One of Britain's greatest institutions for the last 3 million years - it seems.

This is where all things panel show, to documentary are discussed.

Complain that there's no new drama, applaud the showings of Top Gear: whatever you like!

But, this still remains, a tribute, to the BBC

Yay, the BBC. Make us pay a license fee and show us shite like Eastenders and endless repeats. Although, I love TG, Hustle and Doctor Who is good when it's on. Oh, QI is good as well.
Ok ok, I agree that the BBC is excellent, I mean, i've found at least 4 shows out of the hundreds that they broadcast that are good.

Back to the license, I think that it is redundant now that iPlayer is on the web. since you can watch all of the BBC channels live, or catch up later. Who needs a TV?

True-say Dabs.

If you do hunt around a bit though, there is some good stuff.

AND, there's BBC radio - which is bloody brilliant

The license fee give incredible value for money. Four (?) stupendous TV channels, countless radio stations and the world's greatest website.

oh you people, do not complain about the BBC, it is way better than swedish television i tell you.
and thank god for doctor who and QI.

You know how lucky you are with the good old beep if you live in Germany.
We have to pay for our radio/tv too and get a lot more shite served.
I just kicked off my TV because I am sick of the boring stuff.
And my "fave" radiostation annoyes every half hour with moronic commercials!! The BBC (6music) sends only programme anouncements but no stupid commercials where some hardware store rapes Queen Songs to sell more stuff for male D.I.Y plumbers...
And most of all, you Brits are the home of Rocknroll. Germany is the home of "Musikantenstadl"
*shudder*

I wish I never clicked on that link, TL. ;D I wouldn't totally put down the music scene in Germany though, m'dear! Seems like progressive music is more appreciated over there, I'd like to think one of my bands will someday have a German following.

yeah more bands come to germany than sweden, most bands tour germany more than they tour scandinavia.

The BBC is flawed in many ways, it would be impossible for such a huge organisation not to be. For a media organisation covering so many different agendas and types of audience it is not surprising that things go wrong, sometimes spectacularly. If you think that along with the national TV, radio and online content, you also have all the local news programmes and radio stations, it is truly a media behemoth. It is also a constant target for all those with a vested interest in seeing the BBC undermined - basically every other media organisation that is not the BBC.

Issues I have include the standard of journalism, which is not what it used to be and gets me angry, although the fall in quality is nowhere near as bad as, for example, Sky, or the total disgrace that our national press has become. To be honest, if the Mail, the Guardian or Sky told me the sky was blue, I wouldn't believe them, whereas if the BBC told me I'd at least check to see if they were right.

The BBC’s TV output is OK, there's some good stuff, there's some rubbish, always has been, always will be.

The web site is, as previously mentioned, probably the best news and media website in the world, and I would happily pay the licence fee just to access this, and to be able to listen to Radio 2, 3, 4, 5 Live and 6 Music.

So to sum up my ramble, whilst the Beeb is far from perfect, and has to battle constantly to maintain quality, it is still head and shoulders above any other media organisation, public service or otherwise, in the world, and is a British institution that I still believe in and am proud of! There are not many (any?) others, sadly.

So yes Leo, 3 cheers for the BBC! Long may it continue.

I agree with every word you just said, Mr. K