Beloved Leader wrote:
There was a column in the Sunday Washington Post about programming from
the BBC showing up on local non-profit FM stations in the DC area.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...3/10/AR2006031
001721.html

http://tinyurl.com/zg4g2

Radio News With A British Accent
Sunday, March 12, 2006; Page B08

You may have noticed a lot more British accents on local radio these
days. The BBC World Service has become a fixture on WETA and WAMU,
bumping the local programming that once was dominant.

WETA-FM, for example, now airs at least four hours of BBC World Service
Radio -- unfiltered -- each weekday. WAMU-FM also is airing much more
BBC programming, including on its overnight schedule.
....

There were some LTTE's this morning on this column.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...3/15/AR2006031
502070.html

http://tinyurl.com/z2x3y

The BBC's Window on the World
Thursday, March 16, 2006; Page A22

David Pitts ["Radio News With a British Accent," Close to Home, March
12] said that it was disturbing that the BBC has taken a prominent role
in U.S. public radio and implied that the British Foreign Office exerts
editorial control over the BBC World Service. That is false.

The BBC World Service is funded by a grant from Britain's Parliament,
administered by the Foreign Office. But the Foreign Office has no say
in the BBC's editorial agenda.

On editorial matters, the World Service is responsible only to the
director general of the BBC and the BBC Board of Governors. These
principles are laid out in the broadcasting agreement with the United
Kingdom.

PHILIP HARDING

Director
English Networks & News
BBC World Service
London

... goes on to page 2....
The last letter is really funny.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...3/15/AR2006031
502070_2.html

http://tinyurl.com/g45q5

The BBC's Window on the World
I strongly disagree with David Pitts's commentary lamenting the
abundance of BBC World Service content on WETA and WAMU-FM. I'm
fascinated by the world perspective provided by the BBC's news and
commentary, as well as by the "World Have Your Say" show, which
features callers from around the globe, including the United States.

While the BBC news does displace local content, I'm hardly alienated
from my locality, considering the availability of neighborhood
newspapers and The Post; local news on radio (including WAMU and WETA)
and television; local news and commentary e-mail lists; and many Web
sites.

Mr. Pitts suggested that while government funding makes Voice of
America "to some degree" a propaganda organ, we should beware the BBC's
coverage because it is tainted by government funding. I'm happy to
trade the lost hours of local gabfests for the BBC's world window.

Wouldn't the world improve if more people broadened their perspectives,
rather than hearing from only their like-thinking neighbors?

GABRIEL GOLDBERG
Falls Church


David Pitts said that BBC World Service Radio is the main competitor of
Voice of America (VOA).

That used to be true, but the Board of Broadcast Governors, which
controls the VOA, has announced that it intends to discontinue almost
all English-language radio broadcasting at the end of September because
so few people are listening. That just might be the case because the
board has turned off many VOA transmitters.

Travelers abroad who want to hear news of the United States might try
Radio China (Beijing). It has 24-hour English-language radio service.

NEIL CURRIE

Potomac
The writer is a news anchor at Voice of America.

BBC is a regular on public radio and television and I find it to be a
good addition to the news programming already available on those
stations. Clearly it displaces other content, but whether local,
national or international programming that was displaced would be hard
to determine. British programming has been a regular on public radio
and television since the early days. I hope Pitts is not lamenting the
availability of high quality dramatic programming of non U.S. origins
as well. I see news from BBC as adding to the already wide range of
programming on public radio and television.

Guys, this is only the beginning. The World Radio Network (
http://www.wrn.org/)is promoting other shortwave broadcasters as well.

I'm ok with this. It's fun to switch from the BEEB on World Band to the
BEEB on my local NPR station, hearing the same thing.

Ed

John S. wrote:
Beloved Leader wrote:
There was a column in the Sunday Washington Post about programming from
the BBC showing up on local non-profit FM stations in the DC area.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...3/10/AR2006031
001721.html

http://tinyurl.com/zg4g2

Radio News With A British Accent
Sunday, March 12, 2006; Page B08

You may have noticed a lot more British accents on local radio these
days. The BBC World Service has become a fixture on WETA and WAMU,
bumping the local programming that once was dominant.

WETA-FM, for example, now airs at least four hours of BBC World Service
Radio -- unfiltered -- each weekday. WAMU-FM also is airing much more
BBC programming, including on its overnight schedule.
....

There were some LTTE's this morning on this column.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...3/15/AR2006031
502070.html

http://tinyurl.com/z2x3y

The BBC's Window on the World
Thursday, March 16, 2006; Page A22

David Pitts ["Radio News With a British Accent," Close to Home, March
12] said that it was disturbing that the BBC has taken a prominent role
in U.S. public radio and implied that the British Foreign Office exerts
editorial control over the BBC World Service. That is false.

The BBC World Service is funded by a grant from Britain's Parliament,
administered by the Foreign Office. But the Foreign Office has no say
in the BBC's editorial agenda.

On editorial matters, the World Service is responsible only to the
director general of the BBC and the BBC Board of Governors. These
principles are laid out in the broadcasting agreement with the United
Kingdom.

PHILIP HARDING

Director
English Networks & News
BBC World Service
London

... goes on to page 2....
The last letter is really funny.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...3/15/AR2006031
502070_2.html

http://tinyurl.com/g45q5

The BBC's Window on the World
I strongly disagree with David Pitts's commentary lamenting the
abundance of BBC World Service content on WETA and WAMU-FM. I'm
fascinated by the world perspective provided by the BBC's news and
commentary, as well as by the "World Have Your Say" show, which
features callers from around the globe, including the United States.

While the BBC news does displace local content, I'm hardly alienated
from my locality, considering the availability of neighborhood
newspapers and The Post; local news on radio (including WAMU and WETA)
and television; local news and commentary e-mail lists; and many Web
sites.

Mr. Pitts suggested that while government funding makes Voice of
America "to some degree" a propaganda organ, we should beware the BBC's
coverage because it is tainted by government funding. I'm happy to
trade the lost hours of local gabfests for the BBC's world window.

Wouldn't the world improve if more people broadened their perspectives,
rather than hearing from only their like-thinking neighbors?

GABRIEL GOLDBERG
Falls Church


David Pitts said that BBC World Service Radio is the main competitor of
Voice of America (VOA).

That used to be true, but the Board of Broadcast Governors, which
controls the VOA, has announced that it intends to discontinue almost
all English-language radio broadcasting at the end of September because
so few people are listening. That just might be the case because the
board has turned off many VOA transmitters.

Travelers abroad who want to hear news of the United States might try
Radio China (Beijing). It has 24-hour English-language radio service.

NEIL CURRIE

Potomac
The writer is a news anchor at Voice of America.

BBC is a regular on public radio and television and I find it to be a
good addition to the news programming already available on those
stations. Clearly it displaces other content, but whether local,
national or international programming that was displaced would be hard
to determine. British programming has been a regular on public radio
and television since the early days. I hope Pitts is not lamenting the
availability of high quality dramatic programming of non U.S. origins
as well. I see news from BBC as adding to the already wide range of
programming on public radio and television.

News about the world is available from so many sources now that I don't
understand the risk of having a non U.S. source of news on public
television. Actully if they would devote some air time to non-U.S.
news sources such as Radio Beijing, Al Jazeera I think we would be the
better for having that information.

I'll try not to get too carried away with this thought, but public
television and radio runs a real risk of being left behind if they
don't include news and programming from outside the U.S. Fortunately
they have chosen to do so for a long time.


Ed wrote:
Guys, this is only the beginning. The World Radio Network (
http://www.wrn.org/)is promoting other shortwave broadcasters as well.

I'm ok with this. It's fun to switch from the BEEB on World Band to the
BEEB on my local NPR station, hearing the same thing.

Ed

On 17 Mar 2006 06:30:55 -0800, "John S." wrote:

News about the world is available from so many sources now that I don't
understand the risk of having a non U.S. source of news on public
television. Actully if they would devote some air time to non-U.S.
news sources such as Radio Beijing, Al Jazeera I think we would be the
better for having that information.

I'll try not to get too carried away with this thought, but public
television and radio runs a real risk of being left behind if they
don't include news and programming from outside the U.S. Fortunately
they have chosen to do so for a long time.

NPR is pretty world class with their newscasts. The closest
domestically produced programs generally available in the USA, at any
rate.

PRI also does an excellent job, in partnership with WGBH and the BBC
on ''The World'', middays.

David wrote:
On 17 Mar 2006 06:30:55 -0800, "John S." wrote:

News about the world is available from so many sources now that I don't
understand the risk of having a non U.S. source of news on public
television. Actully if they would devote some air time to non-U.S.
news sources such as Radio Beijing, Al Jazeera I think we would be the
better for having that information.

I'll try not to get too carried away with this thought, but public
television and radio runs a real risk of being left behind if they
don't include news and programming from outside the U.S. Fortunately
they have chosen to do so for a long time.

NPR is pretty world class with their newscasts. The closest
domestically produced programs generally available in the USA, at any
rate.

PRI also does an excellent job, in partnership with WGBH and the BBC
on ''The World'', middays.

The unique value of public radio and television lies is the breadth of
the sources and depth of the coverage. And that comment extends
beyond news and analysis to documentaries and dramatic series as well.
I was literally spellbound by the Ken Burns Civil War series and
dramatic programs the quality of Upstairs Downstairs are common.

John,

Although I am not a cheerleader for Public Broadcasting, I agree with
you about having many news sources. It's a reason why I listen to World
Band.

But it's not the only one. I like messing about with antennas and
software to improve reception/dsp on my Ten-Tec Rx-320. If I did not
enjoy that, I'd be more than happy with podcasts via WRN.

When it comes to SWL, process is as important as product.

All best,

Ed

John S. wrote:
David wrote:
On 17 Mar 2006 06:30:55 -0800, "John S." wrote:

News about the world is available from so many sources now that I don't
understand the risk of having a non U.S. source of news on public
television. Actully if they would devote some air time to non-U.S.
news sources such as Radio Beijing, Al Jazeera I think we would be the
better for having that information.

I'll try not to get too carried away with this thought, but public
television and radio runs a real risk of being left behind if they
don't include news and programming from outside the U.S. Fortunately
they have chosen to do so for a long time.

NPR is pretty world class with their newscasts. The closest
domestically produced programs generally available in the USA, at any
rate.

PRI also does an excellent job, in partnership with WGBH and the BBC
on ''The World'', middays.

The unique value of public radio and television lies is the breadth of
the sources and depth of the coverage. And that comment extends
beyond news and analysis to documentaries and dramatic series as well.
I was literally spellbound by the Ken Burns Civil War series and
dramatic programs the quality of Upstairs Downstairs are common.

Ed wrote:
John,

Although I am not a cheerleader for Public Broadcasting, I agree with
you about having many news sources. It's a reason why I listen to World
Band.

But it's not the only one. I like messing about with antennas and
software to improve reception/dsp on my Ten-Tec Rx-320. If I did not
enjoy that, I'd be more than happy with podcasts via WRN.

When it comes to SWL, process is as important as product.


Me too. I'm an unrepentant knob twister....
But I do enjoy the programs on Radio Australia, Radio China and Radio
Havana and of course the Beeb.

Ed wrote:

But it's not the only one. I like messing about with antennas and
software to improve reception/dsp on my Ten-Tec Rx-320. If I did not
enjoy that, I'd be more than happy with podcasts via WRN.

When it comes to SWL, process is as important as product.


What sort of software experiments have you done with the 320? I've used
one for a few years and any new twist in programming would be fun to
play with.


mike

John S. wrote:
David wrote:
On 17 Mar 2006 06:30:55 -0800, "John S." wrote:

The unique value of public radio and television lies is the breadth of
the sources and depth of the coverage. And that comment extends
beyond news and analysis to documentaries and dramatic series as well.
I was literally spellbound by the Ken Burns Civil War series and
dramatic programs the quality of Upstairs Downstairs are common.

Right, I myself love to watch American Experience. Then there's
Frontline....excellent TV journalism.
My very favorite PBS program, though, is Masterpiece Theatre
(previously Exxon Mobil Masterpiece Theatre, before our friends at
Exxon pulled their financial backing). Bleak House, which recently
aired on Masterpiece Theatre, was a top-notch drama in every way.
Amazingly well done. A lot of the dramas aired on Masterpiece Theatre
seem to be BBC productions, although Kidnapped (which was aired this
past autumn) was the product of some production company in New Zealand.

Of course, there are some duds here and there on PBS... Charlie Rose
is the ultimate in mediocrity, even if he does on occasion have an
interesting guests. I won't comment on Boohbah; that's something
you'll have to experience on your own www.boohbah.com/zone.html

junius wrote:
John S. wrote:
David wrote:
On 17 Mar 2006 06:30:55 -0800, "John S." wrote:

The unique value of public radio and television lies is the breadth of
the sources and depth of the coverage. And that comment extends
beyond news and analysis to documentaries and dramatic series as well.
I was literally spellbound by the Ken Burns Civil War series and
dramatic programs the quality of Upstairs Downstairs are common.

Right, I myself love to watch American Experience. Then there's
Frontline....excellent TV journalism.
My very favorite PBS program, though, is Masterpiece Theatre
(previously Exxon Mobil Masterpiece Theatre, before our friends at
Exxon pulled their financial backing). Bleak House, which recently
aired on Masterpiece Theatre, was a top-notch drama in every way.
Amazingly well done. A lot of the dramas aired on Masterpiece Theatre
seem to be BBC productions, although Kidnapped (which was aired this
past autumn) was the product of some production company in New Zealand.

Of course, there are some duds here and there on PBS... Charlie Rose
is the ultimate in mediocrity, even if he does on occasion have an
interesting guests. I won't comment on Boohbah; that's something
you'll have to experience on your own www.boohbah.com/zone.html

Yeah, I've really tried to like the Rose show. It's just kind of plain
vanilla....