Re: [Swprograms] BBC E-mail: World Service soap Westway axed

[Richard Cuff <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx>]

/sarcasm on...

Wait a minute here.  We're talking about a public service broadcaster, right?

Why should popularity matter?  After all, popularity -- ratings -- is
one of the measures that commercial broadcasters use, right?

I thought public service broadcasters were supposed to use benchmarks
other than popularity to prioritize what goes on air.

/sarcasm off...

Meanwhile, let's talk about the multiple streams matter a bit.  The
BBC seeks to become a "global local" broadcaster.  You know, "think
globally, act locally".

That's the way global entities who serve multiple cultures and
multiple constituencies operate.  One does this in order to enhance
performance -- however measured -- by each individual audience.

I'll grant you that the creation of multiple streams has added a layer
of complexity to the management of the distribution of broadcasts from
Bush House up to the satellites and back down to the transmitters.  It
also requires continuity for each stream between individual programs. 
What are your other beefs regarding the concept?

The concept of "streaming" becomes moot in the world of on-demand
listening / podcasting anyway.  Each listener creates their own
"stream".

Just so we in the group don't propagate errors, the weekday emphasis
as of late '05 is to be "news & factual".  This would include programs
such as "From Our Own Correspondnet", "Assignment", the documentaries,
"Essential Guide", the Science / Health features, and "The Interview"
in addition to the news programming.

It will be interesting to see if the "All News" stream is maintained
as a separate stream later this year.  Since Sirius is switching to
the PRI feed, which is slightly different than the "all news" feed,
there is no specific outlet -- other than the website -- for the "all
news" stream.

Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA

On Apr 2, 2005 12:43 AM, John Figliozzi <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Never one of my personal favorites, but the article points out why it
> is to many across the globe and why it was important.
> 
> So let me get this straight.  There was nothing deemed wrong with the
> quality of the program.  And it was evidently quite popular.  So, of
> course, it should be axed!  Given the "logic" pursued rather
> relentlessly by BBCWS management of late, this reasoning is perfectly
> consistent!
> 
> And while you might think I'm just being sarcastic, I am.  But I'm also
> being factual.
> 
> John Figliozzi
> Halfmoon, NY
> 
> PS:  Somewhere along the line in the various BBC-related threads the
> past few weeks, someone commented that if the BBC truly wanted to same
> some scratch, it really ought to scrap one of its worst decisions from
> the past decade....that being the seven (or is it nine?) program
> streams which, with the exception of the Africa streams, just broadcast
> the same programs but at slightly different times.  I wholeheartedly
> concur and have been saying this from almost the beginning of this
> addled idea. Given the stripped down version(s) of the BBC we have
> today (in comparison to even the recent past) and the apparent plans on
> the drawing board in 2006 to strip it down further, all that's really
> needed is a worldwide stream and an African stream.  Even an all-news
> stream won't be necessary any longer because that will be the natural
> state of the new BBCWS in 2006 apparently!
> 
> As someone in Monty Python once said,  "What a stupid concert."
> 
>
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