David Puttnam: ‘If Rupert Murdoch Could Turn Sky News Into Fox News He Would’

COMMENTS (8)

• “Before Puttnam gets carried away, it’s worth remembering that there are regulatory controls in place to ensure impartiality in UK TV news coverage.”

  And of course regulators are never unduly influenced by corporate money or political agendas, right? And of course, what happened in the U.S. in the past thirty years in neutering American democracy could not in any way serve as a blueprint for unduly influencing democracy in other countries, right? I mean if that were an actual goal, which of course it couldn’t possibly be. And a search on LexisNexis couldn’t possibly turn up quotes, interviews, and speeches in which Murdoch and his son have actually admitted that they want to change British television in the same way they did American television, right? Hmm…

  Comment by jasralan — Wednesday, 22 September 2010 17:34 UK  Reply to this post

• In this day and age, manipulating the masses to that extent is no easy task. This level of paranoia is indicative of an obsolete school of thinking, and the view is condescending to the public: this gentleman clearly does not believe in its ability to draw its own conclusions, and make its own choices. Besides, BSkyB is effectively controlled by News Corp anyway — the additional stake won’t offer that much more leverage in editorial content; this is clearly a financial play for a company that believes the acquisition will be EBITDA and earnings-accretive.

  Comment by Ull — Wednesday, 22 September 2010 17:41 UK  Reply to this post

• Absolutely right jasralan.

  “Before Puttnam gets carried away, it’s worth remembering that there are regulatory controls in place to ensure impartiality in UK TV news coverage.”

  Gee, that will stop Murdoch or anybody when they TAKE OVER.

  Come on Tim, you can mention the regulatory controls but leave out “carried away, it’s worth remembering,” because it’s not worth remembering; a 12 year old would assume there are rules and regulations.

  Comment by yessir — Wednesday, 22 September 2010 18:36 UK  Reply to this post

• Sir David Puttnam predicted our recent US financial disaster in a series of PBS interviews with Bill Moyers overs 25 years ago. He based it on our self centered individualism and greed in our culture. He challenged filmmakers to be better. David always confessed to very strong opinions but also a sense of fairness & social responsibility. As you can tell, I admire his passion to expose and educate.

  Comment by Daniel Lange — Wednesday, 22 September 2010 19:14 UK  Reply to this post

  • except he’s not educating, he’s carrying the torch for his own ideological hobgoblins, and you’re ignorantly parroting him

    in reality it is scale and complexity that is at the heart of our problems, but as you slaver like a moron for an enemy to bash, you’ve missed this

    Comment by Waiting for the collapse — Friday, 24 September 2010 05:52 UK  Reply to this post

• I think the previous two responses is a clear example that Mr Murdoch employs a lot of people to do his bidding for him. And when he does not, he can influence a lot more to do the same for free. David Puttnam is no innocent flower-child, no matter the smarmy spin against him, that will surely be coming. An independent producer with studio president experience in the U.S. and in the U.K., he knows the business inside and out. Unlike Mr Murdoch’s employees, he has little to gain financially to grab headlines with statements he would not be able to back up. I am glad he continues to have the balls to face the corporate villains, wherever they are.

  Comment by martin — Wednesday, 22 September 2010 21:57 UK  Reply to this post

• *ROTFLMAO* Suck failure, loser.

  > Before Puttnam gets carried away, it’s worth remembering that there are
  > regulatory controls in place to ensure impartiality in UK TV news coverage.

  Yea, like the BBC which recently admitted they were biased for the past century of so? Good thing the Gov was watching out for you.

  Only the foolish believe that the Government can make anything “fair.”

  As for Martin, you are typical of the elitist liberals who USED to control the media. Get used to it. No one but your ‘fellow travelers’ are buying your b.s.

  Daniel, Lange DID NOT predict anything. He pontificated on a subject of which he is clueless. It’s the government that has caused the current crises. You may have heard of a few of the problem children: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, S.E.C., H.U.D., The Fed, Social Security, Medicare, etc…

  Government IS the problem.

  Comment by Mark — Thursday, 23 September 2010 12:53 UK  Reply to this post

  • Mark, sometimes i wish we could separate a section of this country off for you and your ilk so you can finally live the way you wish – with no government interference. we can come over and exploit all your people and resources cause you’ll have no regulations about stuff like that. it will be great. the seniors and kids begging on the streets might be a bit offputting, but people cope with that when they visit india already. the majority of you will have medical problems and be illiterate too since you won’t have public education, but as long as a 1% of you can claw your way to riches, who cares about anyone else, right? your economy will be just like that of mexico. just don’t try sneaking back over the border cause we’re building a BIG wall.

    Comment by Anonymous — Saturday, 25 September 2010 15:42 UK  Reply to this post