I spend quite a bit of time on the Biased BBC blogsite, and recently there has been a lot of discussion about exactly what the BBC should, and shouldn't be doing.
Here are my thoughts on the BBC.
What it shouldn't be broadcasting.
Reality programmes.
Soap operas.
Quiz shows.
Chart music radio services.
Ethnic minority programming.
It also shouldn't be giving free publicity to Andrew Lloyd Webber's theatrical company and Camelot [the National Lottery] every Saturday night or sending over four hundred people to cover the Olympic Games in Peking.
What it should be broadcasting.
BBC Parliament - including more coverage of local politics.
Schools programmes.
More local TV and radio programmes - in particular a regional radio news service for Yorkshire - London has such a service, so why can't we?
Broadcasts of all music and theatrical productions receiving public subsidy.
Guided tours of all the national museums [not everyone can easily get to London]
Independent and foreign-language films.
More local interest programmes from different parts of the country broadcast nationally.
Unbiased news, and a re-focusing of its priorities - in particular more local news, and news from Europe that's not about the EU.
Programming about the people, culture, history and geography of Great Britain.
Live sports coverage.
Live broadcasts of university lectures.
Programmes about how the law works, how local and national government is organised, how public services and utilities are funded and operate.
Broadcasting Open University programmes again.
Preferably though I'd just like to see the licence fee abolished, or significantly reduced by drastically cutting back on BBC services.
