I LIKE this idea.......

[patgund]

When I worked in the Middle East, I got really used to BBC World Service on my TV, along with CNN International, (which is MUCH different than the US version).

Gradually I got used to BBC World News for 90% of my news. And I missed it when I got back to the US, both because much of US news shows anymore seem to be what celeb has been spotted without underpants coming out of rehab on the way to court or some such nonsense, and because the BBC assumes that you will either a) have current knowledge of the subject or b) will care enough to research it further.

In other words, they give you the facts, and leave it up to the viewer to draw a conclusion. Where it seems that a lot of the US news media seems to be predigested biased pap. (Fox "News" and CNN Domestic seem to the worse offenders, and Fox has actually *admitted* in court they make up stories)

Which is why this caught my attention

BBC tries an American newscast

"Nearly four months of planning bear fruit Monday when the hourlong "BBC World News America" debuts at 7 p.m. EDT on BBC America, a network available in about half of the nation's TV homes. Parts of the newscast will also be seen on PBS stations that regularly air news material from the British Broadcasting Corp."

This may be worth getting cable after the move.

Comments

[jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com]

This should be a good thing to see the world and news from a neutral point of view. Real news for once.

[sraun]

Yeah, I've been seeing ads for it recently. We'll be getting it on our DirecTV BBCAmerica. IIRC, there's a 'recommend a friend' program for DirecTV - I'd cheerfully give you a recommendation if you'd like!

[omcintyre.livejournal.com]

if I actually watched tv this would be the kind of news I'd probably like to watch.

[loli-cat.livejournal.com]

I've watched the BBC worldnews on the local PBS station for years. What's the difference between that and the new show??

[beki.livejournal.com]

I understand that if you have that digital basic on your cable, you can get BBC news already. CNBC also has BBC news, but I am not sure when it's on.

I just go to bbc.com. It makes a bit more sense. CNN sucks big time.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Another possibility is when you get basic cable in western Washington, it automatically comes with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting). Their national news program (called "The National" -- the CBC has this annoying quirk of using adjectives as nouns when naming their news shows -- there's another one called "The Current" on CBC radio) actually shows real news of places other than the US and Iraq. It's quite eye-opening.

Another advantage of getting the CBC is that you get Dr. Who and lots of other good Brit programming [g]. All for the price of basic cable ($15 a month).