Yay‼️ GB News Channel about to launch ...

Chestnut

So the BBC and others are showing the anti-lockdown demo because it shows the supporters in a bad light? That says it all really. I am no supporter of anti-lockdown and have never heard of Resistance GB but I do think GB News should be applauded for showing what the other news channels don't and for trying to give a balanced view.

But weren't they behaving badly? You seem to be saying this new right-wing channel are giving a balanced view because they are not making much of those verbal abusing the journalist at a right-wing protest; not showing them in a bad light. Are you suggesting that a rally seen as left-wing would not have any thuggery shown in a bad light either, because that is the only thing that would mean it is giving a balanced view?

On the other hand, you complain about the BBC showing these thugs in a "bad light". We already know, from our experience that the BBC would show thugs at a left-wing protest in an equally bad light causing the left-wing that support that rally to complain. But you are calling this even-handedness unbalanced.

Have you ever thought about your own bias Chestnut?

vegansrock

Some big advertisers have pulled out already.

Yes I saw that. I think that they don’t want to be associated with such rubbish.

I went off Alastair Stewart when he did a piece in The I about his life. He was so bloody smug about living on a farm, the wonderful scenery, fresh food, showjumping horses, etc, etc, etc. Particularly at this time, when many people are confined to homes that are far from ideal - often rented flats with no outside space, I thought his column was nauseating.

His closing remark:

"Spoiled, lucky or blessed with the fruits of two hard-working lives, my wife and I cherish it all."

People who intimate that their lives are perfect because they have worked so hard really annoy me. Lots of people work very hard - and sacrifice a lot - but not many of them are in the positio to write columns crowing about their good fortune.

I will watch GB News out of interest but the reported animosity towards "wokeness" does not impress me.

The You Tube algorithm works by offering you videos by organisations like the one you search for. So the algorithm thinks that people who are interested in covid denial would also be interested in GB News. But I don't for a minute think that the two organisations are linked.

I don't know who covered this particular anti-lockdown protest but it wasn't a simple demo - they chased a journalist through central London because he was wearing a BBC lanyard. One of them was chanting something about the number of the beast

I object to the baying mob after the journalist the same as I objected to the baying mob of journalists outside Dominic Cummings family home when his wife and young child were inside.

Neither are right or have the moral high ground

I can see all sides making mistakes.

We can't make an assumption that the mob who were outside Cummings house weren't the same bunch as were on the demo today. "Sides" don't come into it.

It seems that some advertisers do not consider this channel "unbiased"

www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jun/15/brands-pull-ads-from-gb-news-tv-channel-over-content-concerns

That is a really interesting article varian, thank you for posting.

Do you think they are trying to get round the requirement to have a politically balanced reporting by not having "real" news, only discussion?

Alegrias1

We can't make an assumption that the mob who were outside Cummings house weren't the same bunch as were on the demo today. "Sides" don't come into it.

Sides is what this thread is about surely?

I've just read the Guardian article. So is this channel an off-shoot of Sky?

No, it was about a new "News" channel. It developed into a discussion about how some people think it will be unbiassed and a breath of fresh air, and some think its a mouthpiece for those on the political right.

It's only about "sides" because everything has to be about "sides" now. Even what minor royals call their baby .

Anyway, I have no idea who was outside Cummings house, and whether there was any overlap with the people who chased Nick Watts. I took your post to mean that the people threatening Cummings were on the other "side" to the people threatening Nick Watts. I can quite imagine they are the same bunch; anti-establishment.

Sorry - just re-read the end and it appears it is the advertising side of Sky that is involved. I may give Sky News a miss anyway I think until this reaches some conclusion.

As the article says, and, as it seems some on here want, it aims "to push the boundaries of UK TV news regulations, which require politically balanced broadcasts." Yet again the right thinking they are above the law and above our general view of democracy.

PippaZ

I've just read the Guardian article. So is this channel an off-shoot of Sky?

No I think it means that Sky Media manage advertising slots on many different advertising channels. Their expertise will be in interacting with the groups advertising on behalf of the big brands. There's a name for it. Advertising aggregators? That might be wrong.

From their website:
Reaching over 95% of the UK population, Sky Media represents all of Sky’s channels and sites including Sky Sports, Sky News, Sky One, Sky Cinema, Sky Arts, Sky Atlantic and Sky Witness. Sky Media also sells on behalf of a range of renowned broadcasters and channels including Channel 5, Discovery, National Geographic, MTV, FOX, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.

Cross post PippaZ

Alegrias1 there are anti-estsblishment folks emanating from all political points of view.

Interesting though. I didn't know that was how the adverts were placed. I'm not sure I would be quite so confident about it now if it were my company advertising.

PippaZ

Interesting though. I didn't know that was how the adverts were placed. I'm not sure I would be quite so confident about it now if it were my company advertising.

Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, I was responsible for the advertising of the company I worked for. Watching TV one night I discovered we were sponsoring the weather

Hadn't asked for it, hadn't paid for it. It was a "bonus" apparently.

Quote from IKEA.
We have safeguards in place in place to prevent our advertising from appearing on platforms that are not in line with our humanist values. That was obviously written with tongue in cheek as most of us know the truth about IKEA www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/ikea-ltd

Lucca

Chestnut why are you ignoring my post ?

Sorry, which post is that?

PippaZ

Chestnut

So the BBC and others are showing the anti-lockdown demo because it shows the supporters in a bad light? That says it all really. I am no supporter of anti-lockdown and have never heard of Resistance GB but I do think GB News should be applauded for showing what the other news channels don't and for trying to give a balanced view.

But weren't they behaving badly? You seem to be saying this new right-wing channel are giving a balanced view because they are not making much of those verbal abusing the journalist at a right-wing protest; not showing them in a bad light. Are you suggesting that a rally seen as left-wing would not have any thuggery shown in a bad light either, because that is the only thing that would mean it is giving a balanced view?

On the other hand, you complain about the BBC showing these thugs in a "bad light". We already know, from our experience that the BBC would show thugs at a left-wing protest in an equally bad light causing the left-wing that support that rally to complain. But you are calling this even-handedness unbalanced.

Have you ever thought about your own bias Chestnut?

You seem to have misunderstood something, or maybe everything? I'm pretty sure I don't really have a bias regarding demonstrations and I'm not sure either of us knows what you're trying to say.
As I understand it GB News wants to give a fair representation of all kinds of demonstrations. As for the bad behaviour we have seen, GB News has condemned this, as they would no matter who was demonstrating, just as every other news channel would. And quite rightly so.

Mine at 15.24

GBNews is on a dodgy economic footing as it is but now with companies pulling their advertising the outlook looks even gloomier.

I think that the biggest issue is that whatever you think of the BBC, it sets a very high bar for professional news broadcasting expertise, and any comparison is bound to come off worse, unless it too can bring such expertise to the table.

Just having so called “faces” doesn’t cut it unless you have the supporting back room knowledge and it is clear from both the presentation, format and technological support that GB News has a long hill to climb.

It may well run out of steam long before then.

The BBC is gifted money from every household in the UK. They abuse that power and turn out poor (IMO) news and current affairs programming. It certainly doesn't have the most talented staff in front of the camera. Technically it is better but it should be.

I know that many are longing for it to fail but I will watch it.I will watch other outlets too. This morning it's had an interesting piece on how council taxes varies across theUK.

If you don't like it don't watch. And if you don't watch you can't really comment.

If you don't like it don't watch. And if you don't watch you can't really comment.

In other words; unless you're coming on here to say you like it, don't bother.

Well I don't like tennis. Believe it or not I stay off the tennis thread. BBC do wall to wall tennis in early July on multiple channels at the same time. How can anyone comment on a programme they don't watch? At best your 'knowledge' is secondhand at worst it's the opinion of another news outlet.

I'm not saying you can't come on here and comment but why would you?