Murdoch's dream: what if BBC goes subscription only?

Banjoxed

The BBC's charter will be up for renewal by 2017. Recent articles in the Guardian suggest that the knives are being sharpened by some for a fundamental change in both how the BBC is funded and it's distribution.

BBC Three's emasculation and the potential closure of BBC Four squanders the digital dividend policy in place since 1998, as the Beeb struggles to make up the funding gap created by a freeze in licence fees since 2010 and it's commitments to fund both S4C and the World Service. However, those opposed for ideological or commercial reasons to free to air public service broadcasting are salivating at the thought that a subscription only BBC with fewer TV and radio channels will be the result.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/feb/16/bbc-funding-sands-run-out-waters-rise

Unless you are working for Rupert Murdoch, can this be a good thing? A hideously backward step IMO if this happens.

icdg

It'd no longer be the BBC as we recognise it any more. A subscription funded BBC would, of necessity, have to persuade people to take up subscriptions, and nobody's ever paid a subscription for the news or kids TV (because kids don't pay the subscription - yes there are subscription kids channels but they are inevitably bundled in a general entertainment pack). No, the new look BBC would inevitably have to look at premium sport and movie content as well as dramas to pull in subscribers. Which is why I cannot understand Murdochs desire for it, it would turn the BBC into a mirror image - and a major competitor to - Sky. Britain and the world would be a lot poorer for it.

Banjoxed

icdg wrote: »

It'd no longer be the BBC as we recognise it any more. A subscription funded BBC would, of necessity, have to persuade people to take up subscriptions, and nobody's ever paid a subscription for the news or kids TV (because kids don't pay the subscription - yes there are subscription kids channels but they are inevitably bundled in a general entertainment pack). No, the new look BBC would inevitably have to look at premium sport and movie content as well as dramas to pull in subscribers. Which is why I cannot understand Murdochs desire for it, it would turn the BBC into a mirror image - and a major competitor to - Sky. Britain and the world would be a lot poorer for it.

I think that what Murdoch would like would be an ABC (Australia) style PSB - severely limited in its content and preferably with PBS style funding. The Monday Club inspired Right would love that too - no mission to educate, entertain and inform to prevent ignorant prejudice being formed.

Oh and blasting the Paddies and eventually independent Jocks away from FTA viewing would be a bonus for them as well.

icdg

Banjoxed wrote: »

I think that what Murdoch would like would be an ABC (Australia) style PSB - severely limited in its content and preferably with PBS style funding.

That would probably what I'd imagine the commercial sector would prefer a PSB, if one had to exist, to look like. Both ABC and PBS do great children's programming (aside from soaps, children's programming is the main thing the Australian TV industry manages to sell internationally and is a leader in) but ABC does (or certainly used to do, it might be different now that it has more than one channel) little else rather than news and current affairs, PBS (Newshour aside) doesn't even really do that. And PBS is always quite literally begging for money.

watty

Banjoxed wrote: »

...
Oh and blasting the Paddies and eventually independent Jocks away from FTA viewing. ..

Except Murdock and Liberty Global will sell it to us. After all about 92% of what UPC & Sky viewers watch is FTA and yet over 80% of households are subscribing. Compared under 55% in UK. UPC and Sky pay for BBC content anyway for Irish Market.

Maybe we are stupid.


The TV licence may be horrible. Also Capita's tactics in UK are questionable. But the alternatives are all worse.

TAFKAlawhec

icdg wrote: »

That would probably what I'd imagine the commercial sector would prefer a PSB, if one had to exist, to look like. Both ABC and PBS do great children's programming (aside from soaps, children's programming is the main thing the Australian TV industry manages to sell internationally and is a leader in) but ABC does (or certainly used to do, it might be different now that it has more than one channel) little else rather than news and current affairs, PBS (Newshour aside) doesn't even really do that. And PBS is always quite literally begging for money.

It can be a case of "be careful what you wish for" - a BBC which started taking on advertising would hit a lot of commercial broadcasters, the advertising pie isn't infinite. The idea of a subscription model (ridiculous on its own for a number of reasons, but lets entertain it) could also backfire on those pushing it, the BBC have a huge back catalog of material, a lot of experience, a large amount of resources and an excellent reputation internationally. A BBC that pushed itself as a UK/European style HBO-network that would have more freedom to change schedules and formats than at present as a PSB could cause a major effect on the TV industry at home and abroad.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you want an example where PSB broadcasting (especially TV) has been all but killed, take a look at the FTA choice in New Zealand with adverts every ten minutes. Once you have, the licence fees for TV in RoI & the UK will look like a great bargain!