There will be cynics who don't like it, who aren't behind the build up to the Olympic Games, but I think this BBC Olympic torch trailer, with it's tease of the specially commissioned Elbow track that will be used as their Olympic coverage theme tune, is genuinely inspiring.
What do you think?
Showing posts with label BBC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBC. Show all posts
Monday, 30 April 2012
Sunday, 1 April 2012
55 years on, still the greatest April Fools' Joke ever...
This HAS to be the greatest April Fools' Day joke ever. BBC Panorama's look at the Spaghetti Harvest!
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Radio Times Christmas Covers over the years..
You know it's nearly time for Santa's visit when the Radio Times Christmas edition hits the magazine shelves.
Here are a few selected covers from the Radio Times of Christmas past including the first Christmas edition from 1926!
2011:
2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:
2006:
2005:
1998:
1994:
1975:
1939:
1926:
Here are a few selected covers from the Radio Times of Christmas past including the first Christmas edition from 1926!
2011:
2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:
2006:
2005:
1998:
1994:
1975:
1939:
1926:
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
VIDEO: What a Wonderful World - David Attenborough
The BBC ended the series of Frozen Planet with this tremendous music video which includes David Attenborough performing What a Wonderful World.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
COMMENT: Sports Personality of the Year? No, SportsMAN of the Year
Yesterday, the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year was announced. It's always a talking point between sports fans (as the Americans might say, a "water cooler" topic) and there's always some surprises about who has been included on the list. The 2011 shortlist, however, is more likely to be the topic of heated debate because of who it excludes.
There isn't a single woman on the 10-man shortlist despite the UK having a couple, at least, of noteworthy world champions and other successes.
What has gone on?
Now, I'm. Or one for insisting that there HAS to be a woman otherwise it's sexist (that sort of nonsense should be left with bigots like Harriet Harman) but there are very strong arguments for a couple of women to have been included on the shortlist and very weak arguments to support the inclusion of some of those who made the cut.
The shortlist, which the public can then vote on during the live show in December, includes 2 cricketers, 3 golfers, 2 athletes, a boxer and a tennis player.
There's two questions that list screams to me:
1. Does any sport REALLY justify more than one entry?
2. Why the boxer and tennis player? After all, Amir Khan and Andy Murray have had, what I think it's fair to describe as, journeyman years - achieving little that stands out or deserve major credit.
So, which women should or could have been included?
Well, there's the gymnast Beth Tweddle who won a third consecutive European gold at the bars; there's Sarah Stevenson the taekwondo world champion; and there's Rebecca Adlington returning to winning form during 2011; and I'm sure there are others who've achieved as much in their field as the names on the published shortlist.
The BBC insist the list isn't THEIR list. It's drawn up by consulting the editors of 30 publications, national press, regional press and magazines. Maybe it shouldn't just be editors of publications but organising bodies of sports? Or maybe it needs a wider pool of ideas - 30 is, after all, fairly limited.
In its defence, I guess it avoided having any footballers or rugby players in a year of disappointments. And I, personally, am pleased that no jockeys are listed - animal abuse has no place in sport.
Here is the shortlist (in alphabetical order). I think nobody should vote in protest at the nonsense that this list demonstrates.
*Mark Cavendish (Cycling)
*Darren Clarke (Golf)
*Alastair Cook (Cricket)
*Luke Donald (Golf)
*Mo Farah (Athletics)
*Dai Greene (Athletics)
*Amir Khan (Boxing)
*Rory McIlroy (Golf)
*Andy Murray (Tennis)
*Andrew Strauss (Cricket)
There isn't a single woman on the 10-man shortlist despite the UK having a couple, at least, of noteworthy world champions and other successes.
What has gone on?
Now, I'm. Or one for insisting that there HAS to be a woman otherwise it's sexist (that sort of nonsense should be left with bigots like Harriet Harman) but there are very strong arguments for a couple of women to have been included on the shortlist and very weak arguments to support the inclusion of some of those who made the cut.
The shortlist, which the public can then vote on during the live show in December, includes 2 cricketers, 3 golfers, 2 athletes, a boxer and a tennis player.
There's two questions that list screams to me:
1. Does any sport REALLY justify more than one entry?
2. Why the boxer and tennis player? After all, Amir Khan and Andy Murray have had, what I think it's fair to describe as, journeyman years - achieving little that stands out or deserve major credit.
So, which women should or could have been included?
Well, there's the gymnast Beth Tweddle who won a third consecutive European gold at the bars; there's Sarah Stevenson the taekwondo world champion; and there's Rebecca Adlington returning to winning form during 2011; and I'm sure there are others who've achieved as much in their field as the names on the published shortlist.
The BBC insist the list isn't THEIR list. It's drawn up by consulting the editors of 30 publications, national press, regional press and magazines. Maybe it shouldn't just be editors of publications but organising bodies of sports? Or maybe it needs a wider pool of ideas - 30 is, after all, fairly limited.
In its defence, I guess it avoided having any footballers or rugby players in a year of disappointments. And I, personally, am pleased that no jockeys are listed - animal abuse has no place in sport.
Here is the shortlist (in alphabetical order). I think nobody should vote in protest at the nonsense that this list demonstrates.
*Mark Cavendish (Cycling)
*Darren Clarke (Golf)
*Alastair Cook (Cricket)
*Luke Donald (Golf)
*Mo Farah (Athletics)
*Dai Greene (Athletics)
*Amir Khan (Boxing)
*Rory McIlroy (Golf)
*Andy Murray (Tennis)
*Andrew Strauss (Cricket)
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
The BBC's "Green Book"
The BBC's "Green Book" provided guidance to writers about taboo subjects and other delicate matters for light entertainment programmes during the 1940s and 1950s.
Click here to read.
It's fascinating to see what was politically and socially correct in Britain in the middle of the 20th century compared to what is allowed today.
Click here to read.
It's fascinating to see what was politically and socially correct in Britain in the middle of the 20th century compared to what is allowed today.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
MUSIC: Favourite Symphonies 1 to 9
Sara Mohr-Pietsch set a task on BBC Radio 3 this morning to tie in with the Radio 3/BBC4 "Symphony" season.
She asked listeners to name their favourite numbered symphonies from 1 - 9 (beyond 9 it becomes rather limited in the choices!).
Here are mine:
Symphony No.1 - William Walton
Symphony No.2 - Howard Hanson - The "Romantic"
Symphony No.3 - Gorecki - "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs"
Symphony No.4 -Brahms Nielsen - "The Inextinguishable"
Symphony No.5 - Sibelius
Symphony No.6 - Beethoven - "Pastoral"
Symphony No.7 - Prokofiev
Symphony No.8 - Shostakovich
Symphony No.9 - Schubert - The "Great C Major"
What would your 9 be?
She asked listeners to name their favourite numbered symphonies from 1 - 9 (beyond 9 it becomes rather limited in the choices!).
Here are mine:
Symphony No.1 - William Walton
Symphony No.2 - Howard Hanson - The "Romantic"
Symphony No.3 - Gorecki - "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs"
Symphony No.4 -
Symphony No.5 - Sibelius
Symphony No.6 - Beethoven - "Pastoral"
Symphony No.7 - Prokofiev
Symphony No.8 - Shostakovich
Symphony No.9 - Schubert - The "Great C Major"
What would your 9 be?
Sunday, 9 October 2011
OPINION: The BBC cuts are just tinkering, the whole corporation needs to be reviewed
When cuts of about 20% to the BBC were announced last week there were the usual outcries from programme makers and bleating from unions. To me the cuts are merely tinkering. The whole corporation needs reviewing.
To me there is one big question that needs addressing:
What is the point of the BBC?
Yes, we all love the BBC (well, maybe not the Daily Mail, but most of us). It is where the majority of the UK turn when there are matters of national significance and a trusted source of information around the world.
It is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) at its best, but therein lies the problem: it is doing more than a public service broadcaster needs, it is doing an awful lot that could and should be handed over to the commercial sector.
Now I realise that I am likely to be accused of snobbery and elitism but it is, in my opinion, the pandering to the proletariat that has caused many of the BBC's current financial problems. It is, though, important that the BBC becomes more accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
So... My proposals...
Television
I would sell off BBC1. Whilst it is the biggest audience winner of the BBC (aft the web site) it is, largely, things that would be more appropriate on commercial channels. Shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Total Wipeout really have no place on a PBS. Why is license fee money being used to line the pockets of so-called "celebrities" to do silly things? This is a criminal waste of the license fee.
I'd also don't see why the BBC should have chat shows which, let's be honest, are largely used to promote a product whether it be a new movie, TV series or book. Yes, have a chat show but interview people who are genuinely interesting or have done something extraordinary, not just give them money to advertise themselves. How does that fit with the BBC's own code of ethics about advertising?
I'd make sure that ALL programmes were repeated but not, as is so one the current situation, at a similar time of day 24 hours later, at different times of day to incase audiences.
I think the changes to BBC2 are, largely, good, with daytime being used for repeats and news programmes. I'd probably merge BBC2 and BBC3 into an "entertainment" channel and have BBC4 for culture and documentaries. BBC4 is a jewel that should be protected more then anything else the BBC does.
The BBC News channel should become more like Radio Five Live - a news and sports broadcaster with programmes like Click moving to BBC4.
Children's programmes should be safe from cuts but, also, some classics from the output could be used.
I'd scrap all religious programming. It is not the BBC's joob to promote religion. yes, BBC4 could still do documentaries about religion but actual worship should be stopped. I'd welcome the end of both Songs of Praise and Radio 4's Thought for the Day both of which, I find, are hugely offensive to all right-thinking people and irrelevant in the modern world.
Radio
It is in radio that I would have the biggest changes.
Radio One, Radio Two and BBC 6Music should all be sold off to commercial radio. Much of what they do replicates what commercial stations already do. It is not what a PBS should be doing.
Radio 3 and radio 4 do an ok job but need tightening up.
Radio 3 should stop trying to become Classic FM. In the last few years it seems to be gradually or hong into Classic FM 2 - why? Classic FM do a very good job with their way of presenting "classical music" - there is no reason for soundbite classics to be on two networks. Radio 3 must focus on the areas that Classic FM does not cover - lesser known works, contemporary composers, musk for rasa bands and wind bands - and more "arts documentaries". It should also be the radio home for literature - more an arts channel and less a classical music channel.
I'd make some dramatic changes to the BBC Proms too - but that probably warrants a blog post of its own!
Radio 4 should be news and non-arts documentaries. I'd scrap sexist programmes like Women's Hour.
Apparently there were discussion about merging Radio Five Live with local radio. This should have happened. The mindless nonsense that fills so many local radio stations, endless phone-ins for the lonely and insane, should not be funded by the license fee. Radio Five Live, as it is, but with localness, weather and sport once an hour is an easy solution that provides everything of use that local radio has to offer.
I'd continue with the. BBC in its current format - trying to offer more and more back catalogue of programmes as possible. BBC iPlayer should have many more old programmes available.
Enrichment and accessibility are the key.
The BBC should not be trying to compete with ITV or Sky but trying to offer an alternate. I fear the BBC has forgotten it is a public broadcast service and has been too hawing ratings.
People will watch quality and want more than mindless pap. The BBC needs to become a 21st century broadcaster and stop living in the past. Innovation is key to future success. Ridding the BBC of the culture of celebrity, must for the sake of celebrity, will do the whole of society good.
Please, Mark Thompson, stop tinkering with the corporation and have a roots and branch review.
The future is bright but the BBC are at risk of missing the boat.
To me there is one big question that needs addressing:
What is the point of the BBC?
Yes, we all love the BBC (well, maybe not the Daily Mail, but most of us). It is where the majority of the UK turn when there are matters of national significance and a trusted source of information around the world.
It is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) at its best, but therein lies the problem: it is doing more than a public service broadcaster needs, it is doing an awful lot that could and should be handed over to the commercial sector.
Now I realise that I am likely to be accused of snobbery and elitism but it is, in my opinion, the pandering to the proletariat that has caused many of the BBC's current financial problems. It is, though, important that the BBC becomes more accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
So... My proposals...
Television
I would sell off BBC1. Whilst it is the biggest audience winner of the BBC (aft the web site) it is, largely, things that would be more appropriate on commercial channels. Shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Total Wipeout really have no place on a PBS. Why is license fee money being used to line the pockets of so-called "celebrities" to do silly things? This is a criminal waste of the license fee.
I'd also don't see why the BBC should have chat shows which, let's be honest, are largely used to promote a product whether it be a new movie, TV series or book. Yes, have a chat show but interview people who are genuinely interesting or have done something extraordinary, not just give them money to advertise themselves. How does that fit with the BBC's own code of ethics about advertising?
I'd make sure that ALL programmes were repeated but not, as is so one the current situation, at a similar time of day 24 hours later, at different times of day to incase audiences.
I think the changes to BBC2 are, largely, good, with daytime being used for repeats and news programmes. I'd probably merge BBC2 and BBC3 into an "entertainment" channel and have BBC4 for culture and documentaries. BBC4 is a jewel that should be protected more then anything else the BBC does.
The BBC News channel should become more like Radio Five Live - a news and sports broadcaster with programmes like Click moving to BBC4.
Children's programmes should be safe from cuts but, also, some classics from the output could be used.
I'd scrap all religious programming. It is not the BBC's joob to promote religion. yes, BBC4 could still do documentaries about religion but actual worship should be stopped. I'd welcome the end of both Songs of Praise and Radio 4's Thought for the Day both of which, I find, are hugely offensive to all right-thinking people and irrelevant in the modern world.
Radio
It is in radio that I would have the biggest changes.
Radio One, Radio Two and BBC 6Music should all be sold off to commercial radio. Much of what they do replicates what commercial stations already do. It is not what a PBS should be doing.
Radio 3 and radio 4 do an ok job but need tightening up.
Radio 3 should stop trying to become Classic FM. In the last few years it seems to be gradually or hong into Classic FM 2 - why? Classic FM do a very good job with their way of presenting "classical music" - there is no reason for soundbite classics to be on two networks. Radio 3 must focus on the areas that Classic FM does not cover - lesser known works, contemporary composers, musk for rasa bands and wind bands - and more "arts documentaries". It should also be the radio home for literature - more an arts channel and less a classical music channel.
I'd make some dramatic changes to the BBC Proms too - but that probably warrants a blog post of its own!
Radio 4 should be news and non-arts documentaries. I'd scrap sexist programmes like Women's Hour.
Apparently there were discussion about merging Radio Five Live with local radio. This should have happened. The mindless nonsense that fills so many local radio stations, endless phone-ins for the lonely and insane, should not be funded by the license fee. Radio Five Live, as it is, but with localness, weather and sport once an hour is an easy solution that provides everything of use that local radio has to offer.
I'd continue with the. BBC in its current format - trying to offer more and more back catalogue of programmes as possible. BBC iPlayer should have many more old programmes available.
Enrichment and accessibility are the key.
The BBC should not be trying to compete with ITV or Sky but trying to offer an alternate. I fear the BBC has forgotten it is a public broadcast service and has been too hawing ratings.
People will watch quality and want more than mindless pap. The BBC needs to become a 21st century broadcaster and stop living in the past. Innovation is key to future success. Ridding the BBC of the culture of celebrity, must for the sake of celebrity, will do the whole of society good.
Please, Mark Thompson, stop tinkering with the corporation and have a roots and branch review.
The future is bright but the BBC are at risk of missing the boat.
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