Millions turn off the TV

According to the Sunday Express

TEN million families have switched off their TVs because of the diet of sex and violence.


A Sunday Express poll reveals today that 53 per cent of viewers believe programmes have got worse, with shows such as Davina McCall’s Big Brother replacing quality television.

............. When it comes to who is to blame for the falling quality of programming, 46 per cent of viewers blamed multi-channel digital TV, 22 per cent blamed ITV and 21 per cent the BBC.

............. John Beyer from Mediawatch said: “Family entertainment is expensive to produce.“I am afraid broadcasters have got used to giving us low-cost, low quality material because it is cheap and means more money for things other than programmes. We commend the BBC for programmes such as The Great British Summer, Planet Earth, Coast, Strictly Come Dancing, Who Do You Think You Are?

.............The BBC’s director of vision, Jana Bennett, said: “The Sunday Express survey backs up what viewers tell us – which is that they like high-quality programming and that they want more of it. “High-quality programmes and something for everyone is what the BBC is all about, which is probably why 17 out of 20 people watch BBC TV every week.” She added: “We’re delighted that David Jason appreciates Doctor Who and Robin Hood, because we created them as programmes we hoped the whole family would enjoy, along with others like Planet Earth, Strictly Come Dancing and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? “However, there’s more still to do – which is why the BBC’s bid for the licence fee includes substantial plans for more high-quality programming and to increase family programmes on BBC1.”

Certainly the BBC does produce some enjoyable programmes such as Coast, Planet Earth and the like and it manages to show a number of repeats that are of a high quality.

The problem is that dramas such as Robin Hood and Doctor Who that could be enjoyable family entertainment are spoilt by biased and agenda driven scripting. Post watershed dramas and comedy is so predictable, you only have to sit back and wait and you will see the same themes over and over again. Similarly, news and current affairs programmes tend to be so biased and one sided that they can be painful to watch, be it Question Time with their "balanced" panel and "representative" audience, through to the once reputable Today programme on Radio Four with it's unique brand of balanced interviewing.

I am sure that the BBC is capable of producing lots of quality entertaining programmes that would appeal to a lot more of the population than at present, and it would be wonderful to have a Public Broadcaster we could be proud of. Unfortunately, unless there is a radical shake up in the staffing at the BBC, increasing the licence fee would just be chucking good money after bad.