On July 12, NewsBusters asked, "Did Live Earth's Flop Reduce Media Interest in Global Warming?"
Two months later, the BBC has scrapped "Planet Relief," a proposed day-long special about climate change, specifically citing the failure of Al Gore's international concerts as one of the reasons for the cancellation.
How delicious.
As reported by England's Times Online Wednesday (h/t NB reader Chris Stacy, emphasis added throughout):
The BBC announced today that the project has been scrapped. Negative reaction to this summer's flop Live Earth concert, promoted by Al Gore, the former US Vice-President, was cited as a factor. Viewers told the BBC to present the debate around climate change in an informed and rigorous manner. They did not want to be lectured by wealthy pop stars and celebrities.
How marvelous. But there was more:
The BBC said: "BBC One aims to bring a mass audience to contemporary and relevant issues and this includes the topic of climate change. Our audiences tell us they are most receptive to documentary or factual style programming as a means of learning about the issues surrounding this subject, and as part of this learning we have made the decision not to go proceed with the Planet Relief event."
The BBC promised instead to "focus our energies on a range of factual programmes on the important and complex subject of climate change. This decision was not made in light of the recent debate around impartiality."
Wouldn't it be fabulous if American media made such wise decisions concerning factual programming? Or is that asking too much?
Bravo, BBC! Bravo!!!
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
No fear, PBS is here
September 5, 2007 - 12:05 ET by general companyNot to worry, I am sure PBS will pick it up, it being unbias and all.
What were final tallies?
September 5, 2007 - 12:24 ET by PawpawNHow much did LIVE EARTH cost? How much did LIVE EARTH make? What carbon footprint did it leave in each venue? Why do we hear nothing out of this now?
"...present the debate
September 5, 2007 - 12:28 ET by Hero Squad"...present the debate around climate change..."
That is all we ask.
*****
"Why would the library ban a book like The Six Bunny-Wunnies Freak Out?" - Linus Van Pelt
Of course PBS will, and use
September 5, 2007 - 12:28 ET by FOXFANOf course PBS will, and use our tax dollars to do it. And include a BDS rant with it. I long for the day when a vote comes up for taxpayer funding of PBS.
Made my day.
September 5, 2007 - 13:27 ET by Conservative_in_mass.Our audiences tell us they are most receptive to documentary or factual style programming as a means of learning about the issues surrounding this subject, and as part of this learning we have made the decision not to go proceed with the Planet Relief event."
In other words, the BBC viewers are telling them the Goracle is full of Sh!t. That is pretty sweet.
Noel, Rush just mentioned this column
September 5, 2007 - 13:34 ET by RJ...and plans to go into more detail after the news break.
Heard Rush just mention
September 5, 2007 - 13:34 ET by bigtimerHeard Rush just mention this story on NB's...said more details other side of the break.
You struck again Noel...
good work...
Rush is mentioning this as
September 5, 2007 - 13:37 ET by rightsideRush is mentioning this as I type this...13:34 EST Good deal NS!
Yes! Have some.
Hi BT
September 5, 2007 - 13:38 ET by RJBeat you by a microsecond, apparently. ;^>
RJ... LOL... That you
September 5, 2007 - 13:43 ET by bigtimerRJ...
LOL...
That you did friend...that you did.
Guys
September 5, 2007 - 13:38 ET by Noel SheppardGuys,
Listening right now. His producer alerted me a few minutes ago! ns
Nice pull Noel! Cheers!
September 5, 2007 - 13:52 ET by Sick-n-TiredNice pull Noel!
Cheers!
Noel,
September 5, 2007 - 22:57 ET by Dave RRush's producer?
LOL-Sheesh, pretty soon, you won't want to talk to us mere plebes anymore.
Great article, BTW. Perhaps the whole AGW fraud really is finally headed for the dust-bin of history.
"I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!”- Rick Roberts
Stand by for the spike in
September 5, 2007 - 13:42 ET by rightsideStand by for the spike in website hits lol, you've been talked about by the Maha Rushie!
Yes! Have some.
El Rushbo
September 5, 2007 - 13:59 ET by Six String SpiffI wonder what Rush's numbers are compared to oh say Katie Courics. Hell, the entire CBS newscast. Oh, sorry, 'news' cast
The American Revolution Continued
I don't have any links,
September 5, 2007 - 22:41 ET by MikeBI don't have any links, but I believe that Rush has about 20 million listeners daily, while the Perky One gets about 6 million per day. Rush has his audience for 3 hours, Katie has hers for 1/2 hour.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Noel! Say this isn't so!
September 5, 2007 - 13:58 ET by danboNoel! Say this isn't so! Say that Live Earth was a great success! After all we were told by experts that "Billions" (With a B) watched the show. One out of 3 people on this planet watched. People who never say a TV before walked days to watch it.
This was a consensus. And the experts wouldn't just make numbers up.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
Noel. Out of curiosity.
September 5, 2007 - 14:00 ET by danboNoel. Out of curiosity. Are you going to do a story on the Northwest passage 1930's and today? I'd love to hear your take.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
Dan
September 5, 2007 - 14:10 ET by Noel SheppardDan,
Not today. Too much on AGW already. Still researching. Did you see this at CS? ns
Yes. It may be more
September 5, 2007 - 14:20 ET by danboYes. It may be more evidence that warmers ignore by only looking back to 1970. If you only look as far back as the last cool period you can claim warming. Not very honest however.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
Al Gore's problem
September 5, 2007 - 14:02 ET by Six String Spiff"Our audiences tell us they are most receptive to documentary or factual style programming as a means of learning about the issues surrounding this subject"
Woops! Ol Gore forgot people want facts, and not a fictitious 'consensus'. Dumbass
The American Revolution Continued
Wonders never cease
September 5, 2007 - 15:56 ET by general companyActually I was a bit surprised that the BBC even acknowledges this.
Different view
September 5, 2007 - 14:33 ET by scamoramaA slightly different explanation:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/05/climate_special_canned/
Be sure to post a comment ( I couldn't resist replying to "Peter W.")
Balance??
September 5, 2007 - 16:16 ET by general companyThat is funny, seems they are a bit slow at moterating comments.
Yes
September 5, 2007 - 17:07 ET by scamoramaYes, the site is VERY slow to update.