Its ok - on the dvds I just put the subtitles on. With the other stuff I can follow the general gist even though I don't really understand much English.

Oh, and the BBC4 stuff on liners and art deco have been really good recently

BBC3 is a bit hit and miss in my experience. Probably more miss than hit. Not seen much of the comedy on there though I did see 2 episodes of How not to live your life and found that quite amusing.

BBC4 is like Radio 4 in that you can enjoy a programme that's on a subject you'd never really think you'd have much interest in - like the stuff on liners - becuase its well produced and presented.

Which is precisely the argument for having the BBC funded in the way that it is with the remit that it has, can you imagine Granada making a series of documentaries like that, can you imagine an independant production company making a series of documentaries like that on the off chance that ITV might buy it even though they have no history of doing so or a slot to put it in despite having four free-to-air channels (WTF do they put on ITV3 and 4 apart from repeats ? )

You're preaching to the converted. I'm from the Lord Reith (sp?) school of thought on the subject.

Last year I happened upon a copy of the Radio Times the missus's mother had bought and kept as a souvenir of the wedding of Charlie and 'bury me in a Y-shaped coffin' Diana in 1981.

Only 3 channels, two of whom didn't really broadcast until midday and one started at 4pm. All 3 had finished by midnight. There were a handful of films; no Eastenders, Emmerdale Farm & Coronation Street each on for only an hour a week, no brain dead x-factor type drivel, the only imported programme I could spot was Cagney & Lacey and primetime viewing included regular political programmes, documentaries and a number of quality plays and dramas. Even ITV was a whole lot better.

The worlds gone to .

After All our Yesterday reminiscences, back on topic.
Will the delisting necessarily be bad?
The Ashes was delisted & now the ECB is moaning because it's likely to be re-listed. They made bags of money from Sky that they wouldn't otherwise have made from terrestrial TV.
I know the CC isn't in the same league (no pun intended) but it may bring in more revenue than now if it's sold properly to all potential bidders.
Currently the beeb sees it as its of right.

What is the RLF's stance on all of this?

The last time it was up for discussion they argued that the CC should not be on the list for the reason Old Feller gave above.

I therefore imagine they'll be delighted with the news.

The Royal Literary Fund?

Robinson, Lowe, Francis Construction?

Research Liberation Front?

Part of the American success at making good tv is down to the sheer volume of TV they're pumping out (and the "Infinite Monkey Theory"icon_wink.gif.

The rest of the success is HBO (who provide 50% of the quality drama you used as an example!).

All in the game yo.

The game's out there and it's play or get played

The stuff I have seen is that the RL are going to lobby the government to ignore the reports findings! Which as yet does not say a great deal at all and I suspect they need to do some thinking about there more detailed reaction and plan.

I think, having now seen the list after the initial speculation, that the issue is not going to be about the CC being taken off the list (and as stated they might be quite happy with that) but I do not think they can stand by as a governing body for the sport and let RL be dropped off the list while RU's offering is increased.

As I have said the list now says that the whole of the RU world cup must be shown on free-to-air, so I suspect there angle might be why is Canada v Japan more important to the nation than England v anybody at RL!

Richard Lewis was interviewed on R5SX at half time during the coverage of Eng-Aus. He was far from delighted.

The RFL were far from delighted when the CC was retained on the list not so long ago (but possibly before Lewis' tenure) arguing that it restricted them from getting the full worth of the TV rites to the comp.

They can't have it both ways although it's perfectly possible there has been a change in attitude towards the issue also.