to comment properly.

For God's sake - will these careerist politicians just back off? I think kicking the BBC is now turning into some kind of sport; everyone lining up with their own unique swing at the proverbial ball.

There is a hole in his argument about these channels costing £100 million each to run: some of the programming that is generated is (a) sold at retail via DVD sales (Gavin & Stacey being a major seller), and (b) in some instances, no doubt used globally; once programmes are shown here they're circulated onto BBC Worldwide, which is a commercial entity, sold to subscribers in other countries. (c) I'd be very surprised if something like Gavin & Stacey isn't sold on to other international channels. Therefore, some of the more big success shows themselves will make money back for the corporation. Obviously these facts will be glossed over because they reduce the argument against the BBC.

Equally, the man has shown clear bias - BBC4 is too niche, yet Radio 4's Today show is apparently world-class, and should therefore be protected. Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti the show, but isn't this a clear case of a politician wanting to keep a show which obviously makes up a significant part of his career landscape? Go up to the stereotypical ITV viewer, or even a large part of the population as a whole, and ask them how many times they listen to the show. I'm prepared to bet it doesn't figure with a large proportion as a mainstream show. So, it would appear that we should be cutting what he doesn't want, but let's make sure we keep R4's Today show, because it services politicians.

I'd be interested to know what this guy's credentials are, and what justifies him to cast such opinions over media. Bean counting does not a specialist make. (Goes away and googles Hunt) Apparently he studied at Oxford, taking Politics, Philosophy and Economics. So... where's the media specialism in that? Previously, he was Shadow Minister for Disabled People. Hardly focused on the subject in hand, is he?

If I ever wobbled as to whether to vote Labour or Tory, this blue man has just lost my vote.

the Chav vote - 'Vote Tory and we'll get rid of all those highbrow programmes and give you more Pete and Jordan in the ring style fayre'. Cynical behaviour even by Tory standards.

but also manages to demolish his credibility by equating popularity with value (and as a shadow politician, he should be wary of what that says about him).

His small point is that the stations are expensive for the number of viewers. But its because they are halfway down the sky/virgin/freeview planner and people don't see the programming. The Eddie Izzard documentary is a good example. I'm enjoying it immensely (he is a top bloke, there is an interesting sub text and the views of the UK are stunning). But I only noticed it was on because some kind Word blogger posted about it.

If they were to continue the programming and put them on BBC1 and BBC2 in place of makeover shows, celeb led embarrassmentfest's, some of the cookery shows and anything fronted by expensive "talent" (yes you Ross & Norton), then that might be a change for the better.

However, he isn't saying that is he. Cock.

"He claims he doesn't want to neuter the corporation, going out of his way to praise the Radio 4 Today programme as being without parallel in the world and "an extraordinarily powerful and impressive institution holding the political establishment to account"."
He only likes the Today programme because he's in opposition and the current Government hates it (perhaps not as much as Blair did, when he and Campbell made a point of rubbishing it and never appearing on it). However when the Tories were in they hated it and Labour loved it.
Why is this the case? Because they aren't sycophantic and ask tough questions - the ones that need to be asked. That makes the party in power uncomfortable. Love him or hate him John Humphreys can be dogged in pursuing a clear answer - not that he always gets it.
While TV news hasn't quite retreated to the deference of the 50s, they give all politicians an easy ride and thus exemplify the sort of interviews they like to have.

are still running the world.

The BBC is doomed.
We'll miss it when it's gone.
:-(

...seems ever more appealing!

The Tory shadow culture minister wants to get rid of BBC4, but praises Britains got talent and X-factor?? Unbe-fucking-lievable.

the overall impression is of a concern with wasted resources. He was on Jeremy Vine yesterday and was asked about 6 Music, his response was that he couldn't understand why 6 Music was being singled out more than say, Radio 3. He said 'I don't understand the logic. Why one niche service and not another? Why do you want to cut 6 Music but keep Radio 3' He also said 'It's really important that it [The BBC] operates at arms length' [from politicians] 'We don't want as politicians to be telling the BBC what they do and don't do' and that '£834,000 salary for the director general is a lot of money'
I also can't see where he states that he wants to see BBC 3 & 4 cut.

Radio 6 I could just about cope with (in the vain hope that some of its content can be mixed into Radio 2). BBC4, however, is a different proposition. I will admit to watching the odd ratings winner on BBC1 and BBC2 (Match of The Day, Masterchef, The Apprentice) but I feel strongly that BBC4 is the only channel which fulfils the BBC’s remit to “educate and entertain” and it would be a great sadness if this was switched off.

The BBC should offer something which commercial television does not – and in not having its schedules dictated by advertising revenue the BBC should cater for more niche audiences. A lot of people don’t like paying licence fees for the same reason that a lot of people don’t like paying taxes, ie: they do not feel the full benefit of the service. And to be honest, I don’t watch a lot of the drivel (Jonathan Ross, Strictly , yada yada) that is churned out on BBC1 but I am happy to put my bit in if it means that on the whole we have a media which tries to serve everyone. I like the fact that I live in a country which has a relatively balanced media which offers something for everyone in the same way that I like living in a country that offers education and health services to everyone.

Finally I would like to mention my favourite section in The Tipping Point, in which it is shown that by cleaning up run down neighbourhoods and making them more presentable there is a the knock on effect of dramatically reduced crime rates. This is an important lesson, and shows that investment in seemingly non-essential public services (ie: pretty much anything other than crime, education and health) can have far wider benefits than might be immediately obvious. For me this principle can be applied not just to our immediate environment but also to the whole of the society in which we operate.. so if a station like BBC4 can offer insights into new areas of life then it can also offer people something which will stimulate them and get them to think more about how they live their life…

BBC3 of course, I think most of us could live without..

when discussing the axe falling on 6 and the Asian network.Not everything can safely be left to market forces,some parts of our society need protecting because they are valuable to us.They may not be profitable,they may not be accessed by large numbers of our fellow citizens but they contribute to our daily lives in less tangible ways than simply showing a profit.If we wish to live in a vibrant,creative diversified country we need to protect the minority,the avant garde,the nursery of ideas or be condemned to live in a land of endless dumbed down cookery shows and a morass of Jedwards'.

was combined with the best of BBC2 and that meant doing away with BBC4 then I wouldn't mind. BBC4 is brilliant but a lot of the drama and docs would sit just as well on BBC2 which is currently full of fillers like Lambing Live and other claptrap.

BBC3 wouldn't be missed by me, but a lot of popular comedies have started here and moved across. Some of their drama was quite good too. Should it stay though...I don't know.

was that he was actually more than a bit clueless about the whole media landscape generally. He didn't really answer the BBC questions with anygreat authority and he was even less convincing when Vine mentioned things like broadband and digital radio generally.

It's fine to try to talk at the layman's level to explain stuff but when you don't actually know what you're talking about it's more of an issue (specifically when he was asked about spectruma nd the analogue radio switch off projected for 2015. He was, frankly, cringe-making).

I don't think I'd bother to renew my TV licence. It's the only channel I watch regularly.