'Leave the Beeb alone' cry silicon readers

The majority of silicon.com readers appear to support the BBC and believe a review or an overhaul of the service is unnecessary.

However, a handful of readers believe a modernisation of the service is long overdue, and a switch to a more commercial model would be a good thing.

silicon.com reader Nic Saint said: "For God's sake will someone please make the BBC stand on its own two feet. I hardly have the damn channel on and really do begrudge having to pay the TV licence fee for period drama which a fraction of the population enjoys and DIY and gardening programs endlessly repeated. Make them go for advertisements and cut the rubbish out."

But Nic's views weren't shared by many. Most support the service and believe its government funding is entirely justified, arguing that quality of service is all that the Beeb site should be judged on.

silicon.com reader Lance Housley said: "The fact is that the BBC's website is unquestionably the best news site in the world. It beats any other source hands down for international coverage."

Ken Ramsay, another silicon.com reader, said: "The BBC produces one of the best websites in the world at a negligible cost to the BBC licence payer, and free for anyone else."

More support came from silicon.com reader Colin Lawton. He said: "The BBC website is a world resource. Cutting the funding will destroy it. Making the BBC raise the money from commercial activities will destroy the public service ethos that makes it great. We need an organisation insulated from the demands of proprietors, one ready, willing and able to stand up for truth, justice, freedom and democracy.

"You only need to look at who leads the propaganda war: the Dingo-American press, New Labour and the Tories. The outcry against the BBC is not based on what small amount of money it may divert from the coffers of other media. It is squarely an attempt by the far right of British politics to suppress freedom of speech in this country."

What do you think? Email your feedback to editorial@silicon.com