Blair couldn't stand BBC, particularly its propensity to expose the truth about Blair's lies on Iraq. Now that management has been changed, they're going to prune the available information based on management's version of what is "relevant." How would they know? Is the the new criterion for collections of information on the web. Amazing. Surrender before the attack.

It's not just about adding new cable fees to help their profits. They also want to block US signals. By Michael Geist

I’ve just ordered an antenna for our digital TV to replace our satellite service when broadcasters like CTV, Global, Rogers and Bell succeed in limiting the signals we watch. Cheap skate broadcasters want to delay Canadian access to digital TV with no decrease in fees. Prime Minister Harper (Conservative party based in Alberta, draws support from the Reform Party (a right-wing religious group) hates the CBC and would dearly love to privatize it, but remote Canadian communities depend on the service it provides that no private carrier would be willing to spend the money for them to receive information. The Conservative Party, supposedly an advocate of small government but spends like drunken sailors! Wouldn't you think small government would reduce spending? Not a chance...they just spend 'liberally' on different things not usually associated with groups that benefit Canadian society as a whole--quite the contrary--instead aligns itself with big business, for the most part instead of community groups. (Is this initiating any bell clappers with my American Agonistas?)

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CRTC today approved the licensing of Al Jazeera one of the few news sources that have reporters in the field in the Middle East! Am looking forward to receiving their signal.

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Not directly related to the BBC topic, but similar things threaten to happen in Canada.

Canadians cannot 'legally' access American satellite or cable TV services because it infringes CRTC's Canadian content rulings. American programmes that we legally get have Canadian commercials inserted and are often not aired simultaneously to American programming. Different advertising laws apply--e.g. not allowed on TV or radio are pharmaceutical ads! There are many Canadians and almost all broadcasting companies (exception CBC) who in addition to privatizing CBC would like the CRTC abolished.