Big Brother

[mrph]

"We did want to interview someone from Channel 4, but they declined to come on"

Edit: "First we had no luck with Channel 4. Now we're having no luck with the Attorney General either". Heh. He's enjoying this, isn't he? :)

Jon Snow. About four minutes ago. On Channel 4 News.

The "4" logo was clearly visible on the wall behind him while he was speaking. Priceless. Full marks to Mr Snow for keeping a straight face...

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_pinkdaisy_/]

i love john snow :) sadly, i've only just got back from work, so i missed this :(

[jorune.livejournal.com]

It appears to me that the producers of big brother went looking for controversy and now they have found it the executives of C4 don't know what to do with it. Refusing to appear on C4 news for two nights in a row has lined them up with failing govts and troubled businesses. Awkward company.

I suspect they feel they can't cancel the show for fear of the liberal backlash from the arts world and yet they must be hoping and praying that there will be no more incidents. Their statement that this was raising important cultural arguments in the community really smacks of them trying to have their cake and eat it. They went trolling for ratings like a commercial broadcaster and when it exploded in their face they ran away pleading that they were a public service broadcaster and could not be blamed or criticised.

Before this saga any talk of C4 being privatised was politically difficult now it is becoming possible. If not for the current administration then certainly a policy plaything for the conservatives. Considering the difficulties the BBC has had with its licence renewal, considering the vast changes in technology in the next 10 years, now is not the time for any publically owned channel to court the anger of the public. Are C4 so overawed with their previous success in outrunning controversy that they believe, like President Bush, that nothing can touch them?

A proposal from the conservatives to strip C4 of its public service role through privatisation and possibly set up a brand new public service broadcaster will score big points with the Murdoch media, the Mail, Express and Telegraph and establish 'clear blue water' between Cameron and Brown.

Carphone Warehouse pulling its sponsorship deal is a sign that the big brother series is probably doomed. What C4 does next will be important for its future. I would like to see it survive but not with shows like big brother.

[wechsler.livejournal.com]

I *thought* it sounded like his style; good to know he's got enough clout to take the piss out of his own company.