Polly proposes that Sky should save the BBC's finances

[scottycelt]

And as to sport, cricket, ECB sold out to Sky didn't they? Our national game (forget football as it has no interest to me) cannot be seen live, unless you subscribe, but, isn't it the case that cricket is coming back to the BBC? Was there not some Parliamentary debate that said cricket is vital?

Dunno, Anna ... but cricket holds no interest for me and is certainly not the the national game in Scotland, that's for sure.

If there was any parliamentary debate concerning the 'vitality' of cricket, I humbly suggest that in itself might be the best argument against parliamentary democracy in political history.

[Flosshilde]

Ammy, we have a saying here (You may know it?) which is: "I wouldn't give him the drippings off me nose" That is my attitude to Murdoch.

[Flosshilde]

And as to sport, cricket, ECB sold out to Sky didn't they? Our national game (forget football as it has no interest to me) cannot be seen live, unless you subscribe, but, isn't it the case that cricket is coming back to the BBC? Was there not some Parliamentary debate that said cricket is vital?

And football (Premier League), Anna, & many other sporting events. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they 'captured' Wimbledon eventually.

(Scotty - there is a thriving cricket scene in Scotland, as that rather daft SNP MSP, whose name I forget, found when she complained about the cricket coverage on TV on the grounds that it was of no interest to people in Scotland. I think that the Scotland cricket team might even be more successful than the Scotland football team - not difficult, I know)

[amateur51]

Dunno, Anna ... but cricket holds no interest for me and is certainly not the the national game in Scotland, that's for sure.

When was the last time you donned your aerodynamic helmet & your lycra all -in-one and mounted your trusty Penny Farthing, scotty?

Or were you referring to sliding the bathroom scales across the ice in your back yard while Mrs scotty gives the surface a good seeing to with the James Dyson yard brush that you bought her for Crimbo?!

[Stunsworth]

Why the heck do we always need a man and a woman reading the news? I don't care which sex is doing the reading, but for cripes sakes why can't we just have one?

Don't the main news broadcasts on BBC1/2 just have a single presenter, sometimes male, sometimes female?

[amateur51]

Don't the main news broadcasts on BBC1/2 just have a single presenter, sometimes male, sometimes female?

You mean they change before your very eyes?

Now that's versatility for you

[VodkaDilc]

Sky News is as least as impartial as BBC News and it's much less PC which is a plus as far as I'm concerned. Why the heck do we always need a man and a woman reading the news? I don't care which sex is doing the reading, but for cripes sakes why can't we just have one?

Also on SKY you get news channels from different countries which I find fascinating ... apart from Fox Noos, of course, which I originally assumed had been included as part of the Comedy Bundle.

Completely in agreement about Sky News (but it's advisable to check Kay Burley's shifts, mainly afternoons, so that they can be avoided.)

Apart from CNN and other non-American news channels, I have recently discovered PBS (Channel 166), which has a good Newshour at various points during the day.

Euronews is also a useful channel: adjust the language settings and it can be heard in most major European languages. So we can become informed and improve our language skills at the same time.

[Stunsworth]

You mean they change before your very eyes?

To adapt a rugby tour quote, what happens below the desk, stays below the desk.

[Flosshilde]

You mean they change before your very eyes?

Now that's versatility for you

[amateur51]

To adapt a rugby tour quote, what happens below the desk, stays below the desk.

Touché

[jayne lee wilson]

The worst thing about Sky is their lack of original creative content. They watch other channels to see what becomes a cult hit, then throw offers that can't be refused at the makers and buy them all, greedily, in. Then they say oh how wonderful to make such progammes available at primetime away from "obscure" freeview channels, rejoice! Well, ****! Having enjoyed Mad Men and Glee, my attitude to their Sky transfer was simply, OK, nice while it lasted...bye!

[scottycelt]

Completely in agreement about Sky News (but it's advisable to check Kay Burley's shifts, mainly afternoons, so that they can be avoided.).

Those are exactly the times I hurriedly switch back to BBC or Euronews ... !

[scottycelt]

When was the last time you donned your aerodynamic helmet & your lycra all -in-one and mounted your trusty Penny Farthing, scotty?

Aren't you possibly confusing me with Mr Pee, Ams ... ?

[Flosshilde]

In particular I was astonished by the claim that "BBC channels are by far the most watched by Sky subscribers." I find that difficult to believe.

Yes, it looks like a ludicrous claim. Why would they bother to subscribe to Sky if that were the case?

But then I recall a website (now discontinued) which was solely devoted to the recording and correcting of factual and statistical errors in Pollyfilla's columns, so this kind of comment doesn't surprise me.

I've just read the article, & the context makes it quite clear that Poly is referring to viewing BBC on the Sky platform. -

"she [Margaret Thatcher] added another bonus. She made the BBC pay £10m a year to be transmitted on the Sky platform, ... If the BBC withdrew, Sky would totter since BBC channels are by far the most watched by Sky subscribers" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...-parasitic-sky)

[teamsaint]

As a general rule, do people find Poll's articles irritating and a bit pointless ?

Just asking, like.


( oh and as a general principle, and not in any way supporting Sky, why should they broadcast BBC channels for free?)