[Gllug] Plug for Ogg Vorbis and OSS on BBC Click Online

Formi formi at blueyonder.co.uk
Mon Sep 1 13:36:15 UTC 2003


On Mon, 1 Sep 2003, Richard Turner wrote:

> On Sun, 2003-08-31 at 19:57, Chris Bell wrote:
> > Unfortunately there is not "a BBC" at present, the previous
> > administration completely destroyed cooperation by splitting the corporation
> > into as many pieces ("business units") as possible, forcing them to compete
> > with each other for any work, while making it as difficult as possible to
> > use internal resources instead of hiring outside facilities. The government
> > of the time insisted on very expensive annual external audits, which just
> > resulted in surprise at the low overall running costs, but they still went
> > ahead with the changes.
> >    It used to be possible to obtain the best help and advice available just
> > by asking around, but trade secrets and other help and assistance became
> > only available if you would pay for them, right down to the cost of the last
> > paperclip. Programmes were purchased from anyone they could persuade to make
> > them, and shared funding was accepted, so they had less control over
> > content. Very similar programmes made by the same contractor even appeared
> > without warning on competing channels, sometimes only days before the BBC
> > "exclusive" version. The content may not have been identical, but it was
> > still obviously made at the same time.
> >    There were huge hidden costs, admin staff multiplied to cope with
> > arranging contracts, and second-guessing what should be written into them,
> > while the slightest change resulted in huge penalty charges. The current
> > management is fighting to get some sense back into the system, but it will
> > be a long battle.
> >
> I think it's a terrible shame.  I like the BBC and am proud of it
> (still), but the situation you describe certainly explains the downturn
> in the quality of its productions in recent years. The British still
> produce the best television in the world, and the BBC World Service is
> fantastic, but wouldn't it be nice if they could start producing
> television that's worth watching again.
>

 Do you have any hard evidence to back up that? Or is it just wishful
 thinking?

 It never stops amusing me this habit of a lot of british people of going around saying
 "We are the best of the world at this and that..." without knowing the full facts.

 Formi.

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