Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> Petition to PM http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1436992536 Message started by Administrator on Jul 15^th, 2015, 8:36pm

Title: Petition to PM
Post by Administrator on Jul 15^th, 2015, 8:36pm

38 Degrees has a petition "Protect Our BBC".

It may be found here.

"Please protect the BBC, our public broadcaster, and ensure that:

The BBC remains independently funded and free from political interference
Its resources are not cut so it can continue to provide high-quality and varied content"

"Why is this important?
The BBC’s TV and radio programmes, news service and website are read, watched, listened to and loved by millions of British people every day. It’s envied across the world.

Programmes like The Voice, Strictly Come Dancing and Dr Who entertain millions while services like BBC News bring important investigative journalism.

We all benefit from having a public broadcasting institution, run independently from government, for everyone in our country.

Please sign this petition calling on David Cameron to protect the BBC."

"WHAT IS 38 DEGREES?
38 Degrees is one of the UK's biggest campaigning communities, with over 2.5 million members. We share a desire for a more progressive, fairer, better society and come together to decide which issues we campaign on and the actions we‘ll take to help us achieve that."

There are now more than 383,577 signatures

Title: Re: Petition to PM
Post by Annual Increment on Aug 6^th, 2015, 9:16am

...and in addition--a note to BBCCharterReviewConsultation@culture.gov.uk?

The official "in box" ?

Title: Re: Petition to PM
Post by Administrator on Aug 27^th, 2015, 10:34pm

The 38 Degrees petition site also includes 'comments'. These comments are changed periodically.

Here is one of them..

The BBC must be fully resourced & fully independent.It must be free to attack any Government, any party, any viewpoint - or inform us of their good points, without fear (of losing operating revenue) or favour. It must be free to carry out fearless and (if necessary) inconvenient investigative journalism and to make minority-interest documentaries, comedy or any other programs solely because that program is excellent and worth making - not because it will be profitable or pleasing to an advertiser.

Whilst there are some parts of the BBC website that do not interest me (and I wonder why they interest anyone), the BBC website is an invaluable resource and a national treasure, and must be preserved, remain free and be free to extend its reach.

The BBC news coverage must be visibly free of any external pressure or influence and fully resourced for the unparalleled and unbiased coverage it has so far provided.Commercial services and Newspapers have to please the advertisers, make profits for shareholders and owners and for this reason are constrained to produce mainly "popular" and easily assimilated items. To ensure a fair and "level playing field", all media advertising should be subject to a 50% tax. The BBC should get that tax (and the licence fee could then be abolished) and the newspapers and commercial broadcasters can get the other 50%. That would give a fair and equal division of resources. Otherwise why should I have to pay (as I do) an extra cost on all goods or services for the advertising that pays for programs, services and newspapers that I never read and would not want to watch or (in the case of newspapers) read?

"John"

Title: Re: Petition to PM
Post by Administrator on Sep 3^rd, 2015, 10:42pm

More comments from the same site:-

"Having lived and travelled abroad I believe an impartial and creative BBC is not only a benefit to us all as citizens but provides a fantastic shopwindow for those British values such as a sense of humour, a belief in culture in its many forms, openess, transparency and challenge to both policy makers and vested interests."
Martyn.

"The BBC is respected and appreciated by a massive majority if the population in large part to it's historical and ongoing independence from the agents of the state. The waves of politically inspired disruption and interference of the BBC, in large part, backed by substantial commercial opponents of the BBC, must finally be brought to an end. David Cameron; your only real job outside of politics was a PR role for ITV. That along with your party's insanely irrational belief that the BBC is a hotbed of 'Trotskyistes' disqualifies you from any claim to be acting on the public interest. The Conservative's actions and approach to the BBC are fundamentally against the public interest. Neutering the only independent UK broadcaster that truly holds all interests to account must be opposed and prevented."
Patrick.

"the BBC is a world leading organisation, If you have lived oversea, it is something that you really appreciate. I would have happily paid for access to BBC programmes / iplayer."
Ming.

Title: Re: Petition to PM
Post by Administrator on Sep 4^th, 2015, 11:34am

More comments from the site:-

The most amazing good value and quality service on radio and televison without which we would be a much diminished. From the world service the world hears the story that would sometimes not be heard. The Attenborough programmes developed from the 60's have taken the beauty of our planet to many around the world and many more programmes from the humble shipping forecast and gardeners question time to the period dramas and childrens television the BBC has my support and admiration and I pay my license without any concern and would be happy to pay more if it meant keeping the service as good as it has always been. I am at a loss to understand the government's stance on the BBC. Please keep up the wonderful work.
Christine

Title: Re: Petition to PM
Post by Administrator on Sep 5^th, 2015, 3:56pm

And...

Whilst I'm sure there are ways to cut costs at the BBC, as with most public institutions (House of Lords & House of Commons!), let's not lose the legacy of fine and innovative programming that is our BBC. Every time you open something up 'to competition' the price goes up. I pay way too much to Sky per month. 2.5 months pays for a year's BBC. It is a British institution and rightly so. Stop political interference (I'm blue and yet I say this). If I can only keep one broadcaster, I'd keep the BBC without hesitation. And NEVER allow advertising.
Wendy

Title: Re: Petition to PM
Post by Administrator on Sep 5^th, 2015, 3:56pm

And:-
I am angry about the Government's apparent dislike of the BBC. Being over 80 now, I value its output more and more, from its reliable and independent news to interesting documentaries and lighter offerings.
Joan

Title: Re: Petition to PM
Post by Administrator on Sep 5^th, 2015, 9:38pm

Another:-

The BBC represents all that is great about this country. It produces quality programming across the wide scope of listening taste, without pandering entirely to lowest common denominator to satisfy advertisers wanting us to consume copious quantities of sugary drinks, insurance or expensive holidays. Without it, not only would we lose quality, innovative programmes, such as (say) Blue Planet, Question Time, or Black Adder, but also R4's More or less (Just think how many politicians would love that programme to die !) or the Today Programme or R3, or R6. Without the BBC I would watch less TV, listen to less radio, and live less, as a consequence.
allan

Title: Re: Petition to PM
Post by Administrator on Oct 23^rd, 2015, 11:08am

Another recent comment:-

The BBC TV and Radio channels provides a good quality and variety of productions that cover the wide spectrum of interests for the nation. It must be allowed and supported to cover and reflect all the arts & sciences, informing and educating in all disciplines as well as providing entertainment. It must not be constrained but allowed to flourish in imagination and developing new aspects that reflect our diverse nation. It must be allowed to provide unbiased communication and news as well as documentaries and analysis. It must be able to employ the highest quality interviews able to research, analysis and interpret as well as holding authorities to account. It must not be subjected to any Government's or industry, commerce and business interference and prejudices. The BBC must be cutting edge, unfettered and at the centre of our nations values and democracy.
Lesley