BBC News had a technical problem with a report on their main story about NHS Providers saying they cannot meet targets with their current funding, let alone go to a full seven day service as politicians, most of whom have no experience running a business, let alone a big corporation, have decreed. BBC switched from the report even though we could have heard what was being said and only the picture of the reporter was faulty.
Later in the broadcast the programme did a self serving piece of promotion for its own radio show 'The Archers', as if the story line hasn't had enough publicity. This is soap, not news, not real life, they didn't go back to the lost report at all. It's no longer much of a news report at all. Disgraceful. thank goodness for Channel 4 News.
Malcolm Snook
Monday, 12 September 2016
Tuesday, 6 September 2016
BBC Crimewatch Debacle
Members of the public were outraged to see the BBC using a cliffhanger ending to get people to tune in to Crimewatch again next week. The tragic story was about a teenage girl raped and murdered many years ago. However, due to advances in the understanding of DNA the killer has now been caught and jailed. Well that's good, however.......
The BBC clearly should not have treated this as a drama, or as something to achieve ratings, but the BBC has its defence all ready. They say the story needed two episodes to be told. Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think everyone is missing something.
Surely the whole raison d'être of Crimewatch is to get the public to help solve UNSOLVED crimes, not tell the story of solved murders at such length that it takes TWO episodes. The BBC are trying to defend the indefensible and popular dancing Jeremy might have had the foresight to just say no.
Malcolm Snook
The BBC clearly should not have treated this as a drama, or as something to achieve ratings, but the BBC has its defence all ready. They say the story needed two episodes to be told. Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think everyone is missing something.
Surely the whole raison d'être of Crimewatch is to get the public to help solve UNSOLVED crimes, not tell the story of solved murders at such length that it takes TWO episodes. The BBC are trying to defend the indefensible and popular dancing Jeremy might have had the foresight to just say no.
Malcolm Snook
Plain Rude
On the whole Channel 4's F1 coverage is pretty good, but David Coulthard's arrogance in trying to buttonhole Valterie Bottas who was already involved in an interview with a lady presenter, from his home country, on the grid at Monza was appalling. DC did apologise later, no doubt after a flood of complaints, but at the time he didn't think he'd done anything wrong, saying something along the lines that Bottas thinks he's all big time now he's qualified fifth.
I haven't put that in quotes because it may not be word perfect from memory, but it is the gist of what he said, accusing Bottas of the very arrogance he actually displayed. We all make mistakes in the heat of the moment, but plain good manners, should be a basic human reaction, it wasn't a leg pull or a mistimed joke, it was BAD.
Malcolm Snook
I haven't put that in quotes because it may not be word perfect from memory, but it is the gist of what he said, accusing Bottas of the very arrogance he actually displayed. We all make mistakes in the heat of the moment, but plain good manners, should be a basic human reaction, it wasn't a leg pull or a mistimed joke, it was BAD.
Malcolm Snook
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Well Done Ch 5!
Watched Schindlers List on Channel 5 the other night. It is one of the greatest movies ever made, if you have a soul you cannot fail to be moved. Whatever you may feel about Israel and the Palestinian question today the world in the late thirties and through the forties was something very different. A vast and sinister conflict its hard, even for the generation after to imagine.
I sometimes think the human species has more in common with Lemmings than any other animal. We seem, yet again to be becoming more insular and some of the world's current politicians are manipulating our worries and fears the way someone else once did.
The tragedy of Poland and Polish Jews of the massacres and ghettos and extermination camps is, even now unbelievable, not that I'm in any way a holocaust denier. The story if Schindler is so well told that the film is a true masterpiece, the stronger the story, and this is an incredible story, in many ways the greater the risk to the film maker.
The reason I felt moved to blog though was that Channel 5 treated the movie with respect, they're a commercial channel but advertising breaks were few, short and far between, protecting as far as a commercial station can the art and the experience.
Well done Channel 5 great example.
Why not have a look at my facebook page.
I sometimes think the human species has more in common with Lemmings than any other animal. We seem, yet again to be becoming more insular and some of the world's current politicians are manipulating our worries and fears the way someone else once did.
The tragedy of Poland and Polish Jews of the massacres and ghettos and extermination camps is, even now unbelievable, not that I'm in any way a holocaust denier. The story if Schindler is so well told that the film is a true masterpiece, the stronger the story, and this is an incredible story, in many ways the greater the risk to the film maker.
The reason I felt moved to blog though was that Channel 5 treated the movie with respect, they're a commercial channel but advertising breaks were few, short and far between, protecting as far as a commercial station can the art and the experience.
Well done Channel 5 great example.
Why not have a look at my facebook page.
Friday, 19 August 2016
About Time
Watched the movie 'About Time' on Film 4 last night. I've been trying to avoid commercial TV as much as possible, there are just too many ads these days and some I find patronising, others offensive, certain brands blacklisted as a result.
However, Film 4 has a tolerable amount of advertising and shows some good movies. In 'About Time' Bill Nighy plays Bill Nighy, diffident and charming and everyone else acts their socks off. OK it's not the world's greatest movie, but it's entertaining and it makes you feel good and it even has a message.
Written, as well as directed by Richard Curtis, who I met once when I was working as an extra, I'm forced to wonder if he's not the current Charles Dickens. Different times and different methods of communication and entertainment, but you'd have to say he's a great observer of human nature, and the message about looking at things positively, seeing the good and making the most of your life is unarguably right - but it's not rammed down your throat.
Hell, I'd even watch it again; it took me a moment or two to recognise Servilia from HBO's Rome and where I'd seen some of the other lead actors before, great performances. I'm not criticising Bill Nighy though, he was perfect for that role and if some actors reprise themselves, Hugh Grant is another, no problem if the casting is right, better them than Costner as Robin Hood.
Now for my ad - well, we all have to make a living, here is one of my gift shops.
However, Film 4 has a tolerable amount of advertising and shows some good movies. In 'About Time' Bill Nighy plays Bill Nighy, diffident and charming and everyone else acts their socks off. OK it's not the world's greatest movie, but it's entertaining and it makes you feel good and it even has a message.
Written, as well as directed by Richard Curtis, who I met once when I was working as an extra, I'm forced to wonder if he's not the current Charles Dickens. Different times and different methods of communication and entertainment, but you'd have to say he's a great observer of human nature, and the message about looking at things positively, seeing the good and making the most of your life is unarguably right - but it's not rammed down your throat.
Hell, I'd even watch it again; it took me a moment or two to recognise Servilia from HBO's Rome and where I'd seen some of the other lead actors before, great performances. I'm not criticising Bill Nighy though, he was perfect for that role and if some actors reprise themselves, Hugh Grant is another, no problem if the casting is right, better them than Costner as Robin Hood.
Now for my ad - well, we all have to make a living, here is one of my gift shops.
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Impartial?
How did the Boris fan club get all the front seats at the great television debate on the referendum and why were the spotlights on a few hundred of them out of six thousand in the arena. One for the conspiracy theorists I think!
Personally I hope we haven't gone from the sick man of Europe to the cynical man of Europe. I'm in favour of a joined up world myself not isolated enclaves.
Unfortunately the remain campaign has been poor and so many issues have not been discussed, especially the positive things which come from European cooperation and believe me there are many. Same again last night, fear of recession and job losses, which is real, but not a positive, fear of terrorism, I like to think civilised people would continue to fight atrocity anyway, and the big red herring fear of immigration.
Something no-one has pointed out is that if Britain votes to leave there will likely be mass panic immigration, to get in before its too late, leaving a huge amount of sorting out later, along with all the rules and regulations the leavers want abolished, new trade negotiations and on and on. Chaos.
While the remain campaign has been poor and has largely ignored the positives to campaign based on fear, the leave campaign has been worse in its use of downright lies, blatant propaganda and yet again fear. Why are are politicians so in love with fear?
Maybe it's because they think they can control a fearful population, it's working for Trump in a divided America and the media is helping it along, both in America and here. Surely we can do better than that?
Britain looks divided and divisive right now, an overwhelming remain vote might settle things for a while. If it turns out we are as divided down the middle as the Americans right now it will be a tragedy and our shallow, partial media will share the blame with our mostly appalling politicians.
Personally I hope we haven't gone from the sick man of Europe to the cynical man of Europe. I'm in favour of a joined up world myself not isolated enclaves.
Unfortunately the remain campaign has been poor and so many issues have not been discussed, especially the positive things which come from European cooperation and believe me there are many. Same again last night, fear of recession and job losses, which is real, but not a positive, fear of terrorism, I like to think civilised people would continue to fight atrocity anyway, and the big red herring fear of immigration.
Something no-one has pointed out is that if Britain votes to leave there will likely be mass panic immigration, to get in before its too late, leaving a huge amount of sorting out later, along with all the rules and regulations the leavers want abolished, new trade negotiations and on and on. Chaos.
While the remain campaign has been poor and has largely ignored the positives to campaign based on fear, the leave campaign has been worse in its use of downright lies, blatant propaganda and yet again fear. Why are are politicians so in love with fear?
Maybe it's because they think they can control a fearful population, it's working for Trump in a divided America and the media is helping it along, both in America and here. Surely we can do better than that?
Britain looks divided and divisive right now, an overwhelming remain vote might settle things for a while. If it turns out we are as divided down the middle as the Americans right now it will be a tragedy and our shallow, partial media will share the blame with our mostly appalling politicians.
Monday, 20 June 2016
BBC Question Time and News
David Cameron gave a poor performance on Question Time last night I thought. I'd hate to see us leave Europe personally and I'm not suggesting Michael Gove did better last week. Passionate Cameron may have been, but effective? I worry. When he was talking about controlling immigration from non EU countries he dodged the issue.
The stuff about terrorism could well do with being left out too, I'm pretty certain countries will co-operate over such a crucial issue. Pointing out blatant lies put about by the 'out campaign' is good, but most of the rest of what was said has been said many times and not apparently to great effect. Not that one can trust the polls either.
It would be nice to see people talking about the good things which have come out of European co-operation, work on the environment and human rights. One questioner referred to Europe's share of trade being in decline in percentage terms, he wasn't very convincingly answered. Europe's output has increased over time but you can prove anything with statistics by choosing set periods and all sorts of dodges. I don't want to go down that path.
What I would say is that economies like China and India who came late to modern capitalism, have huge populations and lower wages to boot will obviously grow faster, which in turn means established countries decline percentage wise by comparison, even if they too are growing. If you were a new car marque and you sold one car in year one and two in year two you'd have grown by one hundred percent, but it would hardly be a huge success. India and China are making a success of things, but statistics will still flatter.
A bad night for TV then, and for the current debate. The good old BBC then repeated a large chunk of its own programme on the news. BBC news is decidedly weak, repetitive and self serving these days. It's short, shallow and dumbed down. If you're going to broadcast news it should be wide ranging, informative, unbiased and thoughtful. The BBC is hitting one out of four at best.
Malcolm Snook is published at Amazon, Nook and Kobo
The stuff about terrorism could well do with being left out too, I'm pretty certain countries will co-operate over such a crucial issue. Pointing out blatant lies put about by the 'out campaign' is good, but most of the rest of what was said has been said many times and not apparently to great effect. Not that one can trust the polls either.
It would be nice to see people talking about the good things which have come out of European co-operation, work on the environment and human rights. One questioner referred to Europe's share of trade being in decline in percentage terms, he wasn't very convincingly answered. Europe's output has increased over time but you can prove anything with statistics by choosing set periods and all sorts of dodges. I don't want to go down that path.
What I would say is that economies like China and India who came late to modern capitalism, have huge populations and lower wages to boot will obviously grow faster, which in turn means established countries decline percentage wise by comparison, even if they too are growing. If you were a new car marque and you sold one car in year one and two in year two you'd have grown by one hundred percent, but it would hardly be a huge success. India and China are making a success of things, but statistics will still flatter.
A bad night for TV then, and for the current debate. The good old BBC then repeated a large chunk of its own programme on the news. BBC news is decidedly weak, repetitive and self serving these days. It's short, shallow and dumbed down. If you're going to broadcast news it should be wide ranging, informative, unbiased and thoughtful. The BBC is hitting one out of four at best.
Malcolm Snook is published at Amazon, Nook and Kobo
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