BBC bidding for future sports rights

Should the BBC be bidding large amounts of licence fee money for exclusive coverage to sporting events? After reading this article on Digital Spy I was slightly confused by the "fair market test on the sports rights" that the BBC are sending out to an independent consultant firm. This seems madness, they must have some staff who can make that judgement, and even if they get a recommended figure, would that be accurate anyway? These bidding processes are notoriously unpredictable, with rival bidders paying much higher amounts than the second and lower bidding group. This example illustrates how the BBC can "overestimate the commercial value" of certain sporting rights.

The sports rights within the UK bring in vast commercial and public broadcasting revenue, as this report confirms, the annual value of the top ten sports rights within the UK is £1.3bn. The report by Ofcom also brings to our attention the domination of the Premier League. It is valued greater than all the other individual football tournaments and sports themselves who make up the top ten.

The report confirms the difficulties the BBC face when determining how much to bid for individual broadcasting licences, it is a minefield; however the detail within the Ofcom study allows anyone with half a brain to work out the relative values based on perceived growth and potential viewers, balanced alongside the 'public service broadcasting' principle the BBC is duty bound to uphold. It should not be outsourced to a private consultancy firm. Decide for yourselves, but I do hope they manage to bring the cricket back to BBC TV. That is my only request. Please.

BNP votes to ditch whites...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8514736.stm

The British National Party has voted to scrap its whites-only membership rules after an extraordinary general meeting.

Members who had gathered in Essex voted to amend the party's constitution to let black and Asian people join.

The BNP had been threatened with a possible court injunction over its whites-only membership policy by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The party must now go back to court in March when a judge will decide if the new rules meet race relation laws.

It is thought the BNP has removed references to "indigenous British" people, paving the way for black and Asian people to be admitted to the party for the first time.

Tories 'hung-up' over the possibility of a hanging parliament

http://prodicus.blogspot.com/2010/02/not-losing-sleep-over-this-hung.html

The BBC leads the non-blog media pack in bigging up the Hung Parliament meme because it makes a good story. There really isn't anything else they can say, other than the routine attacks on analysis of every Conservative policy announcement. Not that it matters what the band plays as the ship goes down.

And Cameron? He has forbidden all talk of complacency. The Hung Parliament narrative is good for the Tories, because it boosts the constituencies' GOTV effort and impels wavering voters to vote Tory to be sure that the despised Brown and the hated Labour Party are thrown out decisively.

I have said it before. Tory landslide.

George says:

"I am a Conservative because I am a realist who believes in freedom, tradition and patriotism." (by Prodicus)

You are a Conservative who believes in freedom (to do what you want - but not freedom for others to do what they want), tradition (hanging, flat earth, smoking is good for you) and patriotism (Nationalism, fascism or a good old British empire).

Add to that a trickle of election panic, coupled with the bravado of this post, and you can continue to live the delusion you currently swear by.

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/

Hung parliament - without doubt.

Then we will start to have cooperation, agreement and decency in government.