Comments for Read Write

Comment on Why should the BBC pay its own way? by Martyn Winters

Martyn Winters — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:36:00 +0000

Thanks for your comprehensive comments. It’s always pleasing when someone takes the time to think about what they write and offer a sensible and constructive commentary. Your ideas have given me food for thought – and I may well steal them… errmmm expand upon them. Cheers ~ UKHamlet.

Comment on Why should the BBC pay its own way? by desbest

desbest — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:15:00 +0000

I agree fully with with your blog post, and I also agree with someone else who said that the BBC is like the Mafia doing extortion off people, except that it’s legalised in the form of a tv license. I think it’s the lesser of 2 evils, be public and you pay for it, or go private and get less quality programming.nnWhat people are failing to understand, is that the BBC is a public service broadcaster (PSB), meaning that they have a legal duty to produce as well as broadcast programming that is useful to people. By that I mean programming that reaches every possible demographic, and programming topics for the purpose of the public’s viewing instead of the advertiser, (even though they don’t generate enough money).nnDo you want to know why ITV keeps showing reality tv shows? Do you want to know why they stopped producing children’s programming. Because in 2008, ITV didn’t make a profit. They were in minus figures of debt, millions of pounds of it. In 2008, ITV made the decision to stop producing children’s programmes because they don’t produce enough money. Ofcom tried to make ITV change its mind, but they couldn’t. Ofcom doesn’t want it to be, that only the BBC produces children’s shows, but there’s nothing they can do about it.nnDid you know that ITV, Channel 4 and Five are also PSB’s? That’s the reason why Channel 4 shows The Hoobs at a time slot that nobody will watch it. That’s why Channel 5 once showed Shake! NGA, and Milkshake for a good slot for hours long. Also, as a PSB, they have a duty to show all types of programming, such as religious programming (Songs of Praise). Also ITV is in a financial crisis, even today in 2011, so that’s why they keep showing reality tv, to make money.nnSky is not a PSB however, it has no obligatory duty to the public to create programming FOR the public INSTEAD of the advertiser. Most their shows are imported, and their only original programming was “Got To Dance, There’s Something About Miriam, Terry Pratchett, Derek Acorah, Brianiac, and Pineapple Dance Studios. They commissioned those shows, and Sky1 has been around for a long long time. The line up for all their years of broadcasting is pathetic. It doesn’t stretch far back.nnSo all the UK channels commission programming to some extent, but the only UK channels responsible for producing their own programming are the BBC and ITV. The BBC has an advantage over ITV, and it will always have the advantage. The BBC has an advantage that it can produce a public service broadcast without having to cancel a programme because it doesn’t make enough money. The BBC can broadcast programmes that don’t make enough money, that you enjoy anyway.nnWhat about BBC 1Xtra, and Asian Network? Do you think they would prosper if they went to a commercial private sector organisation? Do you think that those two stations would continue to play underground music, or do you think they would go the way of Kiss 100 in London, or be another The Box, Capital FM, and play mainstream stuff?nnWhat about the documentaries that the BBC makes? They don’t make any money really, but they’re critically acclaimed worldwide? What about Horizon and Panorama? What about their radio stations? What about Songs of Praise? What about See Hear? What about World Service? What about CBBC? What about BBC Three? What about BBC Four? nnWould they exist if the BBC went commercial, or would they be considered to expensive and not profitable to run? Think about that.

Comment on Why skinny people should STFU by UKHamlet

UKHamlet — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:05:00 +0000

I probably eat less than you, Kenny, and I don’t eat idiot, least of all Canadian Idiot, so you don’t have to worry.

Comment on Why skinny people should STFU by Kenny

Kenny — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:47:00 +0000

Stop eating idiot. Especially junk food and red meat. Hope that gets through your fat headnnIf you spend just as much effort trying to get rid of it as you do writing this article you should lose it in no time.

Comment on Richard Thompson at St David’s Hall, Cardiff by Jerry Stone

Jerry Stone — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:24:00 +0000

Richard was superb, as ever. I’ve seen RT many times live and this one was right up there among the best, which is saying a lot. I swear that his solo in ‘You Can’t Win’ actually surpassed the one on the ‘Watching The Dark’ box set, which is actually my all time favourite recorded solo…by anyone. I agree that St. David’s Hall is a rubbish venue sound-wise. Still, it barely interfered with such supreme playing from Richard and the whole band. Just wish it could have gone on all night because a two and half hours cannot do justice to such an awesome back catalogue.

Comment on Richard Thompson at St David’s Hall, Cardiff by Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:17:00 +0000

The Beetle in the Bay lacks the intimacy of St David’s Hall. Bad sound or not, Thompson rocked.

Comment on Richard Thompson at St David’s Hall, Cardiff by Tweets that mention Richard Thompson at St David

Tweets that mention Richard Thompson at St David — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:56:07 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Latest News, Latest News. Latest News said: NOW City News: http://tinyurl.com/639dd3y – Richard Thompson at St David

Comment on Richard Thompson at St David’s Hall, Cardiff by Martyn Winters

Martyn Winters — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:11:00 +0000

I commented on the night that he would have been far better served in the more accoustically friendly environs of the Millennium hall in the Bay. Someone should tell him.

Comment on Richard Thompson at St David’s Hall, Cardiff by Simon Duffy

Simon Duffy — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:33:00 +0000

St Davids is an appalling place for amplified music… but this didn’t distract from the outstanding quality of the music on stage. This is the 6 time I have seen Thompson live, the first ‘with band’ since ’87…nThe man’s total mastery of the guitar and of the craft of songwriting is unsurpassed. Amazing evening.

Comment on Richard Thompson at St David’s Hall, Cardiff by Mike Kellett

Mike Kellett — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:05:00 +0000

Good gig but sound quality – as usual for St David’s – was awful. Very muddy – sorry, no offence to the sound engineer, every amplified band suffers.nRichard – next time you come to Cardiff, please play anywhere except St. David’s Hall.