New Alternative News Channel "GB News" chaired by Andrew Neil launching - read OP before posting

generic_throwaway · 15-09-2021 12:31am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117891078#Comment_117891078

You seem to have found a contradiction there somehow? Progressive views become conservative views once established, just as you point out. Where is the contradiction?

Mad_maxx · 15-09-2021 8:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117892874#Comment_117892874

Surely that would mean support for gay marriage is then a conservative view ?

El_Duderino 09 · 15-09-2021 8:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893206#Comment_117893206

They have stopped making an issue out of it. That's much is clear. Whether they think equal treatment for guys is a good thing is a different matter, but they don't campaign on getting rid of gay marriage or anything like that.

Trans skepticism is all the rage now instead so they still get to have their moral panic issues.

Mad_maxx · 15-09-2021 10:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893227#Comment_117893227

I'm trying to get clarity on what Generic said.

If support for gay marriage is now a conservative position?

Rawr · 15-09-2021 10:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117890862#Comment_117890862

I'd be inclined to agree with your statement that GB News probably won't last the year, especially with Andrew Neil officially out. Unless they get the likes of Piers Morgen on there, the entire channel will lean on Farage, which is a crap situation for any organisation to find itself in, let alone a TV Channel.

My guess is that at some point during November or December the channel will be reduced to a placeholder screen image for a couple of a days before closure, or maybe even one morning the GB News' viewer will get up, expect to switch on "The Great British Breakfast" and find that the channel is just suddenly gone from their encoder list.

ancapailldorcha · 15-09-2021 10:36am

I see two major problems with the Piers Morgan argument.

Firstly, he's not about to just jump onto a clearly sinking ship which is haemorrhaging staff. Even if he was, he wouldn't come cheap and would probably have a lot of demands for autonomy and creative control over any programme he'd be inclined to present.

Secondly, things like BBC Breakfast and Good Morning Britain seem like the sorts of shows with dedicated viewerbases, even if it's just on for background noise. People aren't just going to switch to GB News for this.

I agree with @listermint in that it seems unlikely that the channel will see out the year.

Quin_Dub · 15-09-2021 10:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893628#Comment_117893628

It seems to me that some are conflating "Conservative" with "Mainstream".

Yes , technically speaking Conservative means resistance to change and a preference for status quo or perhaps even stasis.

There are lots of things that were once considered fringe or "outside the norm" that are now normalised and considered typical mainstream viewpoints.

That's always been the way - Whether we are talking about Womens Suffrage 100+ years ago or Gay Marriage in recent times.

It doesn't mean that support those things is now "Conservative" it just means that they have become normalised and mainstream so they are no longer points of friction/disagreement politically.

L1011 · 15-09-2021 10:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893663#Comment_117893663

Morgan is almost certainly waiting to see what NewsUK does with its internet video service (using the existing papers and radio stations for the bulk of the content); as that would be a vastly more secure job.

Mad_maxx · 15-09-2021 11:00am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893778#Comment_117893778

Good post

Progressives are the establishment nowadays, now I know that's not the same thing as mainstream but it is what sets the tone

pixelburp · 15-09-2021 11:02am

Purely from a pragmatic point of view, it's debatable how much of the War Chest is left at GB News that they could even afford Morgan in the first place.

I doubt Farage is working to scale, to borrow the phrase from Hollywood; indeed I bet he's by far the stations highest earner and depleting funds rapidly. Equally, the calibre of guests speaks to an inability to write large cheques for more prominent faces. Obviously reputation is a factor, but that smell is often easily masked by money.

Piers Morgan doesn't need the exposure though, or the heat after he arguably pushed things too far with his public bitterness that Megan Markle ghosted him. He and Farage are both total c*nts of the highest order but Morgan has more clout and connections. He has built himself a career within the mainstream media umbrella - unlike Farage who has revelled under the banner of the performative outsider act. Morgan has more to lose,

generic_throwaway · 15-09-2021 11:14am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117887696#Comment_117887696

He is. Anti-immigrant people in the UK aren't preoccuppied with Gypsies, they want rid of all the Eastern Europeans, folks with dark skin, Muslims - basically all Johnny Foreigners who don't win Olympic medals or Grand Slam tournaments under a British flag.

Quin_Dub · 15-09-2021 11:15am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893688#Comment_117893688

Agreed - Not a snowballs chance in hell that Piers Morgan joins GB News now.

It was beyond slim before they started , but now with everything that has happened it's just not remotely realistic - There isn't enough money in the world that would make it worth his while.

I'd give GB News 6 Months or less as a 24/7 TV channel - As I said before I can see some kind of re-spin to shift to some sort of "Web TV" style thing to keep the tweets rolling , but they can't sustain a 24/7 broadcast channel when all they really have to offer is 4 hours a week of Farage that people might be interested in - And I suspect that even his numbers will start to decline as people get bored of the same old shtick.

generic_throwaway · 15-09-2021 11:18am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893206#Comment_117893206

Once it becomes an accepted social norm, yes it would be. I think you need to investigate what 'conservative' actually means.

Catholic priests used to be able to marry. Then the rules changed so that they could not. People in favour of married priests 1000 years ago were conservative.

Mad_maxx · 15-09-2021 11:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893884#Comment_117893884

Whether most people misinterprete the true meaning of the word is irrelevant, the common understanding is what counts in practice

ancapailldorcha · 15-09-2021 11:41am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893863#Comment_117893863

There's generally a hierarchy of hatred for fulminating bigots. Top of the tree at the moment are Muslims and trans folk. If the news lulls on that front for a bit, the rest of the foreigners, the homeless, drug addicts and so on might get a look in. I remember when we had GB News defenders here alleging with no evidence that working class people are lazy. It never takes long.

generic_throwaway · 15-09-2021 11:41am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117893948#Comment_117893948

Right, and the common understanding of 'conservative' is wanting to conserve things as they are. Resistance to change.

Muahahaha · 15-09-2021 12:48pm

Looks like they are going full blown Brexiteer with Farages mates being set up for recruitment to the channel

GB News is looking to hire more of Nigel Farage’s former Brexit party stablemates as channel bosses look set to rebuild the station as a full-throated culture war outlet after the departure of Andrew Neil. Neil finally confirmed he would be stepping down as chairman and lead presenter on Monday night, just three months after he helped launch the channel and having presented only eight of the 52 episodes of his flagship show. His announcement, which came after weeks of rumours of Neil’s discontentment, has left many of the station’s staff pondering their future.

Instead, GB News appears to be increasingly being moulded in Farage’s image. Sources at GB News told the Guardian that station bosses have been in discussion with Gawain Towler, the former Brexit party head of press and longtime Farage aide, about joining the business. Other potential new presenters include Ann Widdecombe and Martin Daubney, both former Brexit party MEPs.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/14/farage-factor-gb-news-eyes-brexit-party-associates

Its also been reported that the CEO Frangopopulous (formely of Sky News Australia) intends to push the Ofcom regulations to the limit. This is becasue their research has found when they have guests on with a left wing slant to provide balance the audience goes mad and switches off.

One concern among some GB News producers is the reduction in airtime given to leftwing guests who were put on air to balance discussions. Sources claim channel bosses are increasingly confident they are able to push the limits of what is possible under Ofcom’s broadcasting rules and reduce the airtime for such individuals, who often elicit negative reactions from viewers.

One of the most popular topics raised by viewers is anti-vaccine material, with chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos urging staff to check their inbox for a sense of what the audience cares about.

So the audience is demanding a right wing echo chamber and GB News are going to deliver it even if they risk censure from Ofcom

L1011 · 16-09-2021 1:26pm

https://www.news.co.uk/2021/09/news-uk-to-launch-new-channel-talktv/

This is likely to drain the remaining sane presenters from GBNews and is going to have a vastly lower cost base as its an existing media operation and is basically already running just without dedicated shows as it is.

Wasn't expecting it to go on conventional TV (satellite/cable) but it says it will.

This channel is likely to be quite right wing but not as handstand as GBeebies as they've got more to lose by irritating Ofcom (existing broadcast licences)

Final nail in coffin.

Penn · 16-09-2021 1:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899243#Comment_117899243

I wouldn't be surprised if Piers Morgan joined. Apparantly he's teased he does have a new job in the pipeline and is looking for a new "TV wife" (*shudder*) like Susannah Fielding who he worked with on Good Morning Britain.

But yeah, hard to see how GB News could keep going based on this.

ohnonotgmail · 16-09-2021 1:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899267#Comment_117899267

he would be a much better fit with the presenters announced for this channel than he would be with Farage

L1011 · 16-09-2021 2:19pm

Morgan confirmed, to broadcast on this and simulcast on Fox and Sky News Australia.

GBeebies may as well go off-air now.

ancapailldorcha · 16-09-2021 2:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899243#Comment_117899243

Is it only going to stream at certain times or constantly? If the latter then the only advantage I can see is circumventing Ofcom.

L1011 · 16-09-2021 2:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899541#Comment_117899541

Its going to be a conventional TV channel after all (they said it wasn't going to be) so it has to meet Ofcom rules.

It already basically exists as video from the studios, so the kit, cameras, etc is there and working

Rawr · 16-09-2021 2:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899584#Comment_117899584

Ha....that whole NewsUK server went all 503...could be temporary (or just me) but interesting timing...

I wonder if they'll likely face a similar issue with regards to advert revenue. Also....are the Ofcom rules even being enforced lately? Hasn't Johnson been trying to get Daily Mail editors in there to run it? I don't get the impression that they'd been too pushed stop the likes of GB News.

Penn · 16-09-2021 2:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899778#Comment_117899778

Unlikely they'll have any funding issues. It's Murdoch. He'll have all the Fox/Sky money easily propping it up.

ancapailldorcha · 16-09-2021 3:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899778#Comment_117899778

He tried to get Paul Dacre through but it was blocked.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899822#Comment_117899822

True but I'm not seeing an obvious source of revenue. It's the same problem that GB News has. There's just too much expense for something that people won't pay for. Murdoch certainly as deeper pockets but he'll be expecting results.

ohnonotgmail · 16-09-2021 3:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899877#Comment_117899877

It is an adjunct to its existing programming so the costs should be a lot lower than for GBeebies.

ancapailldorcha · 16-09-2021 3:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899899#Comment_117899899

That's the key difference. It still won't be viable just the same as Sky News and BBC News aren't by themselves. TV News in any form is just lingering to be honest. I like the TLDR News channel on Youtube. They make short explainers of recent events and stories using colourful graphics. It's got excellent production values and doesn't need much in the way of staff. I think that's the future.

L1011 · 16-09-2021 3:31pm

TLDR News would have nothing to actually write about without journalists at other publications, though.

breezy1985 · 16-09-2021 3:35pm

I was kinda hoping Morgan would join the Shtshow that is GBeebies. This other channel actually seems like it might be a proper well run thing which is a bad sign

Weepsie · 16-09-2021 3:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117899267#Comment_117899267

Susanna Fielding is the actress who plays Alan Partridge's Co-Presneter. Susanna Reid who looked like she detested Morgan, was his co-presenter. Both are too good for Piers

ancapailldorcha · 16-09-2021 3:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117900022#Comment_117900022

I didn't claim that it would.

Penn · 16-09-2021 3:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117900109#Comment_117900109

Sorry, yes. One is co-presenter to an annoying, egotistical, attention-seeker who is usually his own worst enemy, and the other is on a comedy show with Steve Coogan.

The Raging Bile Duct · 16-09-2021 5:04pm

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/16/piers-morgan-hired-to-launch-rupert-murdoch-tv-station-talktv?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1631799961

So Piers Morgan officially joins TalkTV. Can't see GB News surviving the launch of this.

Weepsie · 16-09-2021 5:12pm

I wonder if he'll hack into a dead child's voicemail again.

Larbre34 · 16-09-2021 5:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117900460#Comment_117900460

No it'll surely be the final nail. Say what you want about Murdoch, but the existing portfolio that Talk TV will build on is very experienced and professionally produced - TalkSport is superb - makes GBeeBees look like a TY media project, with no offence to TY students meant.

pixelburp · 16-09-2021 5:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117900495#Comment_117900495

It can be remarkable to think just how big of a c*nt Morgan is. And an intentional one at that, one who seems unrepentant for his behaviour - perhaps even proud. When those opine that there are those that fail upward, Morgan has to be one of those.

Quin_Dub · 16-09-2021 5:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117900521#Comment_117900521

Your post reminded me of something attributed to Stephen Fry.

Many years ago he was appearing on a Radio comedy panel show in the UK

The panel were asked to define the word "Countryside"

The Legendary response from Fry was , "Countryside - The Murder of Piers Morgan"

ben.schlomo · 16-09-2021 11:46pm

Andrew Neil on Question Time now. Explaining his reasons for leaving GB News, difference in views between him and the company and the direction they've taken.

AllForIt · 17-09-2021 12:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117900460#Comment_117900460

Well well well. So Morgan does think there IS a market for what GBNews is offering. Apparently Murdoch and Rebecca Brooks had plans for such a channel but GBnews got in there first. So whatever the financial failings of GBNews, it looks like it doesn't really matter whether GBNews goes under or not, because there are powerful people who think they can make a real go of it. Clearly Morgan thinks so too and as mentioned here he was never going to sign up to GBNews if he didn't think his job would be secure accompanied by a big weekly pay check. Murdoch was always his best bet.

The war on woke and cancel culture has begun. Haha. It ain't going anywhere even if GBNews sinks. Seriously though, I always sensed that those who are pro woke cancel culture thought that if GBNews sinks, that would be the end of it. This is staying and ain't going away anytime soon.

Oh, one other thing, the idea that what GBNews offers is directed at older uneducated conservatives is clearly wishful thinking. I'd hardly think Darren Grimes, Tom Harwood, Calvin Robinson or Dan Wooton, etc, are particularity old. You always hear this argument that conservatives are going to die off, which is palpable nonsense. One is entitled to live in hope, wouldn't take that away from youz. It's not like dyed in the wool socialists ever die off either.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 17-09-2021 8:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902109#Comment_117902109

Question is, will they avoid the same mistakes as GB News?

breezy1985 · 17-09-2021 8:47am

Ah so now GBnews will never be a failure because a different station is starting up that may be similar so we were all wrong

17-09-2021 9:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117900495#Comment_117900495

loathe as I am to pick up for Piers Morgan, but the News of the World hacked Milly Dowler's phone 7 years after he stopped working for them.

There's plenty to criticise Morgan for without blaming him for stuff he didn't do.

ohnonotgmail · 17-09-2021 9:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902532#Comment_117902532

He was editor of the Mirror while its journalists were hacking phone. He knew it was going on and turned a blind eye.

17-09-2021 9:27am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902547#Comment_117902547

And he should be criticised for that. But his paper weren't responsible for hacking into Milly Dowler's phone which is what was alluded to in the post i quoted.

awec · 17-09-2021 9:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902109#Comment_117902109

Grimes, Harwood, Robinson and Wooton are genuine simpletons. Empty shirts. People of no consequence. If they are the beacons of conservatism then nobody has anything to worry about.

ancapailldorcha · 17-09-2021 10:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902446#Comment_117902446

I get the impression that there's a sense of decadence pervading the modern right. The left talk about things like income inequality and climate change, both of which are serious global issues requiring urgent action whereas the right would rather obsess over pronouns or some woman's dress at a gala or whatever. I wonder if the Roman elite obsessed over silly nonsense like this while the empire was disintegrating.

ohnonotgmail · 17-09-2021 10:24am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902814#Comment_117902814

"Bread and circuses" would suggest they did.

ancapailldorcha · 17-09-2021 10:42am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902671#Comment_117902671

I've tried to think of a single right wing commentator worth listening to and I just can't. Best I can do is Jordan Peterson, a man so insincere and disingenuous that nothing he says outside of his weird obsession with lobsters sounds like anything he honestly believes.

pixelburp · 17-09-2021 10:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902814#Comment_117902814

Heck. Who needs ancient Rome; in a living lifetime, we have seen video games, "video nasties", rap music, rock music, LSD, the hippy movement, long hair and sundry other Western social or cultural changes declared the downfall of civilisation. These changes have now moved into expressions of personhood, the final frontier in many respects; and so the wheel turns towards outrage at a basic acknowledgement of the complexity of gender.

For the record and the sake of honesty, I think "xyr" is a woeful, linguistically ugly word (especially in a language that already has a genderless pronoun), but if it gives non-binary folk some humanity, self-determination and dignity - I don't care. No skin off my nose; as I said there are so many more things to worry about.

And like homophobia of times past masking a LGBTQ truth, I also just presume many of the outraged are simply, secretly attracted to these non-cis figures, and are externalising their insecurities. It immediately answers a lot via The Lady Doth Protest Too Much logic 🙂

New Alternative News Channel "GB News" chaired by Andrew Neil launching - read OP before posting

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