“The integrity of journalism at the BBC has been called into question after its news reports were accused of promoting Microsoft – and the computer giant’s new showpiece – Vista,” Freelance UK reports.
“The offending reports were issued just months after the heads of each organisation met in Seattle, where they agreed to work with each other on future technology projects,” Freelance UK reports. “According to The Times, which reported details of the meeting in September, the agreement centred on ensuring the BBC’s iPlayer would run smoothly with Vista, Microsoft’s new OS.”
“An interview on the Ten O’Clock News with Bill Gates stoked fears the BBC’s impartiality was being lost even further, after critics said the Microsoft boss was given preferential treatment,” Freelance UK reports.
Freelance UK reports, “In light of the claims, John Beyer, director at Mediawatch UK, has called on the corporation’s trust to investigate.”
Full article here.
Related articles:
BBC revises article, clarifies where music downloaded from the iTunes store can be played – February 08, 2007
BBC reporter blows it, says ‘music downloaded from the iTunes store can be played only on iPods’ – February 07, 2007
Windows Vista woes push BBC News editor to regret never having ‘defected’ to Apple Mac – February 06, 2007
Ask the BBC make upcoming iPlayer on-demand service Mac compatible – February 01, 2007
BBC: Hackers assault Windows PCs every 15 minutes, ignores obvious solution: Get a Mac – October 09, 2006
So the BBC is on the take. This is news?
Hey, John B – that depends on which branch of the govt you’re dealing with. The DOD uses Xserves and PowerMacs (probably Mac Pros now) in some applications.
I liked the BBC reports. Very accurate and informative. Nice work, BBC!
Your potential. Our passion.
“The established press over there has the mentality of Windows = serious and Apple = toys for kids”
Recently Apple started airing British ‘Im a Mac’ ads… but really, most major markets outside the US will feel snubbed by Apple, so there is resentment there…
Regarding their computers, Apple’s share is so small they have to focus on USA, mainly..
I mean, Jonny Ive is British, and the iPod is a hit over there, but again, Apple clearly isn’t going to be spending a ton of marketing dollars over there..
From: JWSC
Feb 10, 07 – 10:30 am
“Born in the U.S.A. but I’m half British on my mother’s side.”
Which half? Top or bottom or bisected another way?
Just kidding.
As a Canadian who has needed life saving surgery twice in the last 10 years, let me tell you, the only thing wrong with the greatest heath care system in the world is that I have to get a passport to fly down to the USA next time I want to use that system.
The up to two year wait for surgeries in Canada make our ‘free’ system, which takes about $20,000 a year in extra taxes from me, is the Third World’s best rationed health care system.
The 6 month wait for a Passport will be a piece of cake for most Canadians.
@gedboy
well said!
The irony is just now registering with me that the BBC’s service is called “iPlayer.” Okay, so I’m not really the sharpest tool in the shed. (Either that or it doesn’t surprise me that Great Britian’s pre-eminent news service is just as corrupt and easily bought as the U.S.’s.)
I wish the BBC would use Quicktime instead of Real and Windows Media Player for there news site videos. But that’s just me.
@Toby
Well, you speak for all of us who use Mac and want to watch BBC programming. Can we elect you to lodge a complaint?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/make_complaint_step1.shtml
Be nice – perhaps lodge it as a request from the wordwide Apple Mac community. If you can include any reasons why Quicktime is a better option you may have more impact. I am not up on the technicalities here but I always shudder if i have to load anything microsoft on my mac…
“Hey Canadian… that was a good point but let someone who is not sucking up the British say that… you get all your services from the US yet you still kiss the queen’s rear-end when you pay your taxes.”
Not a penny of taxes in Canada goes to royalty, other than toward expenses incurred on royal visits, as in the United States.
Typical American ignorance of anything beyond the outhouse.
C’mon lads, there’s pro and anti mac everywhere. you can’t possibly be expecting everyone in BBC likes Apple. Even some editor on PCmag worship Apple. Do you still remember the article written by BBC editor to Bill Gates? Here have a look:
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/vista_woes_push_bbc_news_editor_to_regret_never_having_defected_to_mac/
And what’s this thing about anti-American? Both Apple and Microsoft are American products, using them or not has nothing to do about your opinion about America. Of course only stupid Americans can came up with such an opinion. Duh!
I am anti-American, doesn’t mean I don’t worship Apple.
Canadian.
LOL… you are a funny boy. I guess there is more to learn for you and thinking that you can watch TV and learn stuff is just plain funny… you cool. I guess a long way to grow up and learn about reality and facts.
Canada is not just trading with US.. but a great deal of communication services in Canada is maintained and provided by the US… so is a great part of Canadian gorvernment military training and other forces… even fire departments… Canada is also getting a great help from the US electric power… I should also remind you that most of the US industries have also help Canada by taking some plants and businesses there… like GM, FORD, Microsoft, Apple, etc.
I should also let you know that contrary to what you think that Canadians are British… Canadians are from all over the world… and only the government is stuck in a ass kissing deal with UK. I feel bad for you poor Canadians thinking that you have learned the right things in school… oh well, I guess this is just another deal about Canada that is not perfect.
If you rate a country by how people are insured then you must be living in a delusional world… which is almost predictible from you as the odd Canadian who thinks that you are British. Good thing that I know some real Canadians who are not going to let you and people like you ruin the very little pride left of Canada.
By the way… almost anyone in the world thinks of Canada as a joke… and that is definitely supported by US and British governemts or else they will be dead in the sea.
Cheers! Keep on making me laugh.
They told us that our taxes only go towards the royal visits… yeah.. that’s right man… hey… hey…. hey..? well… I am Canadian and I am not sure but I really hate people of US… they are ignorant and they think they know everything about us… but they don’t… War is not the answer man… hey hey hey?
I am Canadian and I am correct… and you are American and you are wrong. hey hey hey?
Did I say I hate the US? uh… uh… well… here I said it… yeah! hey hey …. hey?
@MacDaddy
Well at least Canadians can write in English, and spell correctly.
Keep itcoming!!! You know how to kick thier stpid ass!
I’ve just watched The Money Programme and as others have said it really was unbelievable. As mentioned, twice the commentary said that MS’s competitor was Google. Since when did Google sell operating systems?!
The only conclusion that I can come to was that The Money Programme’s agreement with MS for “exclusive access” stipulated that Apple would not be mentioned as a competitor. That may have been a verbal rather than written agreement but it’s the only logical explanation for why the programme was nothing but an infomercial for MS.
I’ve also put a complaint in on the BBC site so we’ll see what the response is.
PS It was very funny that the marketing campaign was being done on a Mac. The black mouse cursor was a giveaway!
@Martin
Thanks for actually lodging a complaint. All the noise on here will have little effect if no-one tells the BBC. After all, with all their focus on Microsoft I doubt that they read this site!
I received a response to my complaint about Bias. The writer denied there was any bias and referred me to a video of a viewer complaint programme…
… which was only viewable on Microsoft Media Player ot Real Player.
There was no option for Apple Quicktime;
… which set off the process for another complaint.
I too received a response which denied bias. The response failed to address in anyway my specific complaint that Google was named twice (in commentary) as Microsoft’s competitor.
There is no comeback apparently on official responses because the reply is set to info@bbc.co.uk which bounces back.
@Martin
Yes I had my reply bounce also. But the simple way to deal with that is to lodge a follow up complaint through the site, and again insist on a reply. I meant to post my follow up on here but forgot to save it before I hit the button. If i get a reply from the beeb i will post it and my responses on this site.
If we can encourage enough respondents, the powers that be in the Beeb may pay a little more attention. Keep trying – don’t let them snow you with an irrelevant response…
Yep I’ve done exactly that.
What is MSNBC? (something tells me it’s a dumb question:D)