“@observer2 - "Maybe the BBC/media is constrained by govt dictats too" - It is - that was the point of my post. That and the policy of self-censoring, 'safe pair of hands' appointments that affects every public office.

If people think they get value for money from the BBC, they are entitled to pay for it... if they so choose. Just as others should be able to opt out of BBC programming and thus the licence tax.

Ask yourself where is the BBC on some of the key issues: where do you hear about Western stock exchanges being dependent on $1trillion per annum of laundered drugs money (World Bank and IMF figures) and the link between that and the restoration of Afghan poppy production.

How about the cosy relationships between senior Whitehall civil servants and IT suppliers and the £Billions that that costs the tax-payer? (see www.sitfo.wordpress.com) Note that the key-players have been reappointed by the ConDem government as part of their 'deal' with the civil servants.

Do you think you're ever likely to hear those kind of stories reported on the BBC? Somehow, I think not...”

“I'm sure some editing goes on across the whole media David, and during the Thatcherite 80's I think some terrible injustices.Maybe the BBC/media is constrained by govt dictats too?
We the little people may never know.

On the whole though, I think we get incredible value for money and quality from the BBC compared to other outlets.

I too follow other news sources when I have the time; but I always think of the BBC as the "gold standard."”

“@Observer2 - I took it from the horses mouth. Merely a report from someone on the inside.

Personally, I prefer to cast a much wider net for my current affairs input. I remember seeing the edit changes to the news during the miners' strike. On the lunchtime news a handful of kids were shown throwing rocks and bottles over the pit gates, by the evening news the shots of the rocks and bottles had been edited to make it look like they were coming from a group of miners marching behind their colliery band. Something I will never forget...”

“My comments below seem to have been published in the wrong order- but that's OK- points still made- hope understandable.”

“Hi burton ftw- you have some good points- thanks.However for me, if our TV/radio output became purely privatised stations I believe quality would drop dramatically, and we'd be swamped with advertising.

I do think a debate about the role of the media in general would be very interesting.

But I do think the BBC on the whole are pretty impeccable.

I also think there would be a national outcry at the loss of fantastic entertainment and information/education via eg documentaries
and dramas.

The BBC is one of our last remaining cherished institutions that I think provides cultural sustenance and pleasure for a wide audience- whether it be music, news, drama, or high quality information and debate.

I think to diminish the BBC would be "dumbing" down on a large scale; and personally I believe many would want to emigrate without it- the way this country is going!

David- I listen a great deal to stations like R4; and I can say honestly your statement doesn't ring true for me.
Also- Newsnight and general news coverage is excellent.

I also used to know someone who was married to a BBC journalist; and my impression was incredibly high standards.

I share some criticism for the tabloid media in general; but much of the biased coverage comes from vested interests and big business.”

“I'll never forget a conversation with a BBC World News cameraman who told me that the BBC were free to 'tell it just as it is', just as long as it didn't cut across British Foreign Policy. We are very, very subtle in the UK.”

“you should have gone to specsavers observer!

cheap digs aside, you obviously like the bbc and its programming and if it were subscription you would be happy to pay i'd wager.

i on the other hand don't listen to radio 4 (or any other bbc station), don't watch bbc and also don't watch 'fantastic' shows like doc who.

i think my entire bbc viewing this year consists of the world cup and a championship football match. hardly great value for 150 odd quid.

it really (should be) is each to their own for the bbc, but it would be nice to have the choice.

i must say that i occasionally use the bbc news website (to check the spin), and that is something that i woudl perhaps pay towards. it does however ring true that i can also read sky news' website for free, so if the bbc tried to charge for its web outlet, it'd see a similiar traffic flow that the times now enjoys.”

“There has long been a right wing conspiracy against the BBC, which somehow seems to have normalized into our whole narrative and consciousness.

What does need to be challenged I believe are vested interests/big business amongst rightwing media moghuls controlling UK and USA media outlets. These are indeed heavily biased, and unrepresentative of ordinary people's interests.

A lot of this came out of the woodwork during the run up to the election.

I've lived abroad before for many years and can vouch for the fact that the BBC is world class, and incredible value for money.

Check out TV in USA- hundreds of low quality channels.

Here- we have Radio4, BBC 4,and fantastic shows like Dr Who and great dramas. Also world class new coverage.

We are the envy of the world and the centre of innovation in film, fashion and the arts etc.

The licence fee is a small price to pay for 24 hour quality and entertainment.

It's one of the few last British cultural gems we have left; no wonder others with vested interests/in competition want to break it up!”

“BBC have, for too long, been allowed to tax each and every household every year. It is an outdated tax at that, with the threats of large fines if we don't pay.
Most households now have cable or sky for which they pay to watch their programmes. Make BBC subscription only, I would be surprised if many wouuld bother with it. Too many programmes are repeats, perhaps we should ask for our licences to be stamped with repeat, to match the programmes.”

“The BBC has long since past the point of having any objective credibility. The last election demonstrated the BBC's support to maintain the status quo: having told viewers for months that our democracy was in crisis because none of the parties were fit to govern, they then spent a small fortune on a PR excercise of the 'Leaders' Debate' to railroad voters back to same old, same old.They now pick the same old tired political and public sector establishment representatives, throw in a token smattering of private enterprise 'talent', and encourage them to pontificate about points over which they have already demonstrated their ineptitude and lack of control.

Is this media debate meant to make the Great Unwashed feel like they have some kind of say...?”