 as being the dedicated supporter of quality output. I challenge anyone to watch BBC4 for two months and find anything that is better than the programmes I have mentioned above. True, they have some occasional, decent arts programmes and some reasonable science documentaries but these are dumbed down compared to their superlative 1960s, 1970s and 1980s predecessors.

Another pro-BBC argument is that we would lose huge chunks of protected high culture without BBC (public funded) support.

My counter argument is: BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.

Radio 3 often broadcasts the worst suicide-inducing, strident, tuneless string quartets or mass-murder-inducing atonal “works” from the likes of Alban Berg and Stockhausen. It is very rarely that I, with a wide taste in classical music, find anything on radio 3 worth listening to. Classic FM on the other hand often have many good concerts in the evenings uninterrupted by adverts. I will admit that some of their output is “poppy” but this is a small price for the much better output.

If the private sector can give the punters what they want better than the BBC, then what is the point of the BBC?

Commercial operators please note: I will happily pay a pound a month to listen to Radio3′s Eartly Music Show, Michael Berkely, some Proms concerts and a few others. But I steadfastly object to paying

This comment is not inspired by, “…..by over excited messianic left leaning university lecturers,” and Politics and the English Language. I know, of course, that Orwell was probably a socialist.

The BBC Charter runs until 2016, but that is not an obstacle to taking action now. Under article 53, the members of the Trust can decide to wind up the BBC. Under article 16(c), a member can have his appointment terminated by Order in Council. So if the existing members of the Trust won’t co-operate, chuck them out and put new ones in. If anyone thinks that sounds Stalinist, then (a) it would be in accordance with the terms of the Charter, and (b) it is the idea of a state broadcaster, funded by a compulsory levy on all viewers of any channel, that is Stalinist.

As Billy above states the BBC in Scotland are beyond anything we see on the UK wide BBC. As the only major broadcaster they have total control of the airways and control the media agenda. The hero worship of the previous Labour government and the Labour party in Scotland is as shocking as it is misguided.

The Labour party that took us to ruin during the most affulent period in UK history. They ruined us during the good times and yet the BBC seem continue to spout out daily support for them.

The internet is documenting all this activity and it will be oneday a subject for critical historical review.

As for the unions who fund new Labour and then complain about them. Only on the idealist left would an organisation such as a trade union paid for by workers fund a government that is killing employment, the economy and any chance of having a job.

As for D.Camerons comments about Pakistan being a terrorist supporter. About time we mentioned this and stoppped giving money to these people.

They are communitarians.

http://www.nikiraapana.blogspot.com/

As far as the BBC is concerned – it’s FUBAR. I can’t watch it myself, and the only people whom I know that do all seem to parrot the watermelon political, social & ecological agenda uncritically (and passionately). Any description of (specific) BBC TV as ‘gutter channels’ is taken as a personal affront by at least one of them!

http://biased-bbc.blogspot.com/

The blog particularly welcome examples of bias which may have slipped past them.