documentary screening: 'OUTFOXED'

In what sense are these people media experts?

I expect they are simply experts at moaning about how real media experts like Murdoch seem to be able to give the people what they want for a price they are willing to pay, and are increasingly ignoring the dumbed down TV programmes made by the state using tax cash.


I'll get worried when Murdoch starts doling out fines and criminal records to those who use their TVs without paying him, and not before.

Murdoch has ripped apart the cosy, complacent well paid world of TV. That's why many in the industry don't like him. They thought they had a monopoly on providing the nation with soap operas, trashy police/doctors/nurses dramas and their own slanted version of the news. That's why they resent anyone else getting in on the act.

I have to admit that is an impressive troll. Just the right amount of subtlety.

It certainly is good to question our views like this from time to time.

But yes, Murdoch is basically a tool of the corporations, showing us shiny crap (programs) to get us to buy the shiny crap they advertise in the important part of broadcasts (adverts and political propaganda).

Surely even laissez-faire libertarians like yourself are against monopolies?

Anti-Murdoch people are essentially anti-freedom, anti-free speech and authoritarian.

They want to control the lives of others. They have a very poor opinion of their fellow people, regarding them as mindless pawns who'll do believe anything Murdoch says and will buy anything Murdoch advertises. They use this sinister and unproved theory to justify calls for controls on broadcasting, usually demanding that it remains firmly in their grip at places like the BBC.

We should recognise anti-Murdochism for what it is - mainly naked self interest by employees of older media organisations which have failed to adapt to the modern age and fear for their jobs, their status and their influence on society. Dressing selfishness up in a thin but unconvincing veil of altruism doesn't fool anyone.

New technology offers the opportunity for deregulation of broadcasting. Let everyone broadcast what they want with minimal control from the state or anywhere else. The days of state controlled broadcasting belong in the history books, just like state or religious control of books, newspapers and the theatre etc.

Instead of demanding that Murdoch is controlled and regulated the old guard shoud do as Murdoch has done - use the new technologies to provide rival products to Murdoch. As Murdoch's success shows, if you make stuff people want they'll pay quite a high price for it.

"Anti-Murdoch people are essentially anti-freedom, anti-free speech and authoritarian. "

Hehe, OK, I'm off to bed with that thought.