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Log inMyners attacks advertising on BBC.com
Myners attacks advertising on BBC.com
by lefty on Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:53 am
Stephen Brook, guardian.co.uk, Wednesday April 23 2008
Guardian Media Group chairman Paul Myners today challenged the BBC's decision to allow advertising on its international website BBC.com.
Myners, giving evidence before the Lords communications committee for its inquiry into media ownership and plurality of news provision, said that if the BBC's commercialisation continued it might lead to questions as to "why the BBC was allowed to do that while retaining the benefits of the licence fee".
A GMG submission on media ownership and the news presented to the committee said there was "concern" about whether BBC commercial activities were "appropriate in the context of commercial British media companies struggling for limited revenues to invest in quality journalism".
"If the BBC were to carry a lot more advertising it would be competing with us," Myners told the Lords committee.
"And we have to challenge [this] very vigorously from a commercial perspective," he added.
Myners said that this concern was separate from the Guardian challenging BBC commercialisation editorially.
"The aggressive growth plans of BBC Worldwide and their reported desire to partner with private equity firms raises similar concerns," he added.
Myners told the committee that GMG, which owns the Guardian and MediaGuardian.co.uk, and is in turn owned by the Scott Trust, supported plurality of media as well as diversity and quality.
The company, which also owns the Manchester Evening News, a stake in Auto Trader and GMG Radio, said in its submission that the Communications Act needed a wider regulatory framework to take in all media including web giants such as Google.
"Currently, the framework focuses on 'traditional media', meaning that some types of organisations fall outside its scope," Myners said.
"I would like to see equivalence of regulation across the forms of media."
He also predicted further consolidation in regional print media. "In the regional industry there will be continuing pressure for consolidation of ownership to bring scale," Myners said.
But he shied away from predicting the death of the newspapers in print.
"I find that very difficult to envisage but I think the balance will continue to move towards digital delivery," Myners said.
(The Guardian)
Guardian Media Group chairman Paul Myners today challenged the BBC's decision to allow advertising on its international website BBC.com.
Myners, giving evidence before the Lords communications committee for its inquiry into media ownership and plurality of news provision, said that if the BBC's commercialisation continued it might lead to questions as to "why the BBC was allowed to do that while retaining the benefits of the licence fee".
A GMG submission on media ownership and the news presented to the committee said there was "concern" about whether BBC commercial activities were "appropriate in the context of commercial British media companies struggling for limited revenues to invest in quality journalism".
"If the BBC were to carry a lot more advertising it would be competing with us," Myners told the Lords committee.
"And we have to challenge [this] very vigorously from a commercial perspective," he added.
Myners said that this concern was separate from the Guardian challenging BBC commercialisation editorially.
"The aggressive growth plans of BBC Worldwide and their reported desire to partner with private equity firms raises similar concerns," he added.
Myners told the committee that GMG, which owns the Guardian and MediaGuardian.co.uk, and is in turn owned by the Scott Trust, supported plurality of media as well as diversity and quality.
The company, which also owns the Manchester Evening News, a stake in Auto Trader and GMG Radio, said in its submission that the Communications Act needed a wider regulatory framework to take in all media including web giants such as Google.
"Currently, the framework focuses on 'traditional media', meaning that some types of organisations fall outside its scope," Myners said.
"I would like to see equivalence of regulation across the forms of media."
He also predicted further consolidation in regional print media. "In the regional industry there will be continuing pressure for consolidation of ownership to bring scale," Myners said.
But he shied away from predicting the death of the newspapers in print.
"I find that very difficult to envisage but I think the balance will continue to move towards digital delivery," Myners said.
(The Guardian)
I Emailed the Guardian regarding this story
by lefty on Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:57 am
I read with interest the Stephen Brook article Myners attacks advertising on BBC.com.
The Guardian media group are concerned that if the BBC were to carry advertising they would be competitors.
Why is it just now that the Guardian moan and complain, is it because it may effect them?
The BBC for years has been a money making institution, if you did'nt know already they sell: Toys, Games, DVD's, CD's, Houseware, Homeware, Magazines, Books, Clothing the list goes on its endless.
Why had'nt the guardian moaned and whined before now?
The BBC are competitors of many other industries.
I have created two videos to date expressing my feelings on the matter.
If the Guardian feel that strongly about the BBC and their commercial activities they should join my campaign to abolish the TV Licence, if not they should just get on with it and suffer the consequences just like all the tv licence payers have to.
Shut up or put up, is a very apt expression.
Lefty xx
The Guardian media group are concerned that if the BBC were to carry advertising they would be competitors.
Why is it just now that the Guardian moan and complain, is it because it may effect them?
The BBC for years has been a money making institution, if you did'nt know already they sell: Toys, Games, DVD's, CD's, Houseware, Homeware, Magazines, Books, Clothing the list goes on its endless.
Why had'nt the guardian moaned and whined before now?
The BBC are competitors of many other industries.
I have created two videos to date expressing my feelings on the matter.
If the Guardian feel that strongly about the BBC and their commercial activities they should join my campaign to abolish the TV Licence, if not they should just get on with it and suffer the consequences just like all the tv licence payers have to.
Shut up or put up, is a very apt expression.
Lefty xx