Question

Hello,

For this blog post only, I'm trying out a new format. I'll ask you a question. Tell you the answer and go on to babble mindlessly consisting mostly of my own opinions and outrage at said answer.

Clear your mind and imagine you have power. Commercial, cultural and influential power. Then answer this question, if you had to save one of the following, which would it be?

1) Snog, Marry, Avoid?

"Makeunder show, which sees POD transform OTT girls and boys into natural beauties."


'POD' our main protagonist, is a rather cutting and judgemental voiceover who starts off by knocking our guest down a peg or two. Quick quips and offensive surveys make up the majority of Pod's opening gambit and then, post makeover, said voiceover goes into self congratulatory 'told you so' mode in a bid to celebrate natural beauty. Yawn.

2) BBC Radio 6 Music

"BBC Radio 6 Music brings together the cutting edge music of today, the iconic and groundbreaking music of the past 40 years."


BBC Radio 6 plays 'alternative' genres of music including indie, rock, jazz, hip hop, funk and classic dance. Does what it says on the tin, BBC Radio 6 - only available on digital media, although following the same structure as Radio 1 and 2, it avoids mainstream and showcases both new (Jonsi's live session on Lauren Laverne is a bit of a favourite) and old (archives Peel Sessions).


3) BBC Asian Network

"The Sound of Asian Britain, Bollywood, Bhangra, British Asian News & Entertainment"


BBC Asian Network is made up from music and news from the main urban areas where there are significant communities with a background in the South Asian diaspora. BBC Asian Network broadcast mainly in English, but also have programmes in five south Asian languages – Hindi/Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujurati and the Mirpuri dialect of the Potwari language.

Hello Mark Thompson, director general of the whole.of.the.BBC.

Mr Thompson may have valid points concerning audience figures and ratings. However, think back to 1922 when the BBC was first created. We may have moved on from Reithian times but the BBC was created to be a public service broadcaster. Within this, a certain responsibility to educate the masses. Again yes, we have moved on from the moral high ground of Reithianism but, it would do no harm to pay a little attention to ethics of public service.

I digress.

What I am trying to say is, the BBC has a national, if not, international responsibility to educate it's audience on a political level, socially and culturally. Of the above, assuming you're not born with pound signs for eyes (Mark Thompson), I think we're all quite aware of which two options offer a plethera of aural pleasures. Where Snog, Marry, Avoid? may be considered an altogether more visually gratifying experience, come on now, I'm trying to be serious.

This comparison of the three is unrealistic I admit, different formats, different audience sizes, different financial figures altogether. However, from an outsider's point of view, it's difficult to avoid the 'why keep this and not this' element. WHY indeed keep Snog, Marry, Avoid? but not BBC Radio 6 or BBC Asian Network, two of the most culturally prevalent channels? The answer can not be simple. Although it is isn't it. In my eyes, it is. Just don't axe them Mark, please. Thanks.