We are a family who, perhaps, are part of a minority in the UK as we have often had periods in our life where we have had no television.  You may think that, under those circumstances, we have little to say about the BBC but we would suggest there is a contrary argument.  During our family life, we have continued to pay TV licence whether we have a TV or not (presently not in fact).  The reason for our contribution to the BBC is that we are well aware of the wider service provided and fully consider the organisation to be a public service, one that deserves public contribution.  

This is particularly true with the advent of BBCi.  The quality of the website is incomparable; links are relevant and efficient, content is good and there is something for all the family.  The most important development for us is the ‘listen again’ service for radio – with the rise in broadband users, we look forward to a time when we might be able to sometimes dip into TV in the same way without having to acquiesce to the all encompassing ‘eye in the corner of the room’.  BBC radio still, in our opinion, offers a service that is much better than its commercial rivals – we listen to Radio 4, Radio 7, Radio 1, Radio 3 (for Andy Kershaw).  We have also followed links to use the ‘listen again’ service to access Radio London (Charlie Gillet) despite living in North Wales.  We have also followed screen events by Internet (Celebrity Come Dancing) just so that were aren’t completely excluded from society and can still get involved with a conversation at the pub!  

Critics argue that there has been ‘dumbing down’ (some people maybe get this mixed up with providing a little fun).  However, a look to any other country in the world will reassure us that the BBC really is still better quality and more reliable in their material – the digital has allowed the mix of choice and quality – BBC Three and Four are good examples of the diversity that is now possible with digital TV.  

EXCEPT (sorry to shout but it is needed here)

NEWS! – What has happened to BBC news (radio – as we haven’t a lot of experience of TV news)?  And what is their agenda?  We listened to the Today programme in the days of Brian Redhead – he was incisive without being aggressive, intelligent without being condescending, he LISTENED to what people had to say and then returned the very question that you would have liked to ask yourself.  Please note that I am not specifically criticising the Kelly affair in this – that incident was only indicative of the approach.  We stopped listening to the Today programme many years ago – we do not want to start our day listening to a programme that is full of hectoring and sanctimonious programme content (interesting point that, despite being life long Labour supporters, we actually stopped listened to the programme because of the treatment of the then Conservative government and the way the interviews were conducted, neither revealing or instructive just combative and egotistical).  The only news that seems bearable these days is on the PM programme; at least Eddie Maher seems to understand that not all of us worship at the alter of ‘breaking news even if there really isn’t any’ and injects some humour into the business.  

And some other minor issues:

Radio 5 – needs to be FM.  Yes we can listen by internet but the times that we want to be able to are: in the morning on the radio alarm (would solve the incessant argument about the Today programme) and in the car and bath for football.  The reception is always so bad that we end up turning it off.  By the way, Radio 5 does seem to escape the news criticism but we haven’t been able to listen regularly enough to comment fully

Digital radio – we received a lovely DAB radio on Christmas morning from our son who, living in York, had assumed that there would be coverage in North Wales.  Not reached us yet and apparently no information about when it will.  Interesting that the shops in our area still sell and promote digital radio sets.

As I am well versed in the feedback sandwich, I must leave on a positive note. BBC is a great institution and public service and we are happy to pay a licence fee to ensure that your organisation does not need to follow the same path as commercial broadcasters.  

If you require any further comment there is plenty more where this came from!

Yours Sincerely,

Mathew and Jayne Neal