tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post880305641332751000..comments2024-01-01T17:21:52.555+00:00Comments on Is the BBC biased?: Thoughts on Scottish independence and the BBCCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08741318067991857821noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-13716475481705423952014-09-10T23:54:28.861+01:002014-09-10T23:54:28.861+01:00Ironically I think the canny Scots might get quali...Ironically I think the canny Scots might get quality TV on the cheap. The RUK BBC would be prepared to sell its programmes at less than equivalent cost in order to maintain revenue (just as it does to the rest of the world). The SBS could concentrate on producing programmes with a Scottish flavour. Itmight co-produce more with RTE. <br /><br />Might not the position of Scottish ITV be more precarious? The Scottish government might be tempted to sell of the franchises to someone like Murdoch...especially if he does come out in support of independence. Scotland might not be so averse to multi-media empires as long as they are friendly to Scottish independence.<br /><br />Dan Read <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-862416038172076052014-09-10T04:06:53.706+01:002014-09-10T04:06:53.706+01:00It seems like quite the conundrum, Craig, but I wo...It seems like quite the conundrum, Craig, but I wonder if there aren't some clear paths to follow from what we know about how the BBC operates. Certainly there seems to be an impression in Scotland that the BBC is pro-Union, so there would be some resentment towards a license fee paying for the State broadcaster of a State they've quit. Although, it's probably not going to be up to the citizens, but rather whatever the Scottish politicians think they can do. BBC Alba could be spun off as a Scottish Broadcasting Corp., but they'd have to go through the whole process of creating a Charter and all that. The BBC bosses would be loathe to lose any territory they control, so look for them to work out either a licensed franchise off which they can earn royalties, or some sort of BBC Worldwide deal to maintain the reach of Auntie's tentacles. Everyone will eventually get used to commercials. They'll probably have to come up with some new programming, though. A new series of Still Game, at least?<br /><br />If Scotland does become a non-UK country, the BBC will have to block them from the iPlayer if they're not paying the license fee, unless some reciprocal arrangement is worked out with whatever the new Scottish entity is. Mark Thompson's dream of a worldwide subscription service might then be nudged towards fruition. At the very least, cash cows like Dr. Who will be licensed for broadcast one way or another. The Leviathan must be fed, no matter how Byzantine the accounting.<br /><br />Who will get custody of Naughtie and Campbell and Mair? Nothing will change for them except an increase in their earnings. If they're not already "freelance", they can easily become so, thus enabling themselves to earn a fat paycheck on both sides of Hadrian's Wall. Naughtie probably can't wait to get going.David Preisernoreply@blogger.com