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Originally Posted by Jasonof2000
The thing is that in the past just about all British TV just looked CHEAP.
Besides their is plenty of crap TV on the BBC, Top Gear is just one of the good shows.
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Jasonof2000, are you watching BBC 'America', or BBC in the UK? Because if it's the former, it's not a true reflection of what the BBC is. A car programme, or other 'imported' select shows you may be seeing in the USA is hardly the measure of a corporations abilty to produce quality programmes.
I admit the BBC has changed hugely in recent years to compete with trashy home improvement programmes, X Factor and other junk like those 'Super Nanny' programmes - but the BBC still produces some of the best TV programmes in the world, as does BBC Radio....but if you're out of the UK, you never get to see or hear them!
Have you ever heard BBC Radio 4? It's a wonderful relief to turn on the Radio and hear cultured/educated/softly spoken people talking about diverse and complex matters I can tell you. And what I like best, is their chats are about World Issues, not just the UK. So the listener gets a much more balanced view on 'people' in general. Now I admit it's a small proportion of Radio compared to the other junk on British Radio, (Gangsta' Rap etc) but without the BBC, I'd be lost. It's like attending a University lecture in my Kitchen...or car..for that matter. This is the 'old' Britain before Globalisation and Mass Immigration. I agree a lot has changed, and standards
have dropped.
Yet, personally I can still watch:
BBC University Challenge,
News night,
Question time,
Panorama,
Period Drama's,
Wildlife programmes. As for Comedy, the BBC seems to produce all the award winning shows:
The Office,
Little Britain - etc...
Sure we pay $20 tax per month for 'free TV' with no adverts on TV or the Radio, but with respect, I think you may find the BBC has the highest reputation for state broadcast TV in the world compared to other countries, and that includes North America.
I would love to watch American news networks that are
non politically biased, well informed of world opinion, and not full of adverts - but that won't ever happen, it's not 'American' to do that. Mostly (from what I gather) American TV is made cut price, volume driven for mass audiences and, well - fast in (ideas) - fast out (Programme). That has it's advantages (price), but also it's limitations (free journalism and consquent unbiased reporting to the population - is constrained).
For example, people say 'Top Gear USA' will never be the same as the British version as critical comments on manufacturers cars won't be allowed - as in the way Clarkson says true, but horrible things about KIA/Chevy. We know that can't be done because the programme isn't state funded - and you won't get
cars back on the show in the next series - if people tell the truth about how bad they are! So, yes it's a catch 22. I say paying the money is better, you get free (and more accurate) journalism at the end of the day, or 'as free' as the state allows should I say, which over here is not too bad in terms of broadcasting/newspapers.
Fox news is so corrupt I could write a Phd on its effects on the mind of people watching. CNN is ok, I watch that every day over here too. Imagine if you had to pay for viewing though?
What is on TV becomes more specialist, more accurate, more honest. If TV networks are funded by sponsors, no one will allow slagging off, or 'negative' opinons of anyone - and thus the public is fooled.
So BBC vs American broadcasting during elections: Example.
This is half of the reason George Bush won the election - twice. 50% of Americans (literally) have no idea what the truth is about the world outside the USA, because so much disinformation is put on on your TV channels, you suck it up from day 1 (as kids), naturally believing it's all true. At least if people pay money, then people have a voice, and can complain. Imagine someone complaining to Fox News - nothing would be done! Here, if there are enough complaints, they have to change, or issue an apology at the start of a programme for innacurate facts. To me, that's worth paying for, and mostly, only the BBC do this.
We're both different cultures I understand that. Regarding the BBC, it's desperately trying to cling on to keep the average IQ a little higher - and I like that, it's a good concept - if a failing one!
Re: Top Gear coming!
Also in my view, it gives an unfair view of British people who may have negative thoughts about Americans because of Iraq - and Iraq causing terrorism in Britain - people thus need someone to blame because of their fear - of terrorism, so they blame America. It's stupid of Clarkson to insult Americans quite so strongly, he should insult the CARS, not people who drive them surely. Ohh look, I've gone on rather..... 
I just think people should get to know each other better around the world, rather than continue stereotypes in the media about each other - and make money off this. E.g 'Top Gear' or 'Top Gear USA'. It should be an American show 100%, with it's own name - nothing to do with Top Gear. It's your country and your cars, not a competition to be 'partly ' British - quite bonkers.
