How does the BBC make any money?

[Dawg]

Who was it who said:
"Television is a great educator. Every time someone turns the set on I go to another room and read a book"?

(Trouble is I can't find the book page turn button on the remote...)

 

[bigfork]

They do sell advertising on their site in other countries. I went to Florida recently and kept up on the news on the Beeb website and it had banner ads along the top.

 

[Oscar Tango]

The most successful prog at this year's Baftas was BBCs 'The Thick of It', I would hardly class that as dross.

 

[Cornish Steve]

If BBC programs are so good, they shouldn't need hundreds of millions in annual public funding, right? The time is long overdue for the Beeb to stand on its own two feet. In the US, the equivalent is public broadcasting, and they are perhaps the most biased broadcasters in the country (very left-wing). They are about to face their come-uppance, though, because the government has just voted to strip them of all government funding. It's about time -and it's what should happen to the BBC.

What frustrates me is that the BBC won't allow website visitors from overseas to view video content. Why ever not? It's the only site I know that does this. It simply turns away 'customers' and throws away potential advertising revenue.

Yes - BBC America has advertising. In fact, I'll wager that their advertising breaks are longer and more frequent than most other channels. Can anyone give one good reason why they should not include advertising breaks in Britain?

The programming on BBC America, though, it rather poor: reruns of the Tudors, old Doctor Who episodes, Being Human, and very old Top Gear episodes (which I don't believe is anywhere near as popular over here). None of the recent programs in Britain are shown on BBC America. The only good thing is that, every night, they show an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

 

[bdw]

If BBC programs are so good, they shouldn't need hundreds of millions in annual public funding, right?

That's a rather strange conclusion?

The BBC needs public funding to keep them ad free, that's all. We need the BBC.

 

[Cornish Steve]

That's a rather strange conclusion?

The BBC needs public funding to keep them ad free, that's all. We need the BBC.

So you believe that virtually every citizen in the country should have to pay a hefty tax (that's what the license fee is) just so there's no ads? Hundreds of millions of pounds a year just so there's no ads?

Oh - but the BBC advertises on its website. Maybe you'd like to pay another 100 pounds a year so that's ad-free as well?

 

[MASSEY]

Oh - but the BBC advertises on its website. Maybe you'd like to pay another 100 pounds a year so that's ad-free as well?

People in the uk don't see the ads.

 

People in the uk don't see the ads.

afraid they do,loads of ads about forthcoming programs and various events e.t.c.

Earl

 

[MASSEY]

afraid they do,loads of ads about forthcoming programs and various events e.t.c.

Earl

Shows On The BBC.

Not "Need a loan" blah blah like the other channels do.

I think the main reason it's not privatised is because the government still want some media control. I dont think it will ever be privatised.

The recent article in the sun a couple of days ago highlighted the sheer volume of financial waste. It was pretty shocking how they spend taxpayers money.

 

[Subbynet]

If BBC programs are so good, they shouldn't need hundreds of millions in annual public funding, right?

Right? Why is that right Steve? The quality of our programmes is so far ahead of others that its hard to recoup the costs, and yes I've watched TV in the US, in Canada and Australia, and I've seen the dross in other countries too. The Beep is brilliant compared to others.

The BBC create some excellent programmes. What about the excellent series on now "Wonders of the Universe" by Brian Cox, or everything produced by David Attenborough - I can watch these over and over again. In fact the Beep has created so many fantasic science programmes that they alone are worth the cost.

Its not my cup of tea, but what about "The Sky at Night"? Which other broadcaster would keep a show like that going?

Can you see ITV creating these shows? Funding them for years before broadcasting so that we can discover and experience what the world (and universe) has to offer - seriously, no way.

Then you have Stand-up Comedy, the beep is about the only one still doing proper stand-up comedy - and while I admit the same faces can get boring, they have also brought through a lot of new talent.

ITV is virtually an unused channel in my house, that's how bad it is.

The time is long overdue for the Beeb to stand on its own two feet. In the US, the equivalent is public broadcasting, and they are perhaps the most biased broadcasters in the country (very left-wing).

Yeah yeah yeah... You can find people saying they're right and left wing, depends on the topic at the time...

Lets be honest, compared to US tv, everything the beep says comes across as left wing. (I mean left wing and right wing being such great terms to describe something on an international level )

They are about to face their come-uppance, though, because the government has just voted to strip them of all government funding. It's about time -and it's what should happen to the BBC.

I don't think you have this right Steve, what they voted for was the beep fronting the cost of certain services, it doesn't mean the government won't fund other things.

What frustrates me is that the BBC won't allow website visitors from overseas to view video content. Why ever not? It's the only site I know that does this. It simply turns away 'customers' and throws away potential advertising revenue.

Because you're not in the UK...and pushing an 30 mins to an hour of programme to you is not going to be covered by a few ads. It's much easier and cheaper for the beep to peer with UK ISP's.

Yes - BBC America has advertising. In fact, I'll wager that their advertising breaks are longer and more frequent than most other channels. Can anyone give one good reason why they should not include advertising breaks in Britain?

Because I pay a license fee - the fee creates more cash than advertising, this money is used on the topics as said above. I won't accept both, so I rather not see adverts.

The programming on BBC America, though, it rather poor: reruns of the Tudors, old Doctor Who episodes, Being Human, and very old Top Gear episodes (which I don't believe is anywhere near as popular over here). None of the recent programs in Britain are shown on BBC America. The only good thing is that, every night, they show an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The trouble is, the BBC sells content to the US networks, so they can't show the latest stuff on their channel and sell the latest stuff to other networks.

Plus, it doesn't help that the blooming Americans can't stand to listen to anything other than another American. They recreate our shows rather than show the originals, yet we in the UK are more than happy to watch US stuff.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Right? Why is that right Steve? The quality of our programmes is so far ahead of others that its hard to recoup the costs, and yes I've watched TV in the US, in Canada and Australia, and I've seen the dross in other countries too. The Beep is brilliant compared to others.

Sorry, but that's a complete myth. Most of the best programming in the last two decades that has made it overseas has come from the independent channels. This was true even 20 years ago, with the Sherlock Holmes series, starring Jeremy Brett, for example. I notice that fewer and fewer BBC dramas make it these days to the US. Most come from "the other side."

One interesting phenomenon is that government channels in other countries seem to buy more BBC programming than the independent channels. Going off on a tangent, the same is true of planes: most government airlines buy from heavily-subsidized Airbus whereas private companies buy from Boeing. Maybe it's a coincidence, but it does seem that government companies prefer to buy goods from other government companies.

 

[Cornish Steve]

I don't think you have this right Steve, what they voted for was the beep fronting the cost of certain services, it doesn't mean the government won't fund other things.

Sorry. I meant that the US Congress has voted to strip funding for public television in the US, which is way overdue, and was suggesting the same is needed in Britain.

 

The BBC create some excellent programmes. What about the excellent series on now "Wonders of the Universe" by Brian Cox, or everything produced by David Attenborough - I can watch these over and over again.

You will probably have to.

Judging by the amount or repeats Auntie puts up these days.

Earl

 

[Subbynet]

Sorry, but that's a complete myth. Most of the best programming in the last two decades has come from the independent channels. I notice that fewer and fewer BBC dramas make it to the US. Most come from "the other side."

Dramas... The US makes a lot of drama's Steve, Channel 4 in the UK will attest to this.

Like I said, the US likes to recreate British programmes. so I'm not surprised you may think these are of US origin. The chances are some will be sold to you from the UK.

Plus, I hate to say it Steve, but as a Brit, I think the US is quite a xenophobic country, they like hearing the voice of other Americans. We in the UK have no problem buying programmes direct to air from the US.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Maybe it's a British thing, but we seem to hold on irrationally to certain established institutions - whether it's royalty, the NHS, or the BBC.

Anyway, I'm off to watch Ireland complete their thrashing of England - on BBC America.

 

[Subbynet]

oh yeah, did I mention sport on the BBC Steve - Football, Rugby, Tennis or Formula 1 with no adverts! ..Its so refreshing not to be interrupted every 10mins with an ad break!...

You don't know what you're missing....

 

[bdw]

I notice that fewer and fewer BBC dramas make it these days to the US.

That says more about the the US audiences taste (or lack of?) than the quality of the BBC's output.

 

[Subbynet]

One interesting phenomenon is that government channels in other countries seem to buy more BBC programming than the independent channels. Going off on a tangent, the same is true of planes: most government airlines buy from heavily-subsidized Airbus whereas private companies buy from Boeing. Maybe it's a coincidence, but it does seem that government companies prefer to buy goods from other government companies.

Boeing is a "US government publicise the debt but privatise the profits company", same as Airbus is to the EU, they will never allow it to be sold.

I also don't really understand what you mean by buying more BBC programming, because the BBC buys a lot of the stuff themselves from British producers. The Beep, other than to fund these things, doesn't create many of the actual programmes themselves, its done independently. Its really the big budget stuff they specialise in, like natural history and science.

Maybe having the BBC buy it gives other national broadcasters, and other channels the confidence that its good quality?

 

[bdw]

Subby with all this beeping I keep thinking your swearing.

It's the Beeb.

 

[Dawg]

I think 'Beep' is quite good for the BBC. An example of an eggcorn: a word changed to convey a new meaning.
For instance: 'Old wise tale' instead of 'old wives tale'.

 

[Experienced IT guy]

Great thread for E-commerce, shopping cart and payment processor discussion, advice and assistance... Nice to see sirearl giving a balanced view on life. The reason that (web feeds) of programs are blocked outside the UK is the same reason other sites block sports programs and others been seen in the UK. The programmes are sold for exclusive broadcast by that country's broadcaster. I'm not going to say that the last series of Horizon, or the latest series of Wonders of the Universe justify the BBC licence, they (IMHO) have been / are excellent. They set a standard. I know its hackneyed but the Beeb is still probably the least worst programme producer, no matter if you watch it live, or on the iPlayer.

I just bet that Sirearls favourite channel is Dave...

 

.

I just bet that Sirearls favourite channel is Dave...

Nope its Cbeebies,its the only program I can find with enough adult content.

10 million a day Auntie gets from the license fee ,let along all the other little perks.

I wonder what other TV providers spend.?

Earl

 

[bdw]

For anyone with young kids Cbeebies is worth the licence fee alone. I have three grandsons and from the ages of about 18 months upwards all we had to do was stick Cbeebies on and that kept them very quiet (and it's not Cbeepies).

Anyway, what's the story in Balamory nowadays?

 

[Industrial]

Interesting Discussion.

 

[Experienced IT guy]

I stand corrected on your choice of channels

10 million a day Auntie gets from the license fee ,let along all the other little perks.
I wonder what other TV providers spend.?
Earl

That would buy you about 5 minutes of advertising space during Superbowl. Of course you have to make the advert as well - No use just sticking up a gif and one of your tag lines. Say nearer 3 minutes including production costs...

Sounds like Auntie may be good value after all

 

[UKSBD]

What I find strange is that the BBC have separate businesses all operating within it.

For instance Google don't pay the BBC for AdSense, but do pay a BBC commercial subsidiary, does this mean the whole BBC website is controlled by a separate commercial subsidiary from the BBC?

 

[Experienced IT guy]

What I find strange is that the BBC have separate businesses all operating within it.

For instance Google don't pay the BBC for AdSense, but do pay a BBC commercial subsidiary, does this mean the whole BBC website is controlled by a separate commercial subsidiary from the BBC?

A little history here.
The BBC was formed before the web.
The BBC was formed before satelite TV.
The BBC was formed before colour TV.
The BBC was formed before commercial TV.
The BBC was formed before TV standards.
The BBC was formed before TV.

The original BBC licence was for a wireless. There was one channel which had a call sign "2LO" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC
Some time after that when commercial TV came into exisitence, TV companies started selling programmes made in one country to Broadcasters in another country.
The BBC did this and after a while formed a commercial arm now known as BBC worldwide.
http://www.bbcworldwide.com/

Hope this helps