In an era where we now have IP video delivery (and such delivery will increase in the future) then what is the point of the BBC? If Paul Jackson Productions can produce Red Dwarf IV, why not just sell it direct on the net (every production company can be its own IP driven "TV station") - what is the point of a BBC funded by the licence fee? At one time, the BBC was needed as a distributor of content, but do we still need the BBC to do that now if everyone has the ability to publish and distribute on their own?
But not everyone has the resources to publish and distribute - unless you consider YouTube to be an acceptable delivery system. Neither does every consumer have the ability to watch video delivered over the internet. You forget that not everyone is a geek - a common problem on this list of late.
And of BBC programming - do we need it? Commercially there are plenty of ways to get similar (and sometimes identical/repeat) content to what the BBC provides. I am not trying to be objectionable or malicious: I am genuinely struggling to understand why the country needs a publicly funded broadcaster .... or at least one as big and as powerful as the BBC.
Well, several reasons spring to mind. The BBC is a public service, producing and showing content that is (in theory, and usually, in practice) fair, objective and free from bias. The unique way it's funded also means that it's free of the "everything must make money!" constraint that commercial broadcasters are tied by - which means it can produce and/or show minority interest content, and get that content out to a potentially huge audience. I'm also concerned that the licence fee is used to support the BBC's net
activities - it gives the BBC a huge advantage over other net companies who don't get public money to support their online ventures.
Now that just sounds like sour grapes. Has your personal web project not managed to get venture capital funding or something? Additionally, you're complaining about the BBC not providing everything online for free - and then complain that it's funding the web activities and services it does provide. Make your mind up. Cheers, Rich.
