BBC 'Reform' and Red 172

Often we can substitute the word 'tinkering' or even just 'change' for reform....

I've a view that sometimes here in the UK  there's a bit too much government, we've got quite a number of career politicians  and when they're writing their CVs or seeking their next post they need to show what they've done, sadly what they've done isn't always right or better but they still need to do things.

BBC London HQ

A point here is that the BBC is in the 'news' - the public (or quite a number of them anyway) have been consulted and said largely that they're pretty happy with it (See Radio  Times input story and other sources like this one mentioned here) - but the Politicians (they're often not the biggest TV viewers and radio listeners) need to make some action - obviously what's needed is more political appointees and more oversight (strangely not what came out of the consultations).

While choice in many things is considered good by 'Liberals' of the economic kind the idea that we should have a choice between TV with adverts and TV without this is not so good.

I've seen some ideas that should the EU vote decide on the remain option this will have the opposite affect on our current DCMS minister - perhaps a vote swinger for some?

A former  BBC Dr Who in Trafalgar Square yesterday

Talking of the BBC on Radio (and iPlayer) there's a great series by at the moment brought to us by Martin Sixsmith  a former New Labour spin-master and the character played by Steve Coogan in the film Philomena)

The Radio programme, on BBC Radio 4 Extra  is called  In search of ourselves and it's actually a worthwhile 'taster' to the world of Psychology and the Mind  - not earth shattering but not the sort of thing that commercial broadcasters would probably touch with a fairly long bargepole.

Red 172

Back to a sort of nature - red flower against green.

A splash of colour

Glass, Media and Red 180

A source of glass

On living in newish homes a regular find in the gardens is concrete and builders waste but since I've had an allotment I've been finding glass all the while.

I'm sure that it tells a story and here's a small sample of what I've picked out (below)

Seems that Glass is not so green as you might think takes a lot of energy to make it and it's around for ever (it doesn't decompose).

It goes on and on...

Media, It's not a New Day -and no friends Whittingdale 

I learn today that the latest UK national daily paper, New Day is to close tomorrow - I had my doubts but can't help thinking it deserves a longer try-out and if it took a little more of what the i has it could survive - perhaps we've just seen the last new paper launch.

Radio 4's media show feels like it gives you the inside view of what's going on - if that's the case hearing Chris (lord) Patten bad mouthing Whittingdale made me feel slightly sorry for the DCMS minister (only slightly) - shame Chris ran from the BBC as he did (I know there were health issues for him) - feels like the current chair is part of the problem rather than contributing to a real solution.

Red 180

Mind your (Red and Yellow) step

You hopefully won't miss the Red and Yellow Rhino SafeStep

bid for the kids

BBC and YouTube

The announcement that BBC has done a content deal with YouTube provides a level of credibility to the site it could only have dreamt of a year or so ago, it’ll be interesting to see if Joost can pull any similar rabbit from its’ hat as the battle rages on Video content on your PC.

The BBC feels that it has a problem with the young who are not watching/listening to enough of aunties’ content and as a result the current DG (Director General) Mark Thompson has been promoting a ‘Martini vision’ not blurred by the drink but taking a concept from the drink advert so loved by Hoodies all over the nation –Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere etc.

I think the BBC has to start looking at what it’ll be post the licence fee but not sure that this is the way to go.

Sale of Stuff
I'm still offloading items on Ebay that I wonder why I bought. here's the latest - plenty more to come over the weeks ahead.

More bad news for Sky

Following Sky’s disclosure that it could face a £20m reduction in profits as a result of the failure to reach agreement with Virgin Media (was NTL) comes the news that the BBC trust has approved the long awaited satellite version of Freeview. This is undoubtedly bad news for the folks out at Osterley but many observers consider an alternative platform as long overdue, C4 is expected to be part of the offering but will a 17.9% Sky owned ITV also be there?

BBC reacts quickly to premium phone hysteria by Chugger* Holmes.

News that while the larger than life Eamon Holmes was simulcasting across BBC Radio and TV he was also cadging money for BBC charities was met with horror, in their favour the BBC have now decreed that such phone-ins will henceforth be live. Me I think it’s not for the BBC to be an arbiter of the charities and consider such commercial concepts should be removed from the public broadcaster. (Eamon, the hardest working man in Showbiz also available on Sky News)

(Charity Mugger)

Ericsson swoops on Tandberg tv

Convergence takes a further twist with the news that the company that enables many of the DVB (digital TV) services in the UK and the rest of the world Tandberg TV) is being stalked by mobile phone giant Ericsson it certainly shows that further consolidation fuelled by the predicted growth in IPTV is going to be the only show in town (for a while).

Not Selling?

BBC is there a cure?

'Scrap the BBC' is an interesting book which I’ve started reading, the thing about the BBC is that it is an anomaly and it annoys me in any respects but when I read something like this I’m forced to spring to it’s defence. 'm not sure that Richard D North is someone who I can agree with too much.

* The BBC historically has been thought to super serve the middle classes (imagine the cost per listener hour of Radio 3 as opposed to Radio 2) but it recognises that this is a shortcoming and it does try to address it.

*The BBC is a state broadcaster but it (to me) tries to pretend it isn’t – there a real danger that the BBC Trust will in fact endanger what independence it has, the recent licence settlement which for the first time includes clear hypothecation with respect to the closing down of analogue transmission is extremely worrying.

* Does the BBC act as a unifying element, should we be concerned that such a thing might be required?

These are important questions but putting them to one side for considerably less than £3.00 per week you get fantastic Radio,TV and web coverage things like ‘the men from the ministry’ or Melvyn Bragg rambling along with his guests – University Challenge and Mastermind - at the end of the day (and through the night) it is very good value for money.

Radio for sale

I was surprised that no one wants my radio – I’ve got at least 10 radios and wanted to get rid of one – thought someone would like it but no takers on e-bay, latest sale is an old Canon AE1 camera it’s not being used and I would rather it went to someone than to landfill.

Venus

Great British film shock – we went to see Venus last night, it was very amusing and thought provoking, subconsciously I probably knew it was written by Hanif Kureshi but I didn’t register this until the end- this was perhaps why it referenced The Royal Court theatre. I hope Leslie Phillips and Peter O’Toole get some serious recognition for their fine performances.

The Future

Media & Tech

In the UK the BBC has backed itself into an awkward corner over digital switchover and the licence fee. This brings into serous doubt the competency of the DG Mark Thompson

The Venice Project is generating a lot of interest and has some significant backers with good track records the big battle now seems to be over IPTV.

Politics

Lib Dems – The Ming Dynasty looks likely to come to an early end with many in the party unhappy with the leaders performance, the party though has a challenge finding an experienced successor especially taking into account the curse of Lembit is not going to be easy.

The Labour government has been tremendously successful and for me part of the reason for this is what has been almost a dual leadership between Prime Minster and chancellor there’s a need for a strong balancing power to likely new PM Gordon Brown as he has undoubted bullying proclivities.

The Conservatives look likely to continue their modernising progress and Cameron is showing real mettle in this

Personal.

I hope that UK citizens begin to revolt in respect to the nanny state, ID cards and increasing snooping

Highlight for me is my continued health I hope to maintain this in 2007 by moderate exercise and keeping an eye on my liquid and solid intake.

Best to all of you in your hopes and ambitions for 2007 (it makes me want to dance like an elf ).