(Sorry, not really a _technical_ question.)

Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
Parliament _as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
BBC channels simulcasting it.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Anybody who thinks there can be unlimited growth in a static, limited
environment, is either mad or an economist. - Sir David Attenborough, in
Radio Times 10-16 November 2012

On 28/06/2023 12:17, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
> to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
> Parliament_as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
> BBC channels simulcasting it.

The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if
they did not.

Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not make
any money?

On 28/06/2023 12:34, MB wrote:

> The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if
> they did not.
>
> Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not make
> any money?

Going forward, could GBN register as a charity?

--
Adrian C

In message <kg2napF3gdsU1@mid.individual.net> at Wed, 28 Jun 2023
13:28:09, Adrian Caspersz <email@here.invalid> writes
>On 28/06/2023 12:34, MB wrote:
>
>> The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if
>>they did not.
>> Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not
>>make any money?
>
>Going forward, could GBN register as a charity?
>
I thought Sky news was - at least initially - a sort of hangover from
some sort of public service obligation, like ITN was.

As for GBN, I suspect it actually does appeal to a certain segment of
the population, so could make a profit - much as (at least I presume!)
the Daily Mail does (though not quite the same demographic, though a big
overlap).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

At the end of the day, I wasn't asking to kill the pandas, I was simply asking
for an audit in terms of conservation resources, and I stand by every word.
-Chris Packham, quoted in Radio Times, 29 May - 4 June 2010

In message <u7h5ss$1onnc$1@dont-email.me> at Wed, 28 Jun 2023 12:34:52,
MB <MB@nospam.net> writes
>On 28/06/2023 12:17, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>> Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
>> to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
>> Parliament_as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
>> BBC channels simulcasting it.
>
>
>The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if
>they did not.

The BBC should be able to withstand such pressure - I don't think there
is anything in the actual charter that says specifically they have to
carry it. But anyway, BBC Parliament would, and I accept it being on
there.

PMQs is long past its sell-by date, anyway, due to the behaviour of
politicians (and those instructing them). Once, I think it was a genuine
opportunity to ask questions to elucidate information - OK, barbed
questions, but at least nominally questions. However, for the last few
years at least, it has degraded into just a baiting session, where the
"questions" are not really questions at all, but just to make the PM (or
his deputy) look bad. (And this applies whichever party is in power.)
It's purely a brayfest, serving no purpose; the politicians who might
make a fuss if it wasn't covered are only the brayers (and those
controlling them), and thus (a) shouldn't be paid any heed (b) should be
ashamed of themselves (but of course have no shame).
>
>Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not make
>any money?

Dunno. Still doesn't make it any more desirable that they and BBC News
duplicate BBC Parliament.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

At the end of the day, I wasn't asking to kill the pandas, I was simply asking
for an audit in terms of conservation resources, and I stand by every word.
-Chris Packham, quoted in Radio Times, 29 May - 4 June 2010

On 28/06/2023 13:42, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> In message <kg2napF3gdsU1@mid.individual.net> at Wed, 28 Jun 2023
> 13:28:09, Adrian Caspersz <email@here.invalid> writes
>> On 28/06/2023 12:34, MB wrote:
>>
>>> The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians
>>> if they did not.
>>>  Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not
>>> make  any money?
>>
>> Going forward, could GBN register as a charity?
>>
> I thought Sky news was - at least initially - a sort of hangover from
> some sort of public service obligation,

Sky have never had any public service obligation, they only have to
conform to being 'legal, decent, and honest' as a UK broadcaster

> like ITN was.

ITV, C4, and C5 all have PSB obligations to provide minimum news output.
The quotas vary between them, and of course only ITV have to provide
regional news. (ITN is the national/international news contractor for
all three of those broadcasters, but ultimate editorial responsibility
is with each of those broadcasters and not ITN)

On 28/06/2023 12:17, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> (Sorry, not really a _technical_ question.)
>
> Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN
> - to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
> Parliament _as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
> BBC channels simulcasting it.
It's an event that only occurs for 30 mins, once a week. It is, as
you've observed, only carried on four out of gazillions of other TV
channels.

May I suggest you organise a 30 min lunchtime walk every Weds at noon ?
(Other options are available)

J. P. Gilliver wrote:

> (Sorry, not really a _technical_ question.)
>
> Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
> to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely?

I quite like the Matt Chorley "pause the action" version of PMQs, I just
listen on radio, there's not that much to be gained by watching it on
youtube. It's funny, when Times Radio first began, I thought he was
"too chummy", but I generally find he's OK now.

Similarly I thought I was going to have to switch off whenever Ayesha
Hazarika came on (based on her appearances on LBC) but she's far less
rabidly political now and I quite enjoy her show.

On 28/06/2023 13:39, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

> Dunno. Still doesn't make it any more desirable that they and BBC News
> duplicate BBC Parliament.

It's not just PMQ. Nicky Campbell is currently broadcasting his live
radio show every day on Radio 5 Live, BBC2, BBC News and BBC Parliament.

Last time I accidentally tuned in, the video was from a single camera
with text in a frame round it.
--
Tciao for Now!

John.

On 28/06/2023 13:39, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> PMQs is long past its sell-by date, anyway, due to the behaviour of
> politicians (and those instructing them).

If you think questions in Parliament are bad then try watching the
Edinbrugh Parliament especially when the Canadian woman is answering
questions. She reads everything from a pre-prepared script.

I don't think that matters. I wondered if it all might be a smoke screen as
I caught the end of something about the so called fair referendum on the EU
was in fact gerrymandered by the leave campaign. This was from another EU
country, but it seems to me having listened to many foreign news outlets
recently, that our news of late is very selective.
Brian

--
Brian Gaff - briang1@blueyonder.co.uk

Blind user, so no pictures please!

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"MB" <MB@nospam.net> wrote in message news:u7h5ss$1onnc$1@dont-email.me...
> On 28/06/2023 12:17, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>> Is it really necessary for all three news networks - BBC, Sky, and GBN -
>> to cover the weekly brayfest, live and completely? Oh, and BBC
>> Parliament_as well_. That is particularly irritating, having the two
>> BBC channels simulcasting it.
>
>
> The BBC have to cover PMQs - imagine the fuss from the politicians if they
> did not.
>
> Aren't Sky News and probably GBN just vanity projects that do not make any
> money?