LETTER: Is quality alien to satellite TV?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr David Elstein
Sir: Would you allow a little factual light to penetrate Roy Hattersley's uncharacteristic gloom ("Not up Rupert's Street", 25 September) [about the consequences of Sky seeking to buy Coronation Street]? "Poach", "predators", "pirates", "plunder": all very alliterative, but since when are rights holders (who decide these matters) forbidden to decide where to display their programmes?
"High-quality television should be available to all for the price of the licence fee alone" - well, that's the BBC's responsibility. Or is it suggested that high-quality television is not allowed to appear on non-terrestrial channels?
"Sky would fill up most of its time on most of its channels with American trash." Do the words "American" and "trash" go together automatically? Are all the American series on Channel 4 and the BBC "trash"? If a channel such as Sky One can achieve a rating close to BBC 2's in satellite/cable homes, is it to be assumed that the audience is unable to detect "trash"?
"It would be monstrous to give Rupert Murdoch sole rights over great national institutions - Wimbledon, the Cup Final, the service at the Cenotaph ... Coronation Street." I rather doubt Rupert Murdoch will be "given" anything; but if rights holders wish to sell, who will stop them? And who will then compensate them for their losses?
Yours faithfully,
David Elstein
Head of Programming, BSkyB
British Sky Broadcasting
Isleworth, Middlesex
26 September
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments