Comments on: The BBC and Lonely Planet: it will never happen again http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/ Left-wing news, opinion and activism Fri, 25 May 2012 01:52:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Charlieman http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-40840 Charlieman Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:55:17 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-40840 I think that john b and astem are being overly generous to the BBC. Purchase of Lonely Planet did not introduce anything new to the BBC (with respect to the talents at Lonely Planet) but primarily purchased a brand (hence the big money paid for it?). I acknowledge that BBC Worldwide is a trading company with an obligation to make a profit, and BBC Worldwide does a very good job at selling TV shows, web content, ideas etc outside the UK. But the job of BBC Worldwide is to sell BBC content, not to buy up independent producers. In recent years the BBC has been unjustifiably criticised for "giving away" educational content (something that the BBC was doing before the internet existed). I would argue that the BBC's educational content is core activity and that commercial competitors should do a better job, rather than forcing the BBC to remove educational web sites. Unfortunately, lead footed commercial intrusions make that argument more difficult. I think that john b and astem are being overly generous to the BBC. Purchase of Lonely Planet did not introduce anything new to the BBC (with respect to the talents at Lonely Planet) but primarily purchased a brand (hence the big money paid for it?). I acknowledge that BBC Worldwide is a trading company with an obligation to make a profit, and BBC Worldwide does a very good job at selling TV shows, web content, ideas etc outside the UK. But the job of BBC Worldwide is to sell BBC content, not to buy up independent producers.

In recent years the BBC has been unjustifiably criticised for “giving away” educational content (something that the BBC was doing before the internet existed). I would argue that the BBC’s educational content is core activity and that commercial competitors should do a better job, rather than forcing the BBC to remove educational web sites. Unfortunately, lead footed commercial intrusions make that argument more difficult.

]]> By: ad http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-40837 ad Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:49:56 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-40837 Frankly I would not be happy with the idea of a state controlled media. If you are, you should consider that such a policy could end up giving David Cameron, and people he selects, control of the nations media outlets. Frankly I would not be happy with the idea of a state controlled media.

If you are, you should consider that such a policy could end up giving David Cameron, and people he selects, control of the nations media outlets.

]]> By: Chris Baldwin http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-40818 Chris Baldwin Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:32:31 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-40818 I say nationalise the whole damn industry. Let us control it, not some no marks with money. I say nationalise the whole damn industry. Let us control it, not some no marks with money.

]]> By: Shatterface http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-40791 Shatterface Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:18:29 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-40791 'Crows' works fine for me, no correction necessary. ‘Crows’ works fine for me, no correction necessary.

]]> By: James Penman http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-79716 James Penman Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:57:04 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-79716 Excellent post - RT @hackneye: Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that's right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ Excellent post – RT @hackneye: Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that’s right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ

]]> By: DonaldS http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-79717 DonaldS Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:43:09 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-79717 Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that's right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that’s right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ

]]> By: DonaldS http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-40773 DonaldS Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:38:06 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-40773 crows = crowd RougGuides = RoughGuides gah. crows = crowd
RougGuides = RoughGuides

gah.

]]> By: DonaldS http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-40772 DonaldS Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:36:13 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-40772 #2 > If Murdoch had bought lonely planet, no one would care, yet clearly that would also ‘distort’ the market. Murdoch already has significant publishing interests, in the shape of HarperCollins. So, no, there wouldn't have been anything like the outcry if he'd bought LP. (After all, RougGuides is part of Penguin, i.e. Pearson). TimeOut's book publishing is ultimately owned by Bertelsmann. And so on. However, if you think that any of those have *anything like* the cross-subsidization power in the UK travel market as the BBC, you're tripping. > I would argue that BBC worldwide should simply be subject to the restrictions that are placed on other companies. But it's not just another company, is it? It's the commercial arm of a public service broadcaster, and as such is basically protected to an extent that far exceeds any other company. The BBC is for Public Service Broadcasting. I'm happy to see "public service" defined as widely as you like. But try and get it into other stuff, and you're just handing the anti-BBC crows ammunition to shoot it down with. #2
> If Murdoch had bought lonely planet, no one would care, yet clearly that would also ‘distort’ the market.

Murdoch already has significant publishing interests, in the shape of HarperCollins. So, no, there wouldn’t have been anything like the outcry if he’d bought LP. (After all, RougGuides is part of Penguin, i.e. Pearson). TimeOut’s book publishing is ultimately owned by Bertelsmann. And so on.

However, if you think that any of those have *anything like* the cross-subsidization power in the UK travel market as the BBC, you’re tripping.

> I would argue that BBC worldwide should simply be subject to the restrictions that are placed on other companies.

But it’s not just another company, is it? It’s the commercial arm of a public service broadcaster, and as such is basically protected to an extent that far exceeds any other company.

The BBC is for Public Service Broadcasting. I’m happy to see “public service” defined as widely as you like. But try and get it into other stuff, and you’re just handing the anti-BBC crows ammunition to shoot it down with.

]]> By: john b http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-40766 john b Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:03:42 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-40766 Exactly @ Astem. Although it should be forced to follow the disclosure requirements that it would face if it were a plc. Exactly @ Astem. Although it should be forced to follow the disclosure requirements that it would face if it were a plc.

]]> By: astem http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-40765 astem Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:00:51 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-40765 I would argue that BBC worldwide should simply be subject to the restrictions that are placed on other companies. If Murdoch had bought lonely planet, no one would care, yet clearly that would also 'distort' the market. So yes, place restrictions to stop large companies 'bulldozing a thriving, creative sector', but BBC Worldwide doesn't require special regulations. BBC worldwide does not exist to fulfil Public Service obligations, it exists to return profits back to the BBC. I would argue that BBC worldwide should simply be subject to the restrictions that are placed on other companies. If Murdoch had bought lonely planet, no one would care, yet clearly that would also ‘distort’ the market. So yes, place restrictions to stop large companies ‘bulldozing a thriving, creative sector’, but BBC Worldwide doesn’t require special regulations. BBC worldwide does not exist to fulfil Public Service obligations, it exists to return profits back to the BBC.

]]> By: cjcjc http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-40762 cjcjc Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:46:30 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-40762 I wonder whether, finally, the high point of BBC hubris has passed? A pretty high high point nonetheless! I wonder whether, finally, the high point of BBC hubris has passed?

A pretty high high point nonetheless!

]]> By: Liberal Conspiracy http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-79718 Liberal Conspiracy Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:08:08 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-79718 New post: The BBC and Lonely Planet: it will never happen again http://tinyurl.com/d5slbb New post: The BBC and Lonely Planet: it will never happen again http://tinyurl.com/d5slbb

]]> By: Travel Weekly Blog http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-79715 Travel Weekly Blog Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:07:36 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-79715 RT @hackneye: Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that's right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ RT @hackneye: Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that’s right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ

]]> By: James Penman http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-79783 James Penman Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:57:04 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-79783 Excellent post - RT @hackneye: Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that's right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ Excellent post – RT @hackneye: Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that’s right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ

]]> By: DonaldS http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-79978 DonaldS Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:43:09 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-79978 Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that's right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ Why the BBC and Lonely Planet will never happen again, and why that’s right: http://bit.ly/xx9YZ

]]> By: Liberal Conspiracy http://liberalconspiracy.org/2009/04/09/the-bbc-and-lonely-planet-it-will-never-happen-again/#comment-80245 Liberal Conspiracy Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:08:08 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=3901#comment-80245 New post: The BBC and Lonely Planet: it will never happen again http://tinyurl.com/d5slbb New post: The BBC and Lonely Planet: it will never happen again http://tinyurl.com/d5slbb

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