The U.S. system depends on a combination of begging for donations ("Pledge") and government funding, which creates an inevitable potential for conflict of interest.
But the Great Recession spares no one. Not even the mighty BBC. They're making big cuts, especially on the web side....which, after all, apparently didn't produce any of those same fees.
BBC news, as shown on cable, is far superior to the U.S. networks' offerings.
ReplyDeleteThis morning I was fascinated by the full coverage of the procession into the Buckingham Palace gates by the Queen and the South African president. It was worth 10 minutes or more, and the commentary was far more in-depth.
When that segment was over I switched over to WAKA and your interview. I didn't catch enough of it, though, to figure it out.
"Every British home was assessed a*****fee*****for every radio and TV they owned, and the fees went to pay for the huge BBC system."
ReplyDeleteFEE (translation: TAX)
they do this in cuba too, tim. venezuela? check.
so, to clear this up tim, you favor TAXING our televisions and radios to fund pbs.
correct?
(don't worry tim. i'm not holding my breath waiting for a response)
My British friends were astonished when they visited us and learned that there is no yearly tax on TV.
ReplyDeleteI told them that if someone wants to throw a bunch of electrical waves on my property, it's my business alone what I do with them.
Mr. Finebammer,
ReplyDeleteUh, yes, I do like that system of paying for Public Radio and TV, mostly because the tax is only paid by those who use radio and TV.
The fact that it is also collected in Cuba and Venezuela is a red herring. So what?
And by the way, the reason I'm replying is because another visitor said the comments were too one-sided, and I should reply. So there! (-:
Tim
I'm with you, Tim. I lived in Hong Kong back when it was still a Crown Colony of the UK. While there, I got a taste for British radio programming. Their's was in an entirely different league. When I returned to the U.S., I was hit by culture shock whenever I tried to find something on the radio.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing they had that was amazing was publicly subsidized arts. I could go to a concert or a play for a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.
American viewers area similarly penalized.
ReplyDeleteIt's called a subscription "fee," and is paid to the conduits through which the sewage travels. In addition to "programs," there are seemingly countless advertisements. Thus, one ends up paying to watch commercials.
There goes "free" teevee.
Oh, and it was Sen. John McCain whom called for and obtained approval for tax-dollar subsidized analogue-to-digital converter boxes for so-called "free"(over the air) teevee.
I utterly despise commercials, and to not listen to "commercial" radio, simply for two primary reasons - 1.) the content is miserable, and 2.) I loathe commercials.
Satellite radio is THE way to go.
Unfortunately, satellite teevee has yet to catch up.