Re: [Swprograms] Trojan horses (link corrected)

[jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Re: "BBC Worldwide--which is now on the auction list--was clearly"

I should have finished the sentence...

BBC Worldwide--which is now on the auction list--was clearly an effort 
to compete head on with commercial program producers and suppliers.  
At least that mistake is being corrected.  

----- Original Message -----
From: jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Friday, May 27, 2005 11:40 am
Subject: Re: [Swprograms] Trojan horses (link corrected)

> Well, you make some excellent points here.  And we haven't made a 
> distinction between BBC domestic and external services and that 
> would 
> certainly introduce its own dynamic to this conversation.
> 
> But isn't the proof of the pudding in the eating?  Let's take 
> news.  
> There was a time when the BBC would have (and rightfully) totally 
> ignored a storyline like the Michael Jackson trial.  At times it 
> has 
> positively reveled in it!  There are numerous other examples of 
> this 
> preoccupation with the trivial.  That, to me, is a commercially-
> induced reaction.  Other examples can flow from there.  Let's take 
> World Service programming which is increasingly being given over 
> to 
> news at the expense of creative program features.  It is said this 
> is 
> done because news is the BBC's most marketable product.  Is that 
> not a 
> commercial reaction?  The BBC's own rhetoric continuously talks 
> about 
> competition, return on investment, and service to "customers" and 
> other such things in a manner that puts you in the mind that they 
> are 
> talking about a business, not a public service.  BBC Worldwide--
> which 
> is now on the auction list--was clearly 
> 
> I am--perhaps--to old fashioned in my preferences.  But I am not a 
> cave-dweller.  I've embraced many of the new tools.  However, I do 
> perceive an active diminution in depth, scope and quality in the 
> World 
> Service's offerings at least.  I think anyone making an honest 
> assessment of the BBC now vs. the BBC a few years ago would have 
> to 
> admit that they see this too.
> 
> Finally, I agree that sweeping generalizations are not helpful.  
> In 
> the sense that I am speaking, I'm not necessarily using 
> "commercial" 
> as an overall pejorative term--just perjorative in the sense that 
> it 
> is injurious and inconsistent with a public service remit.  It 
> certainly is useful to have other perspectives in play to avoid a 
> certain incestuous stagnation.  And, yes, some market principles 
> applied in this environment can be useful in reducing waste and 
> excess.  But, in my view, it has not been a useful mix of 
> perspectives 
> that have been at play here recently; rather, an almost wholesale 
> supplanting of one orientation for another.
> 
> John Figliozzi
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mike Barraclough <softbulletin1@xxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Friday, May 27, 2005 10:38 am
> Subject: Re: [Swprograms] Trojan horses (link corrected)
> 
> > 
> > --- jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > 
> > > If the primary source of its funding is advertising,
> > > then even though it might be set up as a public
> > > corporation it still operates under the rubrics of
> > > the commercial sector.
> > 
> > Except that it has got a public service remit
> > > 
> > > If the BBC is simply going to do what the commercial
> > > sector does adequately and in some cases better
> > > already, then there's no reason to have a BBC.
> > 
> > Which was my main criticism of Gregg Dyke who did have
> > a largely commercial background
> >  
> > >My criticism of
> > > current BBC management practices stems from its
> > > penchant for applying the standards of commercial
> > > broadcasting almost across the board to what is (has
> > > been and still should be) a distinctly different
> > > enterprise.  It is my contention that the reason
> > > they do this is because they do not understand that
> > > difference.
> > > 
> > 
> > I do not agree with your seeming assertion that people
> > with a commercial background should not hold BBC
> > management positions. It is a generalisation.  If BBC
> > management personnel have been in the commercial
> > sector it could be argued they see better the
> > different approaches and can use the commercial
> > sectors marketing skills they have seen to raise
> > revenue for a public sector broadcaster without
> > compromising the programming. And you are vague as to
> > who these people are. Michael Grade has held positions
> > in the commercial sector, BBC, Channel 4 which I think
> > you would accept could at least be classified as
> > hybrid, and commercial companies in non broadcast
> > areas. If you only promote from within you run the
> > risk of getting a narrow minded self-satisfied
> > mindset, just hang around in your position for a few
> > years and wait your turn on the promotion ladder.
> > After all remember that one of the leading candidates
> > for Director General with only BBC experience was Mark
> > Byford.
> > 
> > Mike 
> > 
> > 
> > 	
> > 	
> >        	
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