Wanting a non-U.S. viewpoint is exactly what I am after as well. Reports from
non-U.S. reporters/stringers filtered through U.S. editors is most definitely
not the same.
As to BBC America appearing on more cable systems: I believe that the shift of
U.S. OTA television to digital will have a negative impact on services provided
by cable television providers, making it even less likely that a BBC America
channel or similar will appear on the non-premium services. While we here in
the U.S. with cable service are promised non-interrupted "good to go" service
with this switch to OTA digital TV, I believe we will quickly see networks and
channels, including those never provided OTA and currently in the cheaper
"analog" side of cable, abandoning/demanding higher carriage fees and possible
forced shifting to the digital premium side. What remains on the cheaper (for
the customer) "analog" service will quickly become a wasteland of channels.
Even OTA broadcasters, who are already starting to demand extra fees for
carriage of their OTA signal on cable providers (which happened here in Iowa
just a year ago by a broadcaster),
will start to shift to the "premium" side. Either cable will become
unaffordable or just become not worth it who can't upgrade to "premium" digital
cable. And people like me who are far fringe to television markets, and
therefore more-or-less dependent on cable or satellite TV, will be hit the
hardest.
Sorry if I dragged this yet further OT.
Kevin Anderson
--- On Thu, 10/23/08, Sandy Finlayson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> From: Sandy Finlayson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: [Swprograms] BBC Newscast Shifts Lineup on U.S. Public TV
> Stations
> To: "Shortwave programming discussion" <swprograms@hard-core-dx.com>
> Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008, 9:01 AM
> John
>
> I don't disagree with your assessment of 'World
> Focus' as a program,
> what I find discouraging is the apparent unwillingness of
> the market
> place to invest in the perspectives of other broadcasters.
> I'm just
> surprised that there has been so little interest in cable
> and satellite
> providers picking up the BBC World News channel
>
> What is refreshing about BBC World News is not just that it
> covers
> stories not normally seen on US TV but it does so from a
> non American
> perspective.
> I'm not trying to be culturally insensitive here but I
> think it is
> always good to know how other people see the world. I just
> wish we were
> living in a less insular culture.
>
> Sandy
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