BBC Parliament

Hello!
I've to rate the UK Parliament TV. It would be of great help to me, if you could take part in my poll.

Thanks for Helping.

Greets ASPaula

Why?

I'm studying applied computer science in Germany. I have to compare the Parliament TV from Germany with this from UK, USA and Canada. (I think it's because the Parliament TV in germany is not as best it could.)

Is it okay to post this here?

(Sorry for my english)

I don't see why not.

I only ever watch it if there's nothing else on. Mostly during Scottish issues (a lot of things are England and Wales-only.)

The only time I watched it for longer than 3 seconds was when there was a Welsh Assembley debate about the future of Public Service Broadcasting in Wales, otherwise I don't watch it. It can be a useful resource to some people, though it has a very low audience, especially considering it broadcasts at 1/4 screen size on DTT (Freeview).

Plus how did the BBC get lumbered with the channel? I remember there was The Parliamentary Channel which was on Cable, but that disappeared in the Summer recess of 1998 and was replaced with BBC Parliament when the Party Confrences started that Autumn.

@steve
Did something changed in channel's scheme as a result of this replacement?
(Was it better before changing? It sounds so... )

AIUI no, it's entirely the same thing, just looped coverage of Parliament and the Lords, just after TPC closed the BBC took over the channel. Though since the BBC took over the channel, little is done to promote it, but I don't see that as a problem as the fair majority of people aren't interested in watching Parliament.

There's a little bit of information about broadcasting the UK Parliament in this Parliamentary factsheet.

BBC Parliament is very much a public service channel; it's not really there for the ratings, and is run on a shoestring. It's also a little unusual in that it's not really produced by the BBC, but by Millbank Studios, on a different floor of 4 Millbank. Most of the editorial staff are employed by the BBC now, but Millbank Studios is owned by ITV plc. (I have a friend who worked there for a while as a captioner; her payslip came from ITV Yorkshire. She can also identify most of the Lords on sight.)

As for whether I watch it? Very rarely. If there's a big debate on, then it'll often be carried by News 24 or Sky News, and to be frank, a lot of the time debates in Parliament aren't the most exciting things in the world. It can be good for watching Prime Minister's Questions with a minimum of screen junk, though.

I do love it - I get into even the most mundane of debates. I just can't watch it on DTT. Even when I do find the fraction of the screen it occupies.

If you add a 'Rarely' to the poll I'd vote it - I don't watch it even once a month, but I watch it more than never (when I see somethign that interests me - Digital Switch-off or Global Warming related)

The BBC didn't get lumbered with it, they wanted it for PSB reasons.

Hello!!

Thanks a lot for your answers and voting.
Are there specific reasons why you (don't) watch BBC Parliament?

Many Thanks!