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The BBC’s proposal to switch off Freeview is a threat to its universal service | Letter (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by fne8w2ah@lemmy.world to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk

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[–] FishFace@piefed.social 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If the BBC want to say that cost is the main problem with broadcasting, then the next step is to say we close BBC TV entirely (or maybe except for one or two news channels) and save even more. Saying it’s cheaper to close things that deliver public benefit is an absurd argument for them to use.

Why would the BBC, which believes in the benefit of its output, suggest closing itself? On the other hand, the BBC is an organisation with a finite budget and has a responsibility to spend that budget wisely. It's clear why it might suggest targeting that budget in different ways.

Giving me a million pounds would deliver "public benefit" (I am a member of the public), but is clearly a waste of resources.

The proportion of video content being watched by streaming is increasing because even the BBC is advertising and marketing streaming over all else. There are numerous adverts/trailers for its programmes shown on its broadcast services which don’t give a time or date of broadcast, but simply say “watch on BBC iPlayer” at the end.

Right, I'm sure the BBC advertising iPlayer is why YouTube is now the second-most-watched "broadcaster" in the UK.

This change in habits has been gradual but inexorable. The reason for it is obvious: because streaming at any convenient time is more convenient than being locked into a broadcaster's schedule.

Your privacy objection is bogus. Here is the relevant section of the privacy policy.

[–] mjr 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Why would the BBC, which believes in the benefit of its output, suggest closing itself?

It won't, but if the primary aim of change is to save money, then it's the logical conclusion of that argument. This is proof by absurdity that the argument is flawed.

Right, I’m sure the BBC advertising iPlayer is why YouTube is now the second-most-watched “broadcaster” in the UK.

It's not the whole reason, but it is part of it. The public have been told repeatedly by Auntie that being tracked and studied is fine.

This change in habits has been gradual but inexorable. The reason for it is obvious: because streaming at any convenient time is more convenient than being locked into a broadcaster’s schedule.

But we're not locked into a broadcaster's schedule! We have recording devices that now perfectly display any broadcast programme at a later time of our choosing. Maybe you didn't realise that and I can't blame you: the BBC haven't been advertising it regularly for the last 15+ years.

The biggest benefit of streaming is that you can watch things that haven't been broadcast or that your device didn't store, but the cost of that is your privacy.

Your privacy objection is bogus. Here is the relevant section of the privacy policy.

That's not the privacy policy, but it does link to it. It's a misleading partial summary of some of it. If you click through to the full policy, you'll find the stuff I quoted.

[–] FishFace@piefed.social 1 points 2 weeks ago

The full privacy policy doesn't contradict the summary of how they share data with other organisations.

if the primary aim of change is to save money, then it's the logical conclusion of that argument

No, that's the absurd extension. Their argument is not "money must be saved at all costs". That should be obvious.

But we're not locked into a broadcaster's schedule! We have recording devices that now perfectly display any broadcast programme at a later time of our choosing.

If you have one. And remember to set it. And don't want to record more things than the number of tuners you have. Etc. you can't say that this experience is remotely similar to the freedom offered by streaming.