War dividend leaves BBC in line for 24-hour US news deal

[tinnypriv]

War dividend leaves BBC in line for 24-hour US news deal
The Independent on Sunday, July 27 2003

The BBC is set to capitalise on strong viewing figures in the US for its news bulletins during the Iraq war by signing a deal for a 24-hour news channel to be carried on American cable TV.

The corporation is in talks with cable networks to carry BBC World, which it already sells to European and Asian satellite TV services.

Although the BBC is under pressure in the UK over its reports on Today and Newsnight about the Iraqi weapons dossier, its reputation in the US has rarely been higher.

...

"BBC World's reputation in the US has been enhanced by our recent unbiased and accurate coverage of the Iraqi conflict, which earned plaudits from viewers and journalists alike," said a spokesman. "We've always said our long-term American goal is to obtain 24-hour distribution. Obviously, there are a number of different potential partners and platforms that could be involved in any agreement."

...

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/story.jsp?story=427944

[LeftCoast]

1. Wonderful news!

Just as I'd hoped...the US media has made itself irrelevant in this new age of instant internet access and borderless news coverage. I wonder what sort of roadblocks will be thrown up to stop BBC and the Guardian from coming to our shores?

LeftCoast

[PartyPooper]

2. The best news I've heard all week!

:bounce:

[German-Lefty]

3. Yes

BBC rules, I get it here in Germany. I like their documentaries. I hope they show them comercial free in the states too.

I wish they'd show some of the German public stations in the US that would rule. It would put US news on the deffensive and make them have to actually do good research and not just hype.

[LeftCoast]

7. DirecTV (sat) subscribers get a number of broadcasts from

DW-TV (Deutsche Welle TV)

Since I speak German, I try and watch them as much as possible. The problem is that for the most part, they tend to be fairly light and fluffy with very little in-depth news reporting. I think it would be great if they would just re-broadcast one of the national nightly news shows.

On the other hand, rather than wait for the corporate media interests to get around to it why not just get it right off the internet? It's the real deal, and best of all...FREE!

I try and read http://www.tagesschau.de/ as often as possible as well as http://www.spiegel.de/ among others. These are the two best links that I've found.

LeftCoast

[NashVegas]

11. Wait til the Merger Goes Through

Although I'm still receiving, who knows that DirectTV will do when Rupert takes over.

[LeftCoast]

12. I believe Rupert is buying just 30%

Could be wrong. In any case, I'll be keeping a close watch. I'm not expecting big changes in my channel line-up though.

[Kellanved]

16. DW is no match for the BBC

BBC has the highest quality news; in hotels I only watch DW to learn the soccer results ;-).


Spiegel and Tagesschau are the best sources for German news; the Tagesschau is streamed, so you can even watch it. Heute www.heute.de news aren't that bad either.

The others (www.ntv.de , www.focus.de , www.n24.de ...) aren't in the same league (one might add: because they want to make money).

The German Google news page is always worth a visit:
http://news.google.de

[Rose Siding]

4. The way we got the channel during the invasion

was an occasional hour on PBS or c-span. I'd love to have it- I hope some existing station carries it- the larger cable packages are too pricey for us.

[w4rma]

5. Cool! 24-hour BBC is worth buying cable for!

Awesome!

[CWebster]

6. You would think CNN would get a clue instead of emulating FOX for

ratings.

What to do when the ratings no longer support the political agenda of the corporate owners?

[sunscreened]

8. Just what I was thinking

Maybe they have gotten a clue. The Guardian and BBC have done the research. They would not be doing this unless they were sure there was an audience. Certainly there has been a buzz about this before it hit the press.

Tony Blair launches an all out attack on BBC, trying to discredit them to the viewers. All the noise hits the US without the majority of people really understanding what the story really is all about. Then, all of a sudden our news starts to (sort of) question this administration. Maybe it’s not really that they see the light. Maybe they are trying to get the audience they know is there to come back before they lose it to the competition. It could just be the bucks have given them the "integrity" we've been screaming for.

Maybe now is the time to really crank up the heat on the US media and their sponsors.

[NashVegas]

18. Look for More Attacks

The RW has been attacking the Beeb like no one's tomorrow, almost since the war started. You can bet your bottom dollar that getting those attacks started was on someone's strategy sheet, maybe Rove, maybe Murdoch, who knows?

[0007]

17. Boycott FOX - MSNBC - CNN

*

[Democat]

9. Good news

Too bad we have to rely on companies outside the U.S. for not-as-much right wing spin.

[J B]

10. I glanced at the BBC during the war...

I don't think it was that good.

Only if you compare it to, well, what you Americans normally watch, is it good. But I guess that answers why you're eager for the BBC.

[indictrichardperle]

15. that is true

the BBC had its share of pro-war, pro-establishment news......it is not truely independent, its also very true that in comparison to Murican propaganda the BBC is AWESOME.

[Euphen]

13. According to a study done by Cardiff University,

the BBC was the most pro-war of the British networks. ( http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jul2003/bbc-j10.sht .) If the BBC seems left-wing or unbiased it's only because we're used to grossly distorted coverage in the US.

[AnnabelLee]

14. I might have to start watching tv again

:D

[newyawker99]

19. Hi Euphen!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Jacobin]

20. Damn. It'll be like Radio Free Europe

They're gonna beam some truth over this way?



Nahh..Mikey Powell will never let that happen.

[LiberalLibra]

21. BBC channel on cable - - hell yes!! Next CBC!! Let's hear it for.....

....some real news!! :bounce: :toast: :bounce: :toast: :bounce: :toast:

[Narraback]

22. I was thinking the same. Bring on the CBC and BBC

nt