Cast adrift by our very own BBC

[Dougpol]

Well at least we know BBC Prime is not meant for expats.....it was silly to email them, assuming that this might possibly be the case - if just a little bit - requesting quality programming....I should have known better.

Onwards with the HP payments on that dish!

JD



For the BBC, Joanna Brown wrote on Thursday May 29th:

Thank you for your email.

We are always pleased to receive feedback from our viewers, and all the comments you make about BBC PRIME will be logged and heard by the appropriate people.

BBC PRIME is a commercial self funding channel, not funded in any way whatsoever by the British licence fee or the British Government. It is not intended to be a channel for British expats, but for an international audience throughout Africa, the Middle East and Europe, who enjoy BBC programmes.

Eastenders, I am happy to say, is already on in the evening CET. IT is shown on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 20.00. Schedules can be found on www.bbcprime.com.

Best wishes,
Joanna K Brown
Customer Relations Department
BBC WORLD & BBC PRIME Television

 

[2old4this]

I feel I'm missing some vital part of the plot here. To what question exactly was this the response?

2old

 

[Dougpol]

I was drawing attention to the ( already known) fact that the Beeb are happy to admit that their commercial arm is not directed at expats, but rather is some do gooding socialist effort to help people overseas to learn English and to be exposed to British "culture" such as is displayed on BBC Prime.
My original mail to the Beeb rambles on as I'm sure you can imagine........

 

[2old4this]

I'm still slightly confused.
Why do you consider it odd that a broadcaster would decide to create a product (BBC Prime) that is aimed at foreign markets? Almost every broadcaster in the world does something similar.
Have you also asked them what the purpose of BBC America is?

In any event, I don't understand your feeling "cast adrift". If you are an expatriate in a country in which BBC-Prime is marketed, then you are free to subscribe to it just like everyone else in that country...

2old

 

[Dougpol]

Mmm...I was pointing out that BBC Prime is the only alternative to the BBC services in the UK and as such it could be a whole lot better - I think this argument is better carried on the other thread.....

It's just a pity that the Beeb is only now starting to understand the mentality of it's own British people - wherever we go in the world, we are still cast iron 100% British.......
Maybe they will wake up to the commercial possibilities.

We shouldn't be subjected to tripe in the guise of BBC prime ( the key words here are BBC, and PRIME), which is not aimed at us at all, but is simply a lackey of the British Council - that old patronising edifice of " let's help spread British culture".... let's call it British Coucil TV and be done with it and let them finance it.

I was merely putting my opinion that BBC Prime should be for us Expats, and for all the Anglophiles out there, without repeats - and not doubling as "the Learning Channel". If other nationalities enjoy it, all the better, but it should be ours...........
And there could be Prime 2 for Africa and Asia.....better programming, more revenue.

 

[Dougpol]

Ah yes, OK, when I said we were cast adrift, I meant those of us outside 2D who have enjoyed BBC radio for 10 years or more on satellite now have only the option of BBC Prime, and no quality radio.
Ok there is internet radio but if you're not on broadband....?
If we keep the pressure up as Jim Scrivener says, they might reconsider both radio availability and think of the pluses of more daring programming...........like transmitting Grandstand or MOTD for example as an payable option.