With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Virgin Media under Liberty Global

Sky potentially soon under Comcast ownership

Viacom owning Channel 5

Itv having so much speculation about being a potential takeover target by bigger media companies.

The rise of the streamers like Amazon and Netflix


With all this overseas involvement do we risk losing our identity and also risk seeing less and less UK content ?

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

That is the globalist agenda.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

The Cable Companies in the UK (when they started in the 90s) were mainly owned by US companies (PacBell, Jones Cable, Nynex, Videotron, United Cable, Telewest, etc.).

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

I don't think it's possible for us to lose our identity provided we bother to remember our history.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

I am sure we will get more foreign content (mostly inane USA series)

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Our society is changing though and a greater percentage year by year have a different history.

As we keep getting told we are now milticultural, my concept (and your) of history could well be totally different to my neighbours.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

It's the rewriting of our history to suit modern tastes that's the real danger..the tearing down of our historical heroes like Nelson or our literary heroes like Kipling to suit modern day values is to be resisted.Also much of our history is entwined with that of our multicultural society because of our colonisation of much of the globe and incessant wars across many centuries.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

I can actually see where OP is coming from. The UKTV mess was likely from an American perspective (afterall, all the replacement content minus The Weakest Link is from the other side of the Atlantic - who the $!@% wants to watch repeats of 'Allo 'Allo?). I think with globalisation comes a loss of culture, accents and phrases are merging... if you look at some young people today they're gaining language from places they've never seen the skies over.

British TV will always have it's place - the Yanks lap it up and it is undeniably a part of our history.

But, we need to be responsible for preserving our identity in the media and in the real world as otherwise it will be cast aside.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Fortunately we don't all share the same tastes and I'm sure there are many, many people who do want to watch repeats of 'Allo 'Allo even if you don't.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

I'm pretty sure my identity is not in any danger.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

As a country we may be watching more US content than ever, but there's still a rise in home grown commissions and our own commissions are having a lot of success across the pond as well. So, no, I don't think we're losing our identity.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Its not just cable though is it. Almost all big companies are now owned by even bigger companies overseas.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

If you ask me, we've already lost our identity. We will all be living under Sharia Law within a couple of decades if things continue to move in the multicultural direction we have taken.

There is a rapidly decreasing percentage of native British living in my area now, and if this is reflected in towns and cities all over the UK, it's too late now to regain it.

So we just have to accept it, I guess, and just hope that there will still be some British programmes still being made in years to come.

Otherwise, UKTV will be the only British option left! :D (Sorry, had to get that one in!).

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Wow

---------- Post added at 13:26 ---------- Previous post was at 13:24 ----------

I thought this was one of the few places left on the net where I didn't encounter offensive claptrap

Sadly I was wrong

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Whether a joke or not that is shocking.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

As you cite all media companies, I'm assuming your question is just a media one, rather than a wider question on British identity.

I love nothing more than a good British drama or comedy. But as far as the good 'ole sitcom goes, they're pretty much extinct now. That's not the fault of the Americans, though.

A few American spy related films and shows I've seen set in modern day Britain has shown British policemen running through train stations or streets blowing whistles.... I think the last time they did that was in the 1950's.

In Game of Thrones, characters like Jamie Lannister are called Ser Jamie, rather than Sir Jamie. Obviously, lazy Americans couldn't be bothered to get the spelling right on that.

So, yes, in that sense, if our identity or culture is through an American lens, it can be altered or changed, watered down etc. But...

Game of Thrones is superb. American made, American written, American money but with a mostly British cast and crew. Imagine ITV ever attempting anything like that? Like hell! The same as The Crown, currently the most expense show made ever.

With some British shows, I quite even don't even bother with them now, if I know they will only be a few episodes in the entire series, as I prefer the American binge watching of seeing three or four eps a day and get through a whole series in a week.

If it were a choice between purely American shows like Homeland and Breaking Bad, or purely British shows like Jeremy Kyle and Come Dine with me, I know what I'd choose. I just wish the British broadcasters, while they still exist, put on better stuff. Perhaps that's the real question here, do our broadcasters deserve to stay in business when they'e putting out so much rubbish?

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Its one of the few places not yet ruled by the PC brigade, so ... wow ... people can have different views to you.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

l would hasten to add that Sherlock , Peaky Blinders , Poldark , Luther , Happy Valley , Taboo , Call The Midwife , Downton Abbey , Line of Duty , etc , etc , etc are all British made high quality shows..

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Here's a few others.
http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/2018-...tv-dramas-2018
We still lead the way in quality, if not money and quantity.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Some good stuff there Mr K from what l have watched thus so far with some of those shows still to come later this year.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

So you view those comments as acceptable then?

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Its a point of view and its not offensive.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

It's the BBC still making most of the best stuff. The Jeremy Thorpe drama was for me the best thing on TV this year. Some of these programmes wouldn't be made by commercial stations if they didn't think they'd attract advertisers. Constant attacks on the licence fee and the BBC by this Government make the future a bit worrying for quality UK made drama. It'll be US crap and reality TV.....

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

I find it offensive - there should be no place for that sort of comment here !

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

There may be more US content screened in the U.K. than ever, but 30 years ago it was all screened on one of the public service channels whereas today almost none of it is. The overwhelming bulk of programming spend by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 is on British-made content. (In 1988 the newest iteration of Star Trek was shown by BBC2. Today’s Trek isn’t even available on broadcast TV).

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

So stating we're going to be taken over by Sharia Law and Muslims are taking over areas isn't a prejudice statement?
There are people here who find it offensive whether you do or not.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

There are also people here who don't find it offensive whether you do or not though...?

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

I don't see anything offensive in that post, just an opinion.

If you're offended by that I'm amazed you get out your front door without shrieking in horror.

---------- Post added at 22:48 ---------- Previous post was at 22:47 ----------

What is shocking?

---------- Post added at 22:49 ---------- Previous post was at 22:48 ----------

Yes, what is unacceptable about them?

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

The UK has a strong enough collection of writers, actors, directors and musicians that I don't think we're especially at risk. The BBC alone is a juggernaut. British actors and writers are all over the United States. Making sure we continue to produce artists is why I think things like the BBC and the National Theatre are important.

That said identity isn't a fixed thing, it can and will change naturally over time. So why worry too much about it either way?

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Sky are upping their commission budget by another 25%. It's already at £7bn. There's more than enough good UK content being produced and experiencing success abroad the pond.
We literally have nothing to worry about.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

British produced quality content has never been stronger as several have pointed out.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

But we need to make sure it isn't only made because it's profitable/attracts advertisers. That's why the BBC is so vital.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

And if the BBC didn't force us to shell out for their channels they would have just the same business model as everyone else who can't rely on state handouts.
Broadcasters are businesses, of course they need to attract viewers and customers - just like any other business on the planet.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Interesting that the poll is roughly an equal split.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Nothing to do with capitalism then?

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

The BBC according to some we should get rid of and although they are not perfect by any sort of imagination they are a very vital part of the TV landscape.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Even state owned businesses in communist countries still need customers.
Unfortunately we don't live in a Utopian world where everything is free. I wish we did.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

What is off topic? Have the off topic contents been deleted already?
Just wanted to make sure I haven't strayed off in this thread.

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

PM and ask then...(it messes up the thread otherwise).

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Not really. It is just a natural consequence of the global free market. If a government of a country will not intervene in the market to ensure the continuity & preservation of the indigenous assets then you do, in all senses of the word, get what you pay for.

If you want the cheapest, you will not necessarily get the best. Not the best for you and not the best for your community and not the best for the country.

As a country, we have been lazy and greedy. It takes effort and money to preserve things, things that you, when they are gone, realise you valued. This is true for many recent changes: local sub-post offices, corner shops, community policing, town centres reflecting choice and continuity.

Some countries have done a better job at resisting this free market erosion of our national identity. France, for example, has managed, to a much better degree than us, balance the local shops, with the out of town supermarket. They also are prepared to invest more in French products e.g. cars even though you might argue they are inferior in some cases to other products on the market.

The French have, in some senses, invested in France to preserve their national identity as best they can in this globalist world. We have not ..

I hope this is on topic enough? Took me ages to write this .. :)

Re: With the rise of the big players do we risk losing our identity ?
 

Very good synopsis and perfectly on topic.