Let’s talk about BBC

[Psamathe]

Interesting particularly it's from an interview with a "friend of for years"

On the Today programme, Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, a rightwing news organisation in the US, and someone who has been a friend of Donald Trump for years, was interviewed about Trump’s threat to sue the BBC. Here are the main points he made.

Ruddy said that, if the BBC were to fight the case in the Florida courts, they would probably win. He explained:

The fact is, I’m from the state of Florida. I’m very familiar with the Florida libel laws.
I have no doubt the BBC misrepresented what the president said. And that’s pretty clear. I think everybody agrees, otherwise you wouldn’t have had those resignations.
I’m also very assured that if the BBC took the case to court, they would prevail. They would prevail because the state of Florida has pretty strong libel laws that defend media companies and free speech.

(excerpts from https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/nov/11/bbc-crisis-labour-conservatives-donald-trump-lawsuit-politics-live-updates?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-6912fa688f08d3736687ba7b#block-6912fa688f08d3736687ba7b\)

 

[Pblakeney]

Also, Streeting answering "wouldn't challenge" does not mean he would not stand were a leadership election called. Hence the political game of "Stalking Horse"

You could ask that question of any MP from any party at any time and you would get the same answer.
It is a pointless question designed purely to create a story where none exists. Well, the story may exist but only a buffoon would fess up.

 

[matticus]

If the BBC is to regain its position as a trusted news outlet

According to who?!? Your good self?

Is this "position" measurable? Should we monitor how many anti-BBC articles Sky run?! How many pro-BBC articles did they run - say - 10 years ago?

I'm sorry, but these statements are rarely made in good faith....

 

[AuroraSaab]

Shouldn't we hold a state funded outlet to higher standards than a privately owned one? I don't pay Sky £175 a year.

The news has focused on the Trump story but on women's rights the BBC has not reported with impartiality for years. That coverage certainly is measurable. I doubt you've noticed this reporting so yes it's according to my good self and many others too, but again, I doubt you've noticed the objections either.

Only 19% of those in this survey thought the BBC was unbiased.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

Shouldn't we hold a state funded outlet to higher standards than a privately owned one? I don't pay Sky £175 a year.

The news has focused on the Trump story but on women's rights the BBC has not reported with impartiality for years. That coverage certainly is measurable. I doubt you've noticed this reporting so yes it's according to my good self and many others too, but again, I doubt you've noticed the objections either.

Only 19% of those in this survey thought the BBC was unbiased.

View attachment 11008

16% of Labour voters think the BBC is biased in favour of the left wing? We really are f*cking doomed.
Of course left/right is undefined and essentially meaningless anyway.

 

[Beebo]

Shouldn't we hold a state funded outlet to higher standards than a privately owned one? I don't pay Sky £175 a year.

The news has focused on the Trump story but on women's rights the BBC has not reported with impartiality for years. That coverage certainly is measurable. I doubt you've noticed this reporting so yes it's according to my good self and many others too, but again, I doubt you've noticed the objections either.

Only 19% of those in this survey thought the BBC was unbiased.

View attachment 11008

That poll was taken yesterday. So all responses will be biased to some extent by the recent news.


And any way, it shows that 50% think it is biased one way and 50% don’t know or don’t believe it is biased.

So it’s basically right in the middle.

 

[First Aspect]

I don't pay Sky anything, bu.it seems to be about £300 a year at the moment. And Netflix is similar to the license fee.

The difference is you can't really choose not to pay for the BBC, and if you decided not to watch anything live, you couldn't watch non-BBC live output, including Sky Sports.

It's not a system that anyone could come up with now, but the one thing that should be protected is public service news, current affairs and factual programming. Most countries have some funding for programmes of that nature, even the US.

I could care less if Strictly has adverts.

 

[Pross]

I reckon the licence fee should just be renamed as a communication tax. Still ringfence the money but it stops the 'I never watch / listen to BBC content' argument. The current term is archaic.

 

[Pblakeney]

It's not a system that anyone could come up with now, but the one thing that should be protected is public service news, current affairs and factual programming. Most countries have some funding for programmes of that nature, even the US.

I fully agree with your point, but hasn't Donnie cancelled funding for PBS?

 

[First Aspect]

I fully agree with your point, but hasn't Donnie cancelled funding for PBS?

He said he has, yes. Whether that creeps back in later under a more broadminded administration, who knows.

Canada has one, and that's a more sensible place.

 

[matticus]

Shouldn't we hold a state funded outlet to higher standards than a privately owned one? I don't pay Sky £175 a year.

Yeah, I hear you: but if you want to make any comparison you need to state some definitions.
Let's assume (for now) that we're only interested in truth/balance etc (rather than quantity, or beauty!):
if you say you want "Impartiality" what do you mean by that?

For me it all comes back to the "Is it RAINING?" test; I want the News coverage to include some degree of verification. Otherwise what do you want: political coverage which is just a sound-bite from every party leader?

 

[matticus]

I suspect the BBC will always experience a background noise of criticism, because they are seen as AUTHORITAY!!! Some see it as their life purpose to rebel, push back, stick it to the man!
They'll never feel the same animosity to Sky or the Guardian.

 

[Beebo]

I don't pay Sky anything, bu.it seems to be about £300 a year at the moment. And Netflix is similar to the license fee.

The difference is you can't really choose not to pay for the BBC, and if you decided not to watch anything live, you couldn't watch non-BBC live output, including Sky Sports.

It's not a system that anyone could come up with now, but the one thing that should be protected is public service news, current affairs and factual programming. Most countries have some funding for programmes of that nature, even the US.

I could care less if Strictly has adverts.

The other difference is much of what BBC does is non profitable, and dictated to by the charter.
They have to provide religious programming, current affairs, children’s programs, local community stuff like countryfile and gardeners world. Plus all the radio stuff.
No one would pay for that, but BBC has to provide it. It wasn’t set up to compete in a cut throat multimedia market.
I do think that some advertising will be needed at some point, but it will be a shame. And can you maintain impartiality whilst being paid by big oil or big gambling etc.

 

[First Aspect]

The model will change, it has to. I absolutely think there needs to be funding for productions that supposedly no one will buy, even Gardeners World - because who doesn't like changing channels when it's on, despite the warm familiar feeling that some retirees down the road are riveted to it an ld currently taking notes?

But will these programmes become free to air, or will they be offered by streaming platforms? Could the BBC go to an advertising model, and fund itself for the guff that anyone could make like Traitors, but be one of any other broadcaster able to secure funding to commission Gardener's World?

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

The difference is you can't really choose not to pay for the BBC

Go and have a read of the 'should i ditch my TV' thread on CC. There are loads on there who claim not to have a TV licence!