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The BBC's news service is essentially second to none in the UK and for much of the wider world, it provides a global TV and radio service in the form of the World Service, which some governments have jammed at times and was the real-life [[Voice of the Resistance]] in the [[Second World War]]. Its political and current affairs programming has a reputation for the highly adversarial style of some prominent presenters; it's not unheard of for [[Newsnight]] or The Today Programme to draw viewer/listener complaints for being ''too hard'' on the politicians they're interviewing.
Note that not only is advertising on the BBC simply not done, [[Product Placement]] is actually a violation of the Ofcom Code (although it will now be allowed on other networks), and people have complained when brand names are visible on screen. For example, an episode of ''[[Spooks]]'' was pulled and digitally edited after it was pointed out on a preview that some computers in the background had the Apple logo visible. [[David Tennant]]'s Converse All-Stars in ''[[
Criticisms of BBC programmes will often call them "a waste of the license fee". Praise will often include the phrase "worth the license fee alone" (Craig Charles' 6 Music ''Funk and Show Show'' uses this as a catchphrase). Having just mentioned ''Top Gear'', anyone saying either of that about TG is [[Completely Missing the Point]] as the show is now self-supporting (via [[The Merch]] and sales of international rights).
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Genre-wise, the BBC's particular specialties are:
* [[Costume Drama]] - a ''lot'' of it. It's widely exported.
* [[Speculative Fiction]], most notably ''[[
** Some American [[Speculative Fiction]] imports including ''[[Star Trek]]'' (apart from ''[[Enterprise]]''), ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]''.
** One of the BBC's indirect contributions to the world of [[Speculative Fiction]] deserves mention too. In 1997 the Radio 4 arts reporters took quite a shine to this [[Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone|new children's fantasy novel]] and played some part in popularising it.
* Comedy (often risk-taking, ground-breaking and highly influential, like ''[[Monty Python]]''). This includes the entire [[Panel Show]] genre.
* Natural History series, often narrated by [[David Attenborough]].
* Travel documentaries, usually with [[
Because of its lack of need to chase advertising, and therefore ratings, the BBC is not under the same pressure ([[News Corp]] headlines aside) to gain 'instant hits' with high viewing figures. A number of TV shows that would not have had a second series commissioned on ITV (or in the US been pulled mid season) have gone on to become hits - ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' and ''[[
At the end of 2007, the BBC introduced the free iPlayer service, allowing UK-only users to download some of the previous seven days' programming online and some entire seasons. (Most BBC radio programmes can be listened to by users outside the UK.) This may change in the future, as the BBC wants to open up the iPlayer to non-British audiences, for a fee.
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In addition, there are several digital-only stations:
* BBC Three - Comedy, the occasional film and repeats. Started off showcasing some new stuff like ''Nighty Night'' and ''[[Little Britain]]'', in addition to stuff like ''[[Two Pints of Lager and
* BBC Four - Pretty much the visual equivalent of Radios 3 and 4, with widespread critical acclaim. Documentaries, classical music orientated programmes and television films and plays in the vein of ''Play for Today''. In [[The New Tens]], known for importing cop shows and other drama series from mainland European countries, not previously a UK tradition, including ''[[Engrenages]]'' from France, the original Swedish TV version of ''[[
* [[CBBC]] - A kids' channel. Showing mostly British stuff with the occasional Australian drama or American cartoon. Broadcasts educational programming (a BBC charter requirement) during school hours.
* CBeebies - In addition to CBBC, as well as traditional morning and afternoon slots, ''and'' extended Saturday and Sunday blocks, ''and'' morning blocks extended from about 7 until 10 in the summer, the BBC also has this channel. Targets 0-6 demographics. Has its own morning and afternoon slots prior to CBBC. Again, mostly British made content.
* BBC News Channel: [[Exactly What It Says
* BBC Parliament: Covers the debates of the UK's Parliament, including Select Committees (like the US standing committees), devolved assemblies and the House of Lords. Also does re-runs of past election night coverage and occasionally coverage of the US Congress. Similar to the American C-SPAN (which reciprocally broadcasts the [[Prime Ministers Questions]]).
* BBC Alba: The BBC's Scottish Gaelic-language channel.
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The BBC (or, more accurately, BBC Worldwide) also part-owns a number of commercial channels, mainly the UKTV Network, responsible for channels such as Dave, Home and Blighty, as well as a print arm which handles the bulk of the magazines which license its properties (''[[Top Gear]]'' being one example) and listings magazine [[Radio Times]].
There's also BBC America ([[Exactly What It Says
[[Mitch Benn]] wants you all to [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3q2iZuU5WM&feature=player_embedded be proud of it]. And why not?
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