Turning-point for the BBC? - the new DG

[Serial_Apologist]

I like it! I like it a lot

Bubble wrap doesn't quite, er, cover it, but it would provide a continuing excuse for something to have a pop at.

[amateur51]

Bubble wrap doesn't quite, er, cover it, but it would provide a continuing excuse for something to have a pop at.

[Nick Armstrong]

In case anyone missed the extended rerun of Have I Got News For You on BBC1 on Monday evening, it contained a really good segment about the Jubilee and most of all about the BBC coverage - bracingly unguarded and some eye-popping examples of fatuous commentary I'd missed. Really hilarious 10 minutes or so - laugh-out loud funny, I thought, and some great denunciation of the 'dumbing down' mentality chez Auntie

It's between 2mins 20secs and 14mins here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01jz5jy/Have_I_Got_a_Bit_More_News_for_You_Series_43_Episode_9/

[DracoM]

Delicious.
Same applies to R3, and many of us have been saying it for years. Will anyone at R3 listen? Hey, Chris Patten, you on receive or what?

[amateur51]

In case anyone missed the extended rerun of Have I Got News For You on BBC1 on Monday evening, it contained a really good segment about the Jubilee and most of all about the BBC coverage - bracingly unguarded and some eye-popping examples of fatuous commentary I'd missed. Really hilarious 10 minutes or so - laugh-out loud funny, I thought, and some great denunciation of the 'dumbing down' mentality chez Auntie

It's between 2mins 20secs and 14mins here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01jz5jy/Have_I_Got_a_Bit_More_News_for_You_Series_43_Episode_9/

Cheers Caliban! - as I watched none of it, this sounds like the prefect way to catch up with the minimum of angst

[Nick Armstrong]

Cheers Caliban! - as I watched none of it, this sounds like the prefect way to catch up with the minimum of angst

I think Sir's funny bone will be agreeably tickled....

[chapman19]

I often wonder if the BBC management are being shown specially made versions of the programmes we see...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18512995

'...he thought it was "a really good piece of broadcasting" on the whole.'

So much for BBC Director General Mark Thompson's judgement!

[Pabmusic]

I often wonder if the BBC management are being shown specially made versions of the programmes we see...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18512995

'...he thought it was "a really good piece of broadcasting" on the whole.'

So much for BBC Director General Mark Thompson's judgement!

Quite agree. Two passages from the article are telling:

"We also had one or two - not many but one or two - inaccuracies in the commentary which we shouldn't have had." [Note the 'not many' passage - an attempt to restructure memories. Not many would have listed the criticisms in detail.]

"However, Mr Thompson insisted he would not "talk about individual elements" of the coverage." [Why? - he's already acknowledged there were a few problems. How can you discuss them without talking about the 'individual elements'?]

Weasel words.

[Serial_Apologist]

So today we learn that the BBC had problems in its flotilla coverage owing to the weather on that day affecting the camera crews operating from boats?

Other networks covering the event had different weather?

[Lateralthinking1]

"We also had one or two - not many but one or two - inaccuracies in the commentary which we shouldn't have had."

"However, Mr Thompson insisted he would not "talk about individual elements" of the coverage."

I find it difficult to think of anyone quite so utterly lacking in charm. It might as well just rain until September.

[Paul Sherratt]

Or charisma, Lat. He's quite a hopeless leader. Well done BBC Trust people who gave him the job. Have another go, why don't you.

[french frank]

Well done BBC Trust people who gave him the job. Have another go, why don't you.

Don't tempt fate, Paul.

[Paul Sherratt]

Man of Vision ? The new BBC boss

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jul/04/george-entwistle-named-bbc-director-general?newsfeed=true

[Serial_Apologist]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012...?newsfeed=true

Currently the BBC's director of "vision"? Mark Thompson's choice?

Doesn't exactly raise one's hopes.

[LHC]

It appears that the furore surrounding the BBC's coverage of the river pageant will not be the hoped-for turning point for the BBC.

It has just been announced that the next DG is to be George Entwistle, who is currently the Director of BBC Vision (whatever that might be)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18702085

Amongst his many other achievements, Entwistle was responsible the lovely BBC coverage of the Jubilee River Pageant that was so widely praised. He chaired the committee co-ordinating the event and was responsible for the “lightening up of the coverage”!

I wonder what other innovations we can expect under such an inspired leadership? One Show at the Proms perhaps?