Why do BBC shows have 'Producers'??

[Penthode]

I used to work for the BBC and you do not know what you are talking about. The BBC is independent of government and funding is via the license fee and program sales.

The BBC have outsourced programs for many years. And if a producer flops then they get the sack (fired)!

[dtvmcdonald]

Originally Posted by Penthode

The BBC is independent of government and funding is via the license fee and program sales.

Uh ... the license fee is a tax, so it is NOT independent of the government.
In the US NPR and PBS are the not quite same, as their government
funding comes from general revenue, and is funneled through a sham
intermediate.

[Penthode]

NPR and PBS funds are decided by Congress. In the UK, the license fee is capped by government. The BBC is independent of government except by the license.

The BBC funding has always been limited. To suggest that a BBC producer is cradled is nonsense: if he doesn't make it, he gets the sack.

BBC programming quality is high and much cheaper to produce than US television. I remember we mused years ago that the cost of a 30 second spot in the last episode of MASH would have paid for at least two complete BBC costume dramas.

The BBC for more than a decade, has farmed out productions out of house as it is more cost effective. So you can't even say today that a BBC producer even works for the corporation.

Why don't you research the subject a bit more before making unqualified criticisms?

As for the broadcast unions, the ones in the US are far more militant and confrontational.

[NewVista]

Originally Posted by Penthode

. The BBC is independent of government except by the license.

"except by the license"? That's a big exception:
If you don't pay BBC-tax you can have Her Majesty's police at your door.
(see youtube "TV licence search-warrants").

[NewVista]

Originally Posted by dtvmcdonald

...NPR and PBS ...funding ... is funneled through a sham
intermediate.

You must mean the CPB, always thought strange and suspicious