They're still beating us, fellow secessionists! Despite the fact that England's current government is its most conservative in years, its legislation is still decades ahead of America's.
See, over there, they've got this wild idea that television programs should be different from commercials and vice versa. And they're going to put their regulations where their ideals are. Whodathunk!
The U.K. media minister has attacked product placement in TV shows and said he will not allow the practice on British broadcasters even though it has been approved by the European Union.
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Andy Burnham, secretary of state at the Dept. of Culture, Media and Sport since January, dropped his bombshell Wednesday in his first big policy speech on broadcasting.
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“As a viewer, I don’t want to feel the script has been written by the commercial marketing director,” he added. “British programming has an integrity that is revered around the world, and I don’t think we should put that hard-won reputation up for sale.”
Only time will tell how miserable Britons become when they can't find out what kind of soda their favorite sitcom characters drink.
Editor
No doubt it's going to be salty cod flavor soda.
Please note, though, Cord, that American TV is more than just hampered by consumerism. It's also hampered by lingering Puritanism. ;)
I just need to note the awesomeness that is Green Wing. That is all.
I love the BBC, and I love Andy Burnham.
That said, I hear Davros is coming back for Season 4 of the new Doctor Who. Theories, anyone?
That Guardian article makes me want to cry.
I adore British television - I watch "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares," "Doctor Who," "Torchwood," etc. obsessively.
To quote Catherine Tate, "Am I bovvered? Suis je bovvered?"
Catherine Tate is so great.
It took me a few times to watch that short and understand everything she said. I still have to rewind her sometimes. It's crazy. I love Brits, but sometimes they talk too fast, lol.
John Barrowman is possibly the sexiest man ever. And I love Little Britain, I don't care what anyone says.
doctor who is my favorite show. i can't wait until they bring rose back this season. rose was always my favorite doctor who girl.
So on English TV, the world isn't saved form catastrophes ranging from rogue tornado's to alien invasions by Mac computers while the hero's sync up satellites with there Sprint cell phones and drive Fords? I'm sorry, that just seems a littler far fetched to me.
All their programs sound like they have posh headcolds to me.
Please tell me that someone has seen that show with Sanjeev as the host! I can't remember the name of the show off the top of my head, but it's sort of like if Jay Leno were funny, Indian, and lived with his parents. I think it's called "The Kumars at Number 42", or something but I'm not sure. I love that show!
UK tv shows may not feature product placement but US shows are infinitely better. We have miserable, depressing soaps that turn brains into mus and predictable, unexciting dramas. We've got some great home-grown comedy shows but the only English shows I've watched this year are "Ashes to Ashes" and "Doctor Who. Admittedly the latter is a good genre show but it isn't a patch on shows like "Lost", "Heroes", "Battlestar" and my all time favourite "Buffy". Give me "CSI", "24", "Prison Break" any day, I like TV that requires me to use my brain!
@stitchgirl: don't forget veronica mars, boston legal, firefly…
but I also like lots of the british comedies…
abs fab, coupling, RUBY WAX!!!, ali g., black adder…
love them!!
British TV is SO much better, I can hear f*ck anytime after 10pm; on network TV.
The comedy is intelligent and Big Brother streams almost 24 hours a day.