I've been waiting to see what the reaction to James Murdoch's BBC criticisms would be and now it's begun :
www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/sep/04/bbc-icm-poll-james-murdoch
His dad has run endless campaigns in Oz newspapers about the state funded ABC here-similar to the BBC with virtually the same set-up but without the license fee. And it broadcasts the best of the BBC as well as commissioning joint programs.
Murdoch doesn't own any free to air TV stations in Australia due to rules about the concentration of media ownership although he endlessly lobbied his great pal , the odious former PM John Howard who almost got the rules changed but was always blocked in the Upper House by Greens and independents.
Then he campaigned to force the ABC to go commercial with advertising on the claim..why should the tax-payer subsidize it ?.
Until the late Kerry Packer owner of the largest TV network went ballistic. The idea that the ABC with a 40% viewership would suddenly grab huge slices of advertising revenue..well that plan got knocked stone dead.
When his tabloids actively campaigned against the new PM Kevin Rudd..now riding so high in the polls he is the most popular leader ever..Murdoch's influence is on the wane and pollster predict Rudd will rule until he decides to leave , most likely increasing his seats at each election. Murdoch's backing of the Opposition and the doomed leader Malcolm Turnbull ( Angela Lansbury's nephew) has been a disaster..his newspaper power has really bitten the dust.
But will British politicians be brave for once and stand up to these bullies ?
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