why is the BBC aloud to get away with blatant advertising of films and of...

[kamakazee]

...using gossip about so called celebs? people as news. Surely this is breaking there own charter when they let a so called A list celebrity on morning NEWS to push there late test movie or book. If this is not a out and out break from there mandate then what is. They are not meant to advertise anything, whilst there online sites have recently boasted several millions profit from online advertising, whilst every year they cry poverty and want more money from the tax payer. It is about time they stood on there own two feet and left the tax payer out of it. Pay as you go or don't pay if you don't watch !

 

[knownout]

The BBC isn't only about UK television programmes . There are numerous radio stations and regional ones . The BBC world service are all financed from the licence fee , The licence fee was introduced long before television ,, It was to provide finance that was not controlled by party politics or government or by commercial interests so allowing the BBC to be independent , The advent of commercial radio and TV programmes has all happened in recent years ,, So just pay like the rest of the community whether you watch or listen to BBC or not . If you do not wish to pay then do not listen to radio or have any equipment that can receive TV signals in your home ,, This includes any recording apparatus and your computer .

 

[Gileo]

I agree and I think their most blatant advertising is the weekly promotion of Lloyd-Webber's latest creation in the (rather thin) guise of searching for a lead actor/singer. The trouble is, a lot of the prime time stuff that the Beeb knocks out nowadays has to be fronted by a celebrity for it to work and the celebrities will only come on if they get some form of promotion.

 

[GeorgeB]

I think their job is to promote them
What the BBC call the breakfast show, we call "Celebrity promotions"

 

[daveg]

But where do you draw the line between genuine human interest and advertising. Sometimes its blurred.

What makes it more blurry is that the BBC have a department called BBC WorldWide. This doesnt have to abide by the same rules and can accept advertising etc ....... it gets murky, but its not quite as simple as your making out.

Google BBC Worldwide if you dont believe me.

 

[nemesis]

'Breakfast' and 'The One Show' constantly plug forthcoming films, books, shows, music releases etc and whilst many are 'newsworthy' some smack of a blatant breach of the advertising code.
I think it is a news item if, say, a major star is in town, on the back of a new film - but they invariably hole up in a hotel and give interviews. The BBC 'presenters' go to them, as any 'reporter would, to an event.
Lesser mortals, including the desperate publicity seekers, will get up at 4-30 am to be collected at 5-30 am by a BBC paid-for car so as to arrive at the studios by 6 or 6-30 am for make-up and instruction/rehearsal of their 4 minute slot at 7-45'ish am - with slightly better known nonentities undergoing the same procedures an hour later.
Miss Gilliwig, off the music scene for 15 years and only vaguely remembered for 1 hit single, has now made a new CD and is anxious to remind a forgetful nation she's still about - and anxious to sell more CDs. NOT a news item to most.
Any regular viewer will know that such 'magazine' progs are riddled with Political Correctness and hide-bound with diversity and multiculturalism - everything 'balanced' (but weighted positively in favour of uno who.)
But then 'balance' is very difficult to achieve. The BBC are 'in competition' with ITV and have a duty to engage with Sun readers as much as with Telegraph, the (Sun's sister) Times and even 'outraged' Daily Mail readers - which is trying to square the circle , when it comes to 'entertainment'.
I'm sure the upper echelons of BBC 'Management' agree it would be far better to plug Dawkins' 'The Greatest Show on earth' rather than 'The Katie Price guide to successful relationships'.
But sadly........
Your point is nonetheless 100% valid. The Charter states inform, educate and entertain (I forget the actual order) - and it seems to me they've allowed the 'entertainment' bit to sink to the lowest common denominator - at the price of information and education. And blatant advertising SOILS it all the more, for a publicly funded institution.
Methinks the higher echelons have lost their way - and endanger one of our most treasured institutions. The nadir was reached when nonentity 'celebs' jumped through shapes successfully or were dunked in a pool of water.

Prime time Saturday evening viewing.

Good Grief. No better than watching a fading has-been trying to resurrect their 'career' on Big Brother or the Jungle thingummy. The BBC has a duty NOT to stoop so low. But their sense of balance seems to have been lost - and if they carry on like this, they'll lose their privileged income - to the glee and financial gain of Murdoch and other commercial moguls.

 

[Theelectorate]

The BBC are a waste of tax payers money, don't believe their hype. They make billions from DVD sales and overseas licensing of their shows and for this they put back in as little as possible. They show repeats non stop and make cheap a'ss science and history programmes, oh yes the living planet and all those wonderful BBC natural history programmes are actually co-funded by national geographic. Heard about their latest venture the one ITV is taking them to court over, strictly come dancing but get this, its on ice skates! hows that for originality? The Beeb are also experts at making non comedies, my Family, and about 10 other prime time shows couldn't raise a smile form somebody coked off their heads.

 

[AwayWithTheFairies]

'Aloud'???

I think you mean allowed.

Those Girls Aloud have an entire generation using this word incorrectly.

Ah, I feel much better for getting that out of my system.

Thank you. Carry on.