02.16.09
Gemini version available ♊︎Does Microsoft Take Over the BBC from the Inside?
“We have 17.1 million users of bbc.co.uk in the UK and, as far as our server logs can make out, 5 per cent of those [use Macs] and around 400 to 600 are Linux users.”
–Ashley Highfield, BBC executive at the time (2007), now at Microsoft
THE PROBLEM with inside influence by Microsoft was noted here in the past using concrete examples, one of which was the BBC. For background:
- Why BBC is Microsoft Media (Video)
- Ashley Highfield to Finally Get Paid by His Masters
- Microsoft’s Grip on the BBC is Tightened
- Dear BBC, Shame on You
Here is the latest exhibit to be added an already large pile:
Industry Moves: Microsoft Online Chief Baylay Joins BBC After Highfield’s Arrival
[..]
There’s an irony in this latest turn of the revolving door between the two organisations – Baylay had been with Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) when former BBC/Kangaroo online chief Ashley Highfield was in November announced as MD and VP of Microsoft’s online and consumer business; her division merged with another. It also follows the earlier appointments of Erik Huggers and Jon Billings to the BBC’s future media team from Microsoft in 2007.
Glyn Moody remarks:
Why doesn’t Microsoft just take over the BBC and be done with it?
It’s truly shameful to see Microsoft conquering positions of influence not only in technology companies (here is a recent example) but also in media companies which control what people think and how they feel. Unlike media companies that Microsoft owns, controls or funds, the BBC is paid for by taxpayers, which makes this a lot more outrageous. It’s no wonder that the BBC is regularly accused of advertising Microsoft products and services rather than covering noteworthy events. █
“Ideally, use of the competing technology becomes associated with mental deficiency, as in, “he believes in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and OS/2.” Just keep rubbing it in, via the press, analysts, newsgroups, whatever. Make the complete failure of the competition’s technology part of the mythology of the computer industry. We want to place selection pressure on those companies and individuals that show a genetic weakness for competitors’ technologies, to make the industry increasingly resistant to such unhealthy strains, over time.”
–Microsoft, internal document [PDF]
ᶃ Gemini Space
This post is also available in 
Content is available under CC-BY-SA
amd-linux said,
February 17, 2009 at 1:47 am
Expect Silverlight-only content on the BBC sites soon.
Same like in Italy, (http://www.rai.tv, what a shame, nobody uses this public archive cause all Italians I know have no clue what Silverlight is), but in Italy, they do not need to implant remote controlled drones but can do their brainwash straight from the top via their influence on Berserkoni, sorry Berlusconi.
What a ridiculous easy world – implant some former employees and let them sell out the public interest to their former employer. A shame.
Karsten said,
February 17, 2009 at 5:42 am
I would love to see an Alan Curtis documentation about the history of Microsoft and then watch the internal fights about a screening.
Roy Schestowitz said,
February 17, 2009 at 6:06 am
Yes, Italy as well was screwed by the Silver Lie.
anonymous said,
February 17, 2009 at 9:46 am
the head of bbc fm&t, erik huggers is ex-microsoft and is no fan of ms technologies. he actually wanted to make everything java instead. he was convinced to back down cos most stuff is a mix of perl and java and java is so damn fat. gets development done real quick tho.
[you know who i am]
anonymous said,
February 17, 2009 at 9:48 am
and everyone here hates the contiki iplayer. the flash iplayer kicked its a*se every way you can think of. no one here takes silverlight seriously either.
Roy Schestowitz said,
February 17, 2009 at 9:52 am
I know just one person who lacks the SHIFT and CAPS Lock keys.
Jose_X said,
February 17, 2009 at 10:48 am
>> Why doesn’t Microsoft just take over the BBC and be done with it?
Things would be clearer to people. Gates and friends know the power of confusion and deception.
Roy Schestowitz said,
February 17, 2009 at 10:49 am
For similar reasons, Microsoft does not buy Novell (along with the big lawsuit). It can achieve so much more when there is the illusion of neutrality.