The BSkyB argument thread

[Panjandrum]

Perhaps I should have said "No sensible response to this suggestion yet."

You really meant your "suggestion" to be taken seriously?

[VodkaDilc]

Sorry, Floss. I'm afraid I gave up reading the thread last night, as I like to go to bed in an equable mood.

In response to your proposal, I'm not sure why Sky Arts programming should be so marginalised, given that it is a national broadcaster with 10 million subscribers. In fact, there may be many who are not currently Sky subscribers who will see what Sky is offering and then compare that with the BBC's output and decide that they wish to take out a subscription to the former.

Moreover, there are many threads on this forum which are of interest to only a select few. Indeed, there are many posts which are off topic and of interest to maybe only the poster. If Sky Arts seriously offends you, why read these threads? As I said above, there are already several threads where people like yourself can sound off against the Murdoch regime. Why can't you be content with that, and leave those of us with a perfectly reasonable interest in the serious arts programming which Sky provides to ourselves? Now, perhaps you can remind me what the BBC's latest contribution to serious television arts broadcasting is? Oh yes, let me see, Maestro at the Opera.

Surely no-one reads every thread! I avoid all sporty ones; other people might like to avoid threads relating to non-BBC programming. It really is that simple.

[Flosshilde]

Perhaps if Pee stuck to simple facts, rather than making every mention of SKY into a major advertising promotion?

[VodkaDilc]

Perhaps if Pee stuck to simple facts, rather than making every mention of SKY into a major advertising promotion?

Perhaps someone on the Football thread (I imagine that's what the one with 'round ball' in the title is about) makes every mention of football into a major advertising promotion for Chelsea or whatever his team is. But I don't know, because I don't look - so it does not trouble me. Could this approach save you some irritation?

[Mr Pee]

Perhaps someone on the Football thread (I imagine that's what the one with 'round ball' in the title is about) makes every mention of football into a major advertising promotion for Chelsea or whatever his team is. But I don't know, because I don't look - so it does not trouble me. Could this approach save you some irritation?

I don't really know how I am supposed to alert readers to forthcoming programmes on Sky arts without advertising- sorry, mentioning- the broadcaster. You could equally say that discussion of Essential Classics is advertising that programme. You seem to take any mention of Sky as an advert.

This thread started off as a perfectly reasonable alert to other viewers of a broadcast of complete Mahler symphonies, which were it on the BBC I'm sure would generate much discussion, although I am sure without the sniping that has tarnished this one.

As has been mentioned, there are plenty of threads already where you can bash Murdoch to your heart's content. I have stopped even looking at the Leveson thread, let alone contributing to it.

Perhaps you and your chums would please do the same with threads such as this.

[amateur51]

You know, Amateur, your deliberately snide and provocative contributions to any thread relating to Sky Arts are becoming beyond tiresome. I can pretty much guarantee that if BBC TV decided to do the same- (dream on)- you wouldn't offer a word of criticism. I, probably along with most other Sky viewers,will record these performances anyway, and then watch them as and when I like. I may also settle down on an evening or two and watch one or both symphonies as they are broadcast. That will be my choice but at least I will have that choice. Would that the BBC would give me such a dilemma.

If you have nothing more constructive to offer to this thread then stay away.

But my remarks ARE constructive. This is lazy programming and should be complained about and resisted. just because you gobble it up like some hungry hound doesn't make it right, y'know

I hope that the BBC will take note

[amateur51]

There are already several (sic) anti-Murdoch threads on this forum where the self-appointed guardians of morality can spout their sanctimonious piffle until the cows come home. Is it unreasonable to ask that this thread be left to those of us who are Sky subscribers and might just be interested in discussing, in a civilised manner, its many and various musical and artistic delights?

A constructive suggestion Panyan - why not lobby Sky Arts for your very own forum wherein you and fellow subscribers can chew away uninhibited in an appropriate forum?

Will you do that?

I doubt it a) because you fear that Sky will show no interest whatsoever; and b) because it will remove your reason for showing-off your apparent victim status on a BBC Radio 3-inspired message board.

[amateur51]

Perhaps I should have said "No sensible response to this suggestion yet."

[Mr Pee]

But my remarks ARE constructive. This is lazy programming and should be complained about and resisted. just because you gobble it up like some hungry hound doesn't make it right, y'know

I hope that the BBC will take note

My heart sank, Amateur, when I just clicked on the "what's new" page and saw that you were the latest contributor to this thread. There is nothing constructive about your contributions here. I find it remarkable that you expend so much time criticizing a channel that by your own admission you cannot watch. Haven't you got anything better to be doing with your time? You call it lazy programming, fine, that's up to you, but I will be enjoying a complete cycle of Mahler symphonies next week, with leading conductors, and one of the world's top orchestras, without the expense of shelling out for a Blu-Ray box set- which hasn't even been released yet.

As for the BBC taking note, I agree- as does David Lister in the Independent:-

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-sky-arts-is-showing-how-to-do-culture-on-television--can-the-bbc-please-take-note-7440622.html

Now please. Give it a rest.

[amateur51]

My heart sank, Amateur, when I just clicked on the "what's new" page and saw that you were the latest contributor to this thread. There is nothing constructive about your contributions here. I find it remarkable that you expend so much time criticizing a channel that by your own admission you cannot watch. Haven't you got anything better to be doing with your time? You call it lazy programming, fine, that's up to you, but I will be enjoying a complete cycle of Mahler symphonies next week, with leading conductors, and one of the world's top orchestras, without the expense of shelling out for a Blu-Ray box set- which hasn't even been released yet.

As for the BBC taking note, I agree- as does David Lister in the Independent:-

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-sky-arts-is-showing-how-to-do-culture-on-television--can-the-bbc-please-take-note-7440622.html

Now please. Give it a rest.

Ask Sky for your own forum with Panyan, Mr Pee.

Then I won't have to give it a rest

Cos you'll be elsewhere

[Mr Pee]

Ask Sky for your own forum with Panyan, Mr Pee.

Then I won't have to give it a rest

Cos you'll be elsewhere

Do me a favour, and just be elsewhere.

[VodkaDilc]

Ask Sky for your own forum with Panyan, Mr Pee.

Then I won't have to give it a rest

Cos you'll be elsewhere

Has everyone forgotten that the reason we are on this forum is that the BBC withdrew its own R3 one?

[Bryn]

Has everyone forgotten that the reason we are on this forum is that the BBC withdrew its own R3 one?

Quite so, and those who discussed topics related to Radio 3's output on the BBC Radio 3 boards set up a number of alternative boards of their own back, (this set and a couple of others). Message board systems supported by advertising are available to to those who might wish to discuss the output of Sky Arts 2. Back in the days when I subscribed to a Sky package which included Sky Arts, they provided some sort of message board for users, IIRC. Perhaps such still exists. Perhaps they followed the BBC's example and closed it.

[Mr Pee]

Quite so, and those who discussed topics related to Radio 3's output on the BBC Radio 3 boards set up a number of alternative boards of their own back, (this set and a couple of others). Message board systems supported by advertising are available to to those who might wish to discuss the output of Sky Arts 2. Back in the days when I subscribed to a Sky package which included Sky Arts, they provided some sort of message board for users, IIRC. Perhaps such still exists. Perhaps they followed the BBC's example and closed it.

If the discussions on these boards were restricted solely to BBC output, then the threads would be very few and far between.

[french frank]

Mr Pee has been given the go-ahead to post on matters relating to Sky programmes, not least because there are others with Sky who appreciate the heads-up. If we restricted the Radio 3 Forum to Radio 3 and its own programmes we could dispense with Platform 3 straight away.

I am well aware that there are 'issues' relating to Sky and Mr Pee has entered into a compensating agreement regarding other threads on those issues which people want, legitimately, to discuss. I would ask those who wish to pursue those 'other issues' to do so elsewhere and consider Sky threads as no more than they purport to be: posts about programmes which may be of common interest.

Signed:

I Vince