Post by Teddy Bear on Dec 2, 2009 20:33:12 GMT
Bear in mind that the reason for the BBC betrayal of truth and failing to fulfill their mandate is to pursue their own agenda which has nothing to do with serving our interests. (Ab)using the status which the licence fee gives it, the BBC long ago realised it can increase its power by branching out into the private sector with financial interests worldwide. The problem is that any news it has to report will be twisted to support those regimes where it has those financial interests, and those where it still wants to expand.
Despite the BBC Trust insisting that BBC Worldwide curtail its private commercial acquisitions, the managing director of BBC WW has basically thumbed his nose at this instruction. Just to show the arrogance of this prick he insults our intelligence by stating '...'I think we’ve been opportunistic and dynamic, rather than aggressive,' ...
Stop the licence fee and let them manage in the real world.
Despite the BBC Trust insisting that BBC Worldwide curtail its private commercial acquisitions, the managing director of BBC WW has basically thumbed his nose at this instruction. Just to show the arrogance of this prick he insults our intelligence by stating '...'I think we’ve been opportunistic and dynamic, rather than aggressive,' ...
Stop the licence fee and let them manage in the real world.
BBC Worldwide chief refuses to rein in activities... despite warnings of Trust's report
By Liz Thomas
Its aggressive expansion and creeping commercialisation forced the BBC Trust to place limits on the activities of BBC Worldwide.
But, in a move that will infuriate critics, managing director of content and production Wayne Garvie is refusing to change its strategy or rule out further investments in independent production companies.
He is even planning to hire a New York television chief to oversee the development of programmes related to Lonely Planet magazines.
The £89million deal to buy a 75 per cent stake in Lonely Planet in 2007 provoked criticism that the BBC had gone well beyond its remit and into areas not linked to content or programmes.
BBC Worldwide has also been criticised for gambling money that could be re-invested in programming in investments on start-up independent producers.
Just last week the BBC trust imposed new restrictions warning the broadcaster’s commercial arm that it must not buy any more businesses except in 'exceptional circumstances'.
In its report, the Trust also said it 'would not expect to consider a commercial deal of the scale and nature of the Lonely Planet acquisition in future'.
It had been expected that the stern reaction from the Trust would cause BBC Worldwide to rein in it activities but Garvie insisted his plans have been unaffected.
He added that all the deal made so far – many of which have been heavily questioned and criticised by the public and politicians, fitted the Trust’s new strict criteria.
Garvie said: ‘If you look at the indie investments we’ve made, all of them were in exceptional circumstances. So actually, I’m fine.
‘I don’t think there is anything in that report that means we can’t do it.
'We haven’t made any purchases of stakes in existing indies actually [but] if the right circumstances came around we might well do it.'
He also laid out plans to hire a new Lonely Planet television chief in New York with a specific remit to develop programme ideas linked to the brand.
This could further underline fears BBC Worldwide is distorting the market with this acquisition and anger rivals, who will struggle to compete.
Garvie denied he was treating the BBC Trust report as ‘window dressing’ or ignoring what it set out.
He explained: ‘I think there is flexibility in the report to allow us to do what we do. Our aim is to bring a substantial return back to the BBC.’
His attitude will fuel concerns about whether the Trust has the powers to adequately regulate and reprimand the BBC.
Tony Elliott, founder of Time Out, has repeatedly warned there were severe competitive implications of the Trust’s decision to allow the BBC to keep its stake in Lonely Planet.
In September, the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee said the Lonely Planet deal was 'the most egregious example of the nature of BBC Worldwide's expansion into areas where the BBC has no, or very limited, existing interests'.
Garvie rejected accusations that Worldwide was an 'out-of-control juggernaut'.
'I think we’ve been opportunistic and dynamic, rather than aggressive,' he said.
'Some people don’t like the fact that we’ve been as successful as we have been, but in the old days we were called half wits for not being successful enough.'
By Liz Thomas
Its aggressive expansion and creeping commercialisation forced the BBC Trust to place limits on the activities of BBC Worldwide.
But, in a move that will infuriate critics, managing director of content and production Wayne Garvie is refusing to change its strategy or rule out further investments in independent production companies.
He is even planning to hire a New York television chief to oversee the development of programmes related to Lonely Planet magazines.
The £89million deal to buy a 75 per cent stake in Lonely Planet in 2007 provoked criticism that the BBC had gone well beyond its remit and into areas not linked to content or programmes.
BBC Worldwide has also been criticised for gambling money that could be re-invested in programming in investments on start-up independent producers.
Just last week the BBC trust imposed new restrictions warning the broadcaster’s commercial arm that it must not buy any more businesses except in 'exceptional circumstances'.
In its report, the Trust also said it 'would not expect to consider a commercial deal of the scale and nature of the Lonely Planet acquisition in future'.
It had been expected that the stern reaction from the Trust would cause BBC Worldwide to rein in it activities but Garvie insisted his plans have been unaffected.
He added that all the deal made so far – many of which have been heavily questioned and criticised by the public and politicians, fitted the Trust’s new strict criteria.
Garvie said: ‘If you look at the indie investments we’ve made, all of them were in exceptional circumstances. So actually, I’m fine.
‘I don’t think there is anything in that report that means we can’t do it.
'We haven’t made any purchases of stakes in existing indies actually [but] if the right circumstances came around we might well do it.'
He also laid out plans to hire a new Lonely Planet television chief in New York with a specific remit to develop programme ideas linked to the brand.
This could further underline fears BBC Worldwide is distorting the market with this acquisition and anger rivals, who will struggle to compete.
Garvie denied he was treating the BBC Trust report as ‘window dressing’ or ignoring what it set out.
He explained: ‘I think there is flexibility in the report to allow us to do what we do. Our aim is to bring a substantial return back to the BBC.’
His attitude will fuel concerns about whether the Trust has the powers to adequately regulate and reprimand the BBC.
Tony Elliott, founder of Time Out, has repeatedly warned there were severe competitive implications of the Trust’s decision to allow the BBC to keep its stake in Lonely Planet.
In September, the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee said the Lonely Planet deal was 'the most egregious example of the nature of BBC Worldwide's expansion into areas where the BBC has no, or very limited, existing interests'.
Garvie rejected accusations that Worldwide was an 'out-of-control juggernaut'.
'I think we’ve been opportunistic and dynamic, rather than aggressive,' he said.
'Some people don’t like the fact that we’ve been as successful as we have been, but in the old days we were called half wits for not being successful enough.'