Watching the BBC News Channel got me thinking; Why do they need separate reporters for sport? What a waste of time; I see they use that grumpy looking bird who used to read the football results for fat git Moyles. Speaking of which, why do so many people need to be in his studio except to make him sound funny? A bit like local radio; One presenter, some tart riding about in a radio car talking to shop owners, someone else to read weather, a sports reporter, a travel reporter plus the producer has to have a say…no wonder our license fee is so extortionate.
Muckaway:
no wonder our license fee is so extortionate.
£2.80 a week for numerous TV channels with regional programming, dozens of radio stations at local and national levels catering to all sorts of broadcasting preferences, not to mention a wealth of online and on-demand content all of which is free of commercial advertising … can hardly be described as extortionate can it? 
Incidentally, the news programming which you deem to be overstaffed represents less than 2% of BBC expenditure and thats not just the BBC news channel, that includes all news broadcasting. It’s a similar story with Radio 1, not just Chris Moyles, the whole of Radio 1 represents less than 2% of expenditure.
I’m no great fan of the BBC, but IMHO its near impossible to argue that the cost fails to represent value for money to the individuals in a household … How much does a single magazine cost for instance? 
Very well said. The only thing is I am a massive fan of the BBC. It’s something to be proud of in this country and is envied all over the world. Why not take a pop a Sky over staffing, a Sky subscription is a total rip off and way more than the licence fee, for less in my opinion.
I agree Luke; I’ve got Sky but the very basic package. The wife likes animal programmes and I watch History channels but even they’re mainly rehashed documentaries. Community Channel WTF? Just like most on here, I don’t have time to watch movies and I’m not a great movie fan anyway (just took delivery of Hell Drivers from Play though-tipper training vid 
) Football is a rip off too.
My beef with the Beeb (could be Sky News aswell, I can’t stand it so don’t watch it) is the fact that they need someone other than a news reporter to read a few sports results. Why?
There’s a lot of talk around here that BBC Oxford will share programmes with Berkshire, Gloucestershire etc. I don’t have a problem with it…I only have the BBC stations set on my radio so they automatically goto travel news, then my radio goes to standby. No Radio 1 with fat guts and black/chav music for me. I’m not old or liberal enough to listen to Radio 2 and I wont give commercial stations (■■■■ FM basically) the time of day.
But the thing is they are just that, reporters, not presenters. They don’t just read the results, they compile all the sports news too. Believe me with recent cuts there won’t be one person at the BBC they could do without.
switchlogic:
But the thing is they are just that, reporters, not presenters. They don’t just read the results, they compile all the sports news too. Believe me with recent cuts there won’t be one person at the BBC they could do without.
Sara Cox? Who the hell wd ride that? Mussay they’ve got some good looking news ladies though 
Muckaway:
switchlogic:
But the thing is they are just that, reporters, not presenters. They don’t just read the results, they compile all the sports news too. Believe me with recent cuts there won’t be one person at the BBC they could do without.Sara Cox?
You’ve lost me
I agree with the sentiment that the BBC is good value, where else can you read the news for free from every area of the country, not just the headlines. I read the news from my local area, where I used to live, keep an eye on parts of Africa and listen to local radio.
It is not perfect, but we haven’t got anything any better, nor has anyone else in the rest of the World.
The BBC and the Royal Mail are the two least expensive services we have in the UK
The BBC can and should take risks that commercial channels can’t, I don’t think a commercial channel would have risked programs like Wonders of the Solar System or stuff the David Attenborough makes, many classic comedies would never have survived a first series if they were shown on a commercial channel. Over the years BBC radio must have been responsible for introducing more new types of music and new bands, can’t really have seen John Peel lasting on a commercial radio station. I think it also improves the output of ITV, judging by some fo the telly I’ve seen round Europe. Of course there is stuff I don’t like, but others do and I can always turn it off or over.
And remember when you read a story knocking the BBC in the National press just remember many newspaper owners have an anti BBC agenda for thier own reasons.
And remember that when they play all the old re-hashed Fools+H the actors get paid again+again whereas we should get a reduction in our license fee because we have already paid to have those progs made years ago & now we are paying to see/switch 'em off again!
muckles:
The BBC can and should take risks that commercial channels can’t, I don’t think a commercial channel would have risked programs like Wonders of the Solar System or stuff the David Attenborough makes, many classic comedies would never have survived a first series if they were shown on a commercial channel. Over the years BBC radio must have been responsible for introducing more new types of music and new bands, can’t really have seen John Peel lasting on a commercial radio station. I think it also improves the output of ITV, judging by some fo the telly I’ve seen round Europe. Of course there is stuff I don’t like, but others do and I can always turn it off or over.And remember when you read a story knocking the BBC in the National press just remember many newspaper owners have an anti BBC agenda for thier own reasons.
Very well put. A prime example is my favourite BBC service and one I constantly bang on about, 6 Music. It’s a wonderful and brilliant station, it’s importance in breaking new music is huge. And it’s one radio station that would never be done commercially. When it was threatened with closure many of us argued if Mark Thompson wants to compete less with commercial stations then he should shut Radio 1, that does nothing commercial stations don’t. As it happens come the day when/if radio goes digital I think 6 Music will massacre Radio 1 and even give Radio 2 a run for its money. But no commercial station would have ever given 6 a chance in the first place. Even the big commercial operators were arguing that 6 should stay.
I’ve list count of how many people I’ve got listening to 6. I’ve not had one person give it a try and come back and say its not very good.
Has anyone ever heard the bit Stephen Fry does about the BBC? It’s along the lines of ‘you know when your abroad and you come to say a roundabout covered in flowers, and you think that’s nice. The pride shown, why can’t we do that at home. Well we do, times millions, the BBC’. Words to that effect.
In my opinion the two greatest things we have ever created in the UK are the NHS and the BBC. Both make me proud to be British. The BBC is one reason Britain still has any good will left in the world. People across the world rely on it. It is the envy of the world and without doubt the greatest broadcasting company on earth. It gets a bad rap at home but millions across the planet love it. I think it’s an ■■■■■■ bargain.
Ok, rant over.
The “local” tv news around Oxfordshire is pure crap; We get 10 mins including the sport then 20 mins of what’s happened in Hampshire inc Isle of Wight. How the hell is Hampshire local, yet they don’t mention Gloucestershire? BBC local radio is just a string of crap guests that are usually doing sponsored walks to build mud huts in Africa, tales of woe from Oxfords’ tramps, some old biddy not getting a lift to a granny club and bigging up/making excuses for Oxford United. Complete tosh only redeemed by travel news.
Finally, where were the decent programmes over Christmas? Not just the BBC but on any channel?
MY biggest gripe with the whole system is……………you have no choice, it’s a tax.
The thing with Virgin, Sky and whoever else is that I can choose to pay for it, I don’t have to.
For the BBC I have to pay, if I like it or not, if they have programs in my lingo or not, I have to pay.
If I got than an advertisement free program, I could live with that, but there is not such a thing.
The other gripe is: BBC radio, their programming is absolute rubbish:
Try in the evening / night to get easy listening on BBC radio………………………impossible:
There is radio 1 with their “of their head banging noise” what seems in somebody imagination be music ( our timber yard makes exactly the same sound but that is “noise pollution)
There is radio 2: Meant to be easy listening music station (the replacement of Radio Luxembourg which is the inventor of flat programming and good music stations) but my lunch get spoiled with people discussion any subject (thought that belongs on Radio 3 and 5) after 19:00 get classical music that should belong to Radio 4.
When I lived in Holland the choice was easy:
Radio 1 information / discussions
Radio 2 light music (easy listening)
Radio 3 Top 40 music
Radio 4 Classic
Radio 5 Ethnic music and discussion programs
Why cant we have such a thing in the UK, so I can leave my radio on 1 station and don’t have to need to scan half of my journeys for some decent radio system.
We apy enough for it GBP 145.50 per year x 22.000.000 household in the UK = GBP 3.201.000.000,- (3.2 Billion) I suppose they can do more for that than repeating old crap on the telly and have crap programming on the radio, where people who like to hear their own voice and be heavenly overpaid, spoil your day
[edit: forgot to count their advertising income and other incomes)
caledoniandream:
MY biggest gripe with the whole system is……………you have no choice, it’s a tax.
The thing with Virgin, Sky and whoever else is that I can choose to pay for it, I don’t have to.
For the BBC I have to pay, if I like it or not, if they have programs in my lingo or not, I have to pay.
If I got than an advertisement free program, I could live with that, but there is not such a thing.
But how much does it cost to have Virgin or Sky each month?
And they don’t make some of the programs that I’d like to see, these are programs the BBC does make and very well. And they’ll take a chance on them.
I know the days of Blue Peter covering the labels on items in the studio are long gone, but I don’t really see where you see the adverts. I know many parents think the CBeebies and CBBC are a God send as they don’t have the advertising that commercial childrens channels have.
caledoniandream:
The other gripe is: BBC radio, their programming is absolute rubbish:
Try in the evening / night to get easy listening on BBC radio………………………impossible:
There is radio 1 with their “of their head banging noise” what seems in somebody imagination be music ( our timber yard makes exactly the same sound but that is “noise pollution)
There is radio 2: Meant to be easy listening music station (the replacement of Radio Luxembourg which is the inventor of flat programming and good music stations) but my lunch get spoiled with people discussion any subject (thought that belongs on Radio 3 and 5) after 19:00 get classical music that should belong to Radio 4.When I lived in Holland the choice was easy:
Radio 1 information / discussions
Radio 2 light music (easy listening)
Radio 3 Top 40 music
Radio 4 Classic
Radio 5 Ethnic music and discussion programsWhy cant we have such a thing in the UK, so I can leave my radio on 1 station and don’t have to need to scan half of my journeys for some decent radio system.
We apy enough for it GBP 145.50 per year x 22.000.000 household in the UK = GBP 3.201.000.000,- (3.2 Billion) I suppose they can do more for that than repeating old crap on the telly and have crap programming on the radio, where people who like to hear their own voice and be heavenly overpaid, spoil your day
[edit: forgot to count their advertising income and other incomes)
I think Radio One is only really interested in an age group from 13 to 25. Radio 2 has to cater to a wide range of ages and musical interests, after 7pm, normally more specialist music shows such as Jazz, Folk, Country Showtunes etc, not all of it’s to my taste, But I don’t think it does classical music. Classical is still very much a Radio 3 thing.
News, Politics, Current affairs, Sience etc is Radio 4 and the Archers.
Maybe you need to invest in a digital radio and go onto 6 Music.
Of course there is commercial Radio, but having been subject to various stations in Workshops where I’ve worked. It seems to me they offer a very limited playlist and does my head in after a few hours.
caledoniandream:
When I lived in Holland the choice was easy:
Radio 1 information / discussions
Radio 2 light music (easy listening)
Radio 3 Top 40 music
Radio 4 Classic
Radio 5 Ethnic music and discussion programs
It’s already been pointed out but, errrmmm, it’s easy here too -
Radio 1 - 25 and under, chart music
Radio 1 Xtra - More of an urban station
Radio 2 - 25 and over, new and old music, fairly easy listening, at night too.
Radio 3 - Classical
Radio 4 - News/Documentaries/Interviews/Plays etc
Radio 4 Xtra - Drama/Comedy etc
5Live - Sport and discussion
6Music - New music, old music, great music. Today for instance is Bowie day to celebrate his birthday. 6 through the night is same as 6 during the day.
Asian Network - Self Explanatory
Hollands radio sounds really dull and boring in comparison!
I’m sorry but if you can’t find something you like in that amazing array of stations and all you want is easy listening then maybe you should head over to Heart FM, or Smooth FM. I think your looking for what you want in the wrong places, I imagine you are well out of Radio 1’s target audience. 
And you mustn’t forget the world service, possibly the most important radio station in the world.
Why do the commentary team change after 20 odd minutes for football, then change back after half time, then another change for the last 20 odd minutes? TV commentators do the whole match.
“Expert analysis” usually done by an out of work manager…If he’s such an expert why was he sacked? Bit like Martin Brundle and David Coulthard doing F1; How many titles did you two win?
What is "urban music? "Is it the crap that bangs out of a Corsa with badly tinted windows, that’s driven by a kid with his cap on back to front, choking on his Argos necklace (with a padlock on the end)
Muckaway:
Why do the commentary team change after 20 odd minutes for football, then change back after half time, then another change for the last 20 odd minutes? TV commentators do the whole match.
“Expert analysis” usually done by an out of work manager…If he’s such an expert why was he sacked? Bit like Martin Brundle and David Coulthard doing F1; How many titles did you two win?What is "urban music? "Is it the crap that bangs out of a Corsa with badly tinted windows, that’s driven by a kid with his cap on back to front, choking on his Argos necklace (with a padlock on the end)
You need to lighten up a bit. You seem o have a bit of a chip on your shoulder over TV people. Brundle and Coulthard have still won a lot more races and will have a much deeper understanding of F1 than someone who’s only ever been a presenter.
Muckaway:
Why do the commentary team change after 20 odd minutes for football, then change back after half time, then another change for the last 20 odd minutes? TV commentators do the whole match.
Listen to the two styles of commentary and the radio ones have to talk a hell of a lot more to describe everything. TV commentators don’t need to keep telling you the action is in the middle of the pitch, where the players are or the ball has been played down the left for instance.
Take this afternoon’s Manchester Derby in the FA Cup.
TV commentator: Rooney, Scholes to Giggs.
Radio commentator. Rooney, midway in the City half, he cuts right, plays the ball along the ground to Scholes. Quick pass to Giggs who is out on the left.
Same piece of action, many more words. A radio commentator probably does more talking in one of his 22+ minute spells as the TV bloke does in 90 minutes.
Muckaway:
Why do the commentary team change after 20 odd minutes for football, then change back after half time, then another change for the last 20 odd minutes? TV commentators do the whole match.
“Expert analysis” usually done by an out of work manager…If he’s such an expert why was he sacked? Bit like Martin Brundle and David Coulthard doing F1; How many titles did you two win?
Can’t really comment about the football, but although Martin Brundle and David Coultard have never one an F1 Championship, they both have a wealth of motorsport experience from the sharp end, that a normal commentator can’t have. It would be very difficult to get a British Ex F1 Champion to do it as there are only 4 alive, 2 are still driving and the other 2 would probably be worse commentators.
Personally I think the BBC’s coverage of F1 has been brilliant, especially when you compare it to what ITV were doing a few years back.
Muckaway:
What is "urban music? "Is it the crap that bangs out of a Corsa with badly tinted windows, that’s driven by a kid with his cap on back to front, choking on his Argos necklace (with a padlock on the end)
Yea probably, is like all music there is good and bad, but those that listen to it are to young to realise, but we were there once playing music that our parents didn’t like or understand.