VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

It was about a year ago that Andrew, Les and Philip decided to go to Aberdeen and drink a variety of real ales, eat some Chinese food and the tromp around the city drinking more ale and having larks and japes.

"I need to pop into The Crown and Anchor by the docks" said Andrew, "I've been working on an idea"

Yesterday evening at 7.30 the first of six episodes born out of a boys night out was broadcast on BBC1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nlw4s

Where will you go today?

[Bruce]

I'm sure it's interesting, but the Beebs thinks non-UK residents aren't worthy to watch their programming, at least while it's fresh. No workee.

Maybe you could nick a clip to show us privately? Or do a re-creation from your wee huttie with hats and hand gestures?

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[Philip Banks]

It was merely a link to the programme page as opposed to encouring you to watch it. In the UK the BBC is funded by the TV Licence and so I get everything the BBC does "free". £150 per year well spent.

[Bish]

Ahhh Bruce, you've just trodden in a pile of doggy-doo here. As an ex-pat Brit, I am conflicted here as my need for BBC output is higher than the average non-UK resident. The fact remains that BBC programming is paid for by UK residents (nominally) via the TV license fee. Although mandated to exist in a commercial environment, it is this over-arching independence from commercial sponsors and slavery to viewing figures that makes the BBC what it is... a producer of high-quality programming in the way that most commercial-based entities are not. Oh, sure... they can produce the crap along with the best of 'em as part of their mandate is to entertain (not just the educate and inform stuff).

This makes for a difficult financial model. Popular stuff can be put out on something like BBC America (which seems to be a lack-luster attempt at attacking a commercial market), sold to individual stations abroad, or packaged up as DVDs. To universally make the day-to-day programming available would upset the workers at the Portgordon general store as they would see themselves as paying for something that is then given to "bloody foreigners" for free. Not to mention the backlash from the media corporations if the BBC undermined their own national transmission models.

I shall attempt to view the program via fair means or foul. I shall remain on the moral high-ground because I do actually still pay for a UK TV License (don't ask).
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
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