Why the BBC is Right Not to Show the Gaza Appeal

Forget editorial policy and moral high ground, the BBC cannot show the DEC Gaza appeal.

The reason is simple, the BBC broadcast to the middle east on television and radio. ITV and Channels 4 and 5 do not. The BBC is respected in Gaza and Israel as a reliable news source and is widely watched and listened to. It cannot be seen to take sides on this issue, whether or not they would be by showing the appeal.

The BBC World Service is funded by grant-in-aid from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, so there are implications with foreign policy as well. BBC World News (the BBC's international news television channel) is funded by local commercials, those advertisers in the middle east won't want to be associated with the appeal, even though it might only be shown in the UK.

ITV, Channel 4 and Five do not have such a problem. They are exclusively domestic broadcasters and all three outsource their national and international news provision to outside companies (ITV and Channel 4 to ITN, and Five to Sky News). Advertisers in the UK cannot influence programmes by law, and the British public know this.

This in mind, to the same extent that the BBC are right not to show the appeal, the independent broadcasters are right to show the appeal.

JR

UPDATE: Sky News have also declined to show the appeal. Following the logic above, Sky are also right to take this decision as they also broadcast to the middle east.