I've travelled widely all over the world and while BBC TV is generally poor (I have possessed a TV licence only sporadically as I often simply pack the TV away and don't miss it) I have nothing but the highest regard for the BBC Webpages and radio services. I listen to Five Live exclusively and extensively (I know a few people that listen to Five's commentary with their Sky TV matches sound turned down). I read the BBC News pages seevral times a day and made extensive use of them while deployed on operations with the MOD (similarly with BBC World). They are sound, neutral and informative and the MOD generally would be hard-pressed to work without them!

One anecdote from my travels. In a Nairobi youth hostel in 1993 I was listening on my shortwave to the relayed FA Cup Final Replay commentary where my team Arsenal were playing Sheffield Wednesday. As I listened on loudspeaker more and more people drifted in to hear the dramatic ball-by-ball live commentary, until maybe forty backpackers from all over the world were glued to the radio broadcast, united in their appreciation of association football generally and the FA Cup specifically. And only the BBC could have given them that opportunity and quality. A magic moment. At least until they stopped broadcasting to East Africa with 20 minutes to go, but that's the ionosphere for you!

So - BBC TV doesn't deserve much respect but the Net and Radio links are a national and international icon. Increase the licence if necessary to maintain their quality. Even US forces prefer the BBC to their own networks, and the name BBC resounds throughout the developing world as a symbol of trust and quality. Let's keep it that way...

Doug