Post by Teddy Bear on Mar 16, 2014 22:07:54 GMT
I've had respect for Noel Edmonds for quite a few years now, ever since he announced his intention not to pay the licence fee anymore in protest at the way TVL threatened and harassed the public trying to collect it.
He now offers to purchase the BBC, along with a consortium of wealthy investors. I would like to see them succeed but I have my doubts it will happen.
At the end of the article the BBC claim that 'long term polling confirms 53% of the public are in favour of the licence fee'. No doubt these polls were carried out in the Guardian.
He now offers to purchase the BBC, along with a consortium of wealthy investors. I would like to see them succeed but I have my doubts it will happen.
At the end of the article the BBC claim that 'long term polling confirms 53% of the public are in favour of the licence fee'. No doubt these polls were carried out in the Guardian.
Noel Edmonds: It's time to sell the BBC...and we could buy it
Noel Edmonds, the presenter, claims he has the support of wealthy investors who can "save" the BBC
By Hannah Furness
It is time to sell the BBC, the television presenter Noel Edmonds has argued, as he claims he has the backing of a group of wealthy investors to buy it.
The broadcaster, who used to work for the corporation and now appears on Channel 4, said the BBC must “wake up” and stop “deluding” itself about its own importance.
Arguing viewers have been “cheated”, he argued it was now time to “erect the For Sale board outside Broadcasting House.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Edmonds hinted he had already conducted meetings about the future of the corporation, claiming he had assembled influential people who could “make it happen”.
He told the newspaper: "During numerous meetings I have held over many months, in many countries, wealthy individuals, international investors and business people experienced in corporate rescues all acknowledge that there is a business model that would save the BBC.
"Believe me, these people can make it happen. If ailing British companies such as Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, British Airways and Cadbury can be turned around, there is still hope for the BBC."
He went on to accuse BBC management has shown an “appalling lack of business acumen” by acting in a “self-serving fashion”, arguing current management were not the right people to “embrace change”.
He has now claimed it is the responsibility of politicians to “grab the initiative” and find a new owner for the corporation.
“Forget renewing the charter in 2016, an act as futile as giving medicine to a corpse,” he said. “The long-suffering British people deserve better.”
Edmonds, who left Noel's House Party in 1999 and now presents Deal or No Deal on Channel 4, also proposed the “mind-numbing” Parliament channel should be placed online only, and minority language services cut.
A spokesman for the BBC said: "Long-term polling shows that the licence fee is the funding method with single most backing and it's been rising. Support for the licence fee is at 53 per cent - way ahead of subscription and advertising. It's the top choice for funding the BBC across all ages, classes and whether you are in a Freeview, Virgin or Sky household."
Noel Edmonds, the presenter, claims he has the support of wealthy investors who can "save" the BBC
By Hannah Furness
It is time to sell the BBC, the television presenter Noel Edmonds has argued, as he claims he has the backing of a group of wealthy investors to buy it.
The broadcaster, who used to work for the corporation and now appears on Channel 4, said the BBC must “wake up” and stop “deluding” itself about its own importance.
Arguing viewers have been “cheated”, he argued it was now time to “erect the For Sale board outside Broadcasting House.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Edmonds hinted he had already conducted meetings about the future of the corporation, claiming he had assembled influential people who could “make it happen”.
He told the newspaper: "During numerous meetings I have held over many months, in many countries, wealthy individuals, international investors and business people experienced in corporate rescues all acknowledge that there is a business model that would save the BBC.
"Believe me, these people can make it happen. If ailing British companies such as Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, British Airways and Cadbury can be turned around, there is still hope for the BBC."
He went on to accuse BBC management has shown an “appalling lack of business acumen” by acting in a “self-serving fashion”, arguing current management were not the right people to “embrace change”.
He has now claimed it is the responsibility of politicians to “grab the initiative” and find a new owner for the corporation.
“Forget renewing the charter in 2016, an act as futile as giving medicine to a corpse,” he said. “The long-suffering British people deserve better.”
Edmonds, who left Noel's House Party in 1999 and now presents Deal or No Deal on Channel 4, also proposed the “mind-numbing” Parliament channel should be placed online only, and minority language services cut.
A spokesman for the BBC said: "Long-term polling shows that the licence fee is the funding method with single most backing and it's been rising. Support for the licence fee is at 53 per cent - way ahead of subscription and advertising. It's the top choice for funding the BBC across all ages, classes and whether you are in a Freeview, Virgin or Sky household."