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Re: [Swprograms] BBC Newscast Shifts Lineup on U.S. Public TV Stations
No argument from this quarter on that point, Sandy. That's why I've kept my subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio--it has BBC, CBC (R1, R3, RCI) and WRN. But--other than the obvious competitive/copyright issues--I don't see why cable hasn't created a pay tier of international sources like BBC World. Pay satellite has done a little better, but not much.
It seems that BBC America has seen the handwriting on the wall on that score and that's why they've shifted some of their current affairs fare into what had been just an entertainment service. I also get some DW programming on our educational access channel and CNN International does seem to be more open to a wider variety of topics and sources than CNN domestic.
But I do get your wider point and agree with it wholeheartedly.
jaf
---- Sandy Finlayson <sfinlayson@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> John
>
> I don't disagree with your assessment of 'World Focus' as a program,
> what I find discouraging is the apparent unwillingness of the market
> place to invest in the perspectives of other broadcasters. I'm just
> surprised that there has been so little interest in cable and satellite
> providers picking up the BBC World News channel
>
> What is refreshing about BBC World News is not just that it covers
> stories not normally seen on US TV but it does so from a non American
> perspective.
> I'm not trying to be culturally insensitive here but I think it is
> always good to know how other people see the world. I just wish we were
> living in a less insular culture.
>
> Sandy
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------
> Mr. Sandy Finlayson
> Director of Library Services &
> Professor of Theological Bibliography
> Westminster Theological Seminary
> Philadelphia, PA
>
>
> 'Nothing makes a man more reverent than a library'
> Sir Winston Churchill
> -----Original Message-----
> From: swprograms-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:swprograms-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 4:33 PM
> To: k9iua@xxxxxxxxx; Shortwave programming discussion
> Subject: Re: [Swprograms] BBC Newscast Shifts Lineup on U.S. Public TV
> Stations
>
> I think it always has been part of PBS's plans to have a more
> global-oriented newscast. The BBC on PBS was never considered more than
> a stopgap until that could be done. Martin Savidge is an excellent
> journalist and this broadcast will evolve if given the time to do so.
> Lately, PBS programing managers have been less patient allowing programs
> to find an audience (sort of like their commercial counterparts,
> inexplicably), so that is not at all certain. It was the co-creator of
> "World Focus"-- WLIW--that brought "BBC World News" here in the first
> place.
>
> I'm afraid that those looking for their daily fix of BBC News on
> television will have to subscribe to satellite or digital cable to get
> BBC America. The latter runs full hour long BBC World newscasts at 6, 7
> , 8 in the morning ET and a "BBC World News America" hour long news at 7
> and repeated at 10 in the evening ET. BBC America also has ramped up
> its coverage of the US elections, carrying the three debates and
> planning full all night coverage of election day returns. BBC America
> also has a US-edited version of "Newsnight" with the infamous <g> Jeremy
> Paxton on Friday nights.
>
> John Figliozzi
>
> ---- Kevin Anderson <k9iua@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > The replacement program many PBS stations/networks are airing is
> "World Focus," which is a poor substitute for the BBC. One of the two
> statewide PBS networks I can receive made that switch, at a premium 5:30
> p.m. local time spot no less, which I just complained to them about on
> their feedback link. (The other PBS network I get carries a much
> delayed BBC news broadcast at 11:00 p.m., which is after my bedtime,
> plus really old news.) While I appreciate "world" news, I also want a
> non-U.S.-centric view, which World Focus is not. I'm guessing the
> distributors of World Focus gave PBS stations a great introductory
> carriage rate, cheaper than the BBC news program it is substituting
> [poorly] for, which they couldn't refuse in the tight financial times of
> today.
> >
> > The 24-hour BBC television stream in my area is only on the digital
> cable coverage, at premioum prices that I can't afford to pay.
> >
> > Sad.
> >
> > Kevin Anderson
> >
> > -------------------------------------
> >
> >
> > --- On Wed, 10/22/08, Sandy Finlayson <sfinlayson@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > > From: Sandy Finlayson <sfinlayson@xxxxxxx>
> > > Subject: [Swprograms] BBC Newscast Shifts Lineup on U.S. Public TV
> Stations
> > > To: "Shortwave programming discussion" <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 2:32 PM
> > > I realize this is off topic from shortwave radio but I
> > > thought the
> > > following article from the New York Times might be of
> > > interest to some.
> > >
> > >
> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/arts/television/07bbca.html?_r=1&oref=
> > > slogin
> > >
> > > It looks as if my local PBS station WHYY Philadelphia has
> > > dropped the
> > > BBC news which used to be on at 11 PM. Frankly I'm
> > > disappointed with
> > > this move.
> > >
> > > It also remains a matter of distress to me that the 24 hour
> > > BBC News
> > > Channel isn't available here. I think the USA is about
> > > the only place
> > > on the planet where it is largely unavailable.
> > >
> > > Sandy
> > >
> > >
> > > --------------------------------------------------------
> > > Mr. Sandy Finlayson
> > > Director of Library Services &
> > > Professor of Theological Bibliography
> > > Westminster Theological Seminary
> > > Philadelphia, PA
> > >
> > >
> > > 'Nothing makes a man more reverent than a library'
> > > Sir Winston Churchill
> > >
> > >
> > >
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