Comments on: BBC losses bad for Northern Ireland. Time to devolve broadcasting policy? http://oconallstreet.com/2009/10/21/bbc-losses-bad-for-northern-ireland-time-to-devolve-broadcasting-policy/ Borderless thoughts on Politics, Public Affairs, the media and anything else that matters from Conall McDevitt, SDLP MLA for South Belfast Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:28:31 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Tim McKane http://oconallstreet.com/2009/10/21/bbc-losses-bad-for-northern-ireland-time-to-devolve-broadcasting-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-21684 Tim McKane Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:25:20 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/?p=2269#comment-21684 One wonders what this will actually mean. The BBC will remain a major force in Northern Ireland, and if they follow through on their commitments to regional commissioning of programmes for network broadcasting, and sourcing television, radio and digital production from the growing pool of talent in Northern Ireland, the result may well be that their money is being invested in a manner that is better for the long term development of NI as a centre of excellence. The growth of NI as a production centre, as seen in Universal Pictures and HBO choosing it for the filming of Your Highness and Game of Thrones, is being supported by the development of the Moving Image Arts A Level. The long term development will come from commissioning and not employment- entrepreuneurs and creative people acting quickly, and producing great work outside of the broadcasting houses that are the old model. One wonders what this will actually mean. The BBC will remain a major force in Northern Ireland, and if they follow through on their commitments to regional commissioning of programmes for network broadcasting, and sourcing television, radio and digital production from the growing pool of talent in Northern Ireland, the result may well be that their money is being invested in a manner that is better for the long term development of NI as a centre of excellence. The growth of NI as a production centre, as seen in Universal Pictures and HBO choosing it for the filming of Your Highness and Game of Thrones, is being supported by the development of the Moving Image Arts A Level. The long term development will come from commissioning and not employment- entrepreuneurs and creative people acting quickly, and producing great work outside of the broadcasting houses that are the old model.

]]> By: Concubhar Ó Liatháin http://oconallstreet.com/2009/10/21/bbc-losses-bad-for-northern-ireland-time-to-devolve-broadcasting-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-21682 Concubhar Ó Liatháin Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:45:55 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/?p=2269#comment-21682 I remember, during my tenure as editor of Lá Nua/Lá, the now defunct Irish language daily, asking all the party spokespeople this very question, should broadcasting policy be devolved from London. The response was silence. The question is relevant in many contexts - not least the idea that the BBC sets a cultural agenda in the north and this is set from London. It should be Belfast driven - or Derry or Newry. It is particularly relevant in the context of the Irish language as the constant refrain from BBC NI when asked to increase programming in Irish on TV, is that the resources aren't available from London. It's also interesting that the BBC in Belfast isn't subject to Section 75 - as other public bodies are even though it would be argued that the BBC has more impact on the public than other similar bodies funded from the public purse. I think that NI politicians are unwilling to grasp the nettle because they're afraid of the hard questions they may have to face from the likes of Spotlight or Steven Nolan. I remember, during my tenure as editor of Lá Nua/Lá, the now defunct Irish language daily, asking all the party spokespeople this very question, should broadcasting policy be devolved from London. The response was silence.

The question is relevant in many contexts – not least the idea that the BBC sets a cultural agenda in the north and this is set from London. It should be Belfast driven – or Derry or Newry.

It is particularly relevant in the context of the Irish language as the constant refrain from BBC NI when asked to increase programming in Irish on TV, is that the resources aren’t available from London.

It’s also interesting that the BBC in Belfast isn’t subject to Section 75 – as other public bodies are even though it would be argued that the BBC has more impact on the public than other similar bodies funded from the public purse.

I think that NI politicians are unwilling to grasp the nettle because they’re afraid of the hard questions they may have to face from the likes of Spotlight or Steven Nolan.

]]> By: Guest http://oconallstreet.com/2009/10/21/bbc-losses-bad-for-northern-ireland-time-to-devolve-broadcasting-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-21681 Guest Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:31:06 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/?p=2269#comment-21681 Did you mean to say biscussion? :P Is that a discussion with biscuits? Did you mean to say biscussion? :P Is that a discussion with biscuits?

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