Here's an interesting Twitter conversation concerning the forced departure of Mark Pougatch from his presenter's role on 5 Live Sport:
Jeff Stelling (Sky): So Mark Pougatch not presenting on 5 live any more. Sad that his total professionalism will be replaced by someone who is considered to be more in touch with the youth of today, even if they know sod all about football or interviewing. He can’t say it so I will.
Ben Cobley (author) : This is the BBC in 2020. It's a disaster scene unfolding before our eyes and ears.
Alexander McCarron (freelance documentary maker): Insider observations: 1. Execs think audience are idiots, 2. They believe the young will not watch anybody/thing older than them, 3. Many are promoted through fast-track schemes, protected from failure, and 4. Social media engagement is regarded as more important than viewing figures.
Ben Cobley: A lot of it has to do with Ofcom pushing them in this direction, as I've found researching for a piece on the BBC.
Alexander McCarron: True, but all broadcasters are subject to Ofcom, yet the BBC pursue these matters so clumsily. I've had to go back and reshoot interviews, at great expense, with new contributors to make shows more diverse. Do feel free to hit me up if you need more information for you piece.
Ben Cobley: Thanks Alex, yes could come in handy. Will see.
From Mail online: ... The well-respected 51-year-old [Pougatch] follows Cornelius Lysaght and Garry Richardson out of the door as the broadcaster focuses on attracting a younger audience.' ...
ReplyDeleteIt isn't simply a matter of their ages. The BBC are aiming to draw in a young 'metro elite' audience, which conspires against the likes of Lysaght because they are white, male, stale and above all English.
It's a familiar move by the BBC - to alienate their existing Radio 5Live listeners in the hope of replacing them with an audience of their choosing. BBC and M&S - peas in a pod.
Re the tweets, I think I'm right in saying that Ofcom have special duties in relation to the BBC - basically monitoring Charter compliance (as interpreted in the most PC manner possibly so it ends up being a rule that "Far Left Miatta Fahnbulleh of the Far Left New Economics Foundation must appear on a BBC channel at least three times a week, but five times would be the norm").
ReplyDeleteMight be wrong but I think that's the situation and so the relation between Ofcom and BBC is different from that between say Ofcom and Sky.
BTW I've just been "following the money" on the New Economics Foundation...Funding of these Far Left organisations is Byzantine. For instance NEF is funded by, amongst others, the European Climate Foundation. The European Climate Foundation is funded by, amongst others, Climate Works Foundation. The latter is funding almost exclusively by American Billionaires, living or dead through politicised foundations.
It would be amusing - and more honest - if Ms. Fahnbulleh was introduced as "UK Spokesperson for American Billionaires who ultimately fund her comfortable lifestyle".