Sky News vs. BBC: how "bad" is Sky ?

[steve2470]

http://news.sky.com/watch-live

I've been watching Sky News, and compared to FauxNews in the USA, it doesn't seem.....as bad. How do Brits like it ? Is it the UK's version of FauxNews ? Thanks!

Steve

P.S. Many good wishes with the new configuration in Parliament!

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. I rarely watch it, but it's certainly nothing like as biased as Fox or Murdoch's papers

There is a 'fairness doctrine' equivalent for UK news broadcasters which Sky has to follow.

Technically, Murdoch is not the full owner of Sky (the current company is the product of Murdoch's first satellite broadcaster taking over its competitor) at the moment, though he is trying to get regulatory permission to take complete control of it. In fact, just from today:

"Theresa May may have held on to her position as prime minister, but the loss of her majority could complicate Rupert Murdoch’s chances of taking control of the rest of British broadcaster Sky, analysts warned on Friday.

Fox’s £11.7bn bid has provoked opposition from campaigners and politicians who believe that the Murdoch family, which controls Fox, are not “fit and proper” holders of a UK broadcast licence, and Communications watchdog Ofcom is due to give a recommendation on whether the deal should go ahead on June 20.

Polo Tang, head of European telecom research at UBS, said a large Conservative majority would have made it “more straightforward to approve the deal relatively quickly”.

Mr Tang said he still expects the the bid will eventually be approved, but said “the risks around an extended review have increased with potential for the deal to go to an in depth review with the CMA or lengthy discussions with the Secretary of State over remedies/undertakings”."

https://www.ft.com/content/809f936e-b2d3-33c1-8f07-2b894542921b

From a few days ago:

"Ofcom is conducting an in-depth review of the effect full Fox control could have on Sky and the British media. The Murdoch family’s television and film holding company currently owns 39pc of Britain’s biggest pay-TV operator.

The review includes a public interest assessment of Fox’s record on broadcasting standards. Ofcom is also looking at how full Murdoch ownership of Sky could reduce media plurality. Fox has argued that Sky’s good record of compliance with on-air rules and the rise of the internet mean there should be no objections on these grounds.

In a separate but parallel review, the family’s fitness and propriety as media owners is also under the microscope.

As part of the fitness and propriety work it is understood that Ofcom has sought detailed information and discussion on the ongoing sexual harassment scandal at Fox News, the right-wing US cable channel. Regulators are said to be interested both in allegations and the Murdoch response to them."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/05/31/murdoch-brothers-hold-talks-ofcom-117bn-sky-takeover/

[steve2470]

2. thanks for the great information!

I'm watching Sky right now, and they do seem to strive towards neutrality. It does seem that Sky reporters and the BBC are gobsmacked on how well Mr. Corbyn and Labour did.

[Denzil_DC]

3. Sky News has its moments!

Link to tweet

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JOE.co.uk ✔ @JOE_co_uk

Absolutely no prisoners taken http://bit.ly/2t5R1Ai

WATCH: Kay Burley absolutely skewers Tory MP with mother of all questions about DUP

".... what first attracted you to the anti-abortion, pro-brexit, climate change deniers that are the DUP?"

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Burley doesn't give one inch after that, and this is the best post-election interview (more an argument, really) I've seen.

The MP replied that there was no way the Tories were going to form a coalition with the DUP.

As I write, a government minister is desperately trying to negotiate a coalition with the DUP.

[steve2470]

4. during the Brexit referendum, did BBC or Sky call out obvious lies ?

It's my understanding that the Leave campaign engaged in obvious lies. Thanks in advance!

[Denzil_DC]

5. Well, they have only so many hours in the day!

I'm probably the worst person to ask as I barely ever watch TV news nowadays, I get my news elsewhere (I should probably watch it more to see what others are exposed to, but I find it generally unbearable, and often out of date where it comes to US political news).

[mwooldri]

6. Sky is considered more "right wing"... but you can't compare to Fox.

The talking heads are missing. More hard news, all the time. Obligated not to have a political slant, but certainly more favoured by the Conservatives.

My concern is how the heck did RT manage to get a 24/7 slot on Freeview (the UK's digital terrestrial TV system)? A choice of BBC News, Sky News or RT...