Wow, not only the closure of BBC 6 music but also BBC Switch and Blast services. The BBC should acknowledge Teens and Twentysomethings. It’s a big market and also represents the early license fee payer, these demographics will refuse to start paying for a broadcaster who doesn’t acknowledge them, and BBC 3 doesn’t count (It’s original programming is just awful). Another interesting point is the decision to axe BBC magazines, one of the country’s largest publishers, I’m sure Conde Nast are celebrating.

Today the Times published a “leak” from the BBC. The report confirmed major cuts (as expected) to many of their services, most of which have only been around for 5-10 years. When the BBC had it’s digital spasam 8 years ago we were promised TV where we could choose which seat in the stadium we could watch the footy from and visual radio so amazing it would blow our minds. With just two years to go before the digital switchover some of their digital experiments have worked and some haven’t. Here are some of my highlights from the digital spasm and the elements that should be put to sleep to save the success of BBC 6 Music and it’s other web properties that are also up for the chop.

Highlights:

• - The BBC News Website
• - Complementary web experiences to TV programmes
• - Learning, Knowledge and Lifestyle sites
• - iPlayer catchup for TV programmes
• - BBC Four
• - BBC Parliament (although underused this country needs a CSPAN)
• - Multiple streams available via Red Button for big events
• - BBC 6 Music and “Introducing” (Should be internet only, but it provides a valuable service to the discovery of new music genres and artists)

To be put to sleep:

• - BBC Three (due to the nature of the way the BBC is run, you cannot force new and unique comedy/entertainment just by splitting up a rather small budget anyway and then go ahead and commission every idea. Quantity not Quality seems to be the motto here. Older audiences are offended by it’s output and younger audiences think it’s lame so let’s just give up…please).
• - The Red Button (It’s slow and difficult to navigate, worth waiting for when accessing multiple video streams, but for text and other interaction it’s not worth the wait. Just go online instead.)
• - Broadcasting via DAB (The internet offers a greater experience, is far cheaper and is more accessible than DAB)
• - Mobile (I’m not aware of anyone using BBC mobile services, they currently do not seem to add value versus the cost of supporting them)

So why cut BBC 6 Music? I think there are many more useless and far more weighty services that could be cut. Like the BBC being on DAB at all. Looking from a brand perspective, BBC 6 Music cuts a cord with the “skins” watching audience that BBC Three and Switch craves for, it was building quite a following.

Obviously there are far more elements in play, but I thought I would add this quick comment the day the music died.

During our annual meeting with the Kauffman Global Scholars at St. Pancras international, George met with Peter Jones, chairman of Enterprise UK and star of the BBC’s Dragons’ Den.

Peter learned about our experience of entrepreneurship education in the United States as he prepared to launch his own entrepreneurship academy in London.  He was very interested to hear our thoughts on what could be improved in the UK to change the general pessimistic attitude that young entrepreneurs experience day to day. Peter informed us that moods are changing in young people, as a recent survey of 14-year-olds’ dream jobs puts ‘entrepreneur’ on top, beating ‘celebrity’ which was number one the previous year.

The meeting was part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009, where GH Media provided a global news room at www.unleashingideas.org.

Looking forward to the next generation - but for now let’s not call it a “new class of device”

After the initial rage from Apple fan boys let’s take a step back and look at the big picture… this is only the beginning… the web’s resident internet visionary Stephen Fry has thought it through…

“I know there will be many who have already taken one look and pronounced it to be nothing but a large iPhone and something of a disappointment. I have heard these voices before. In June 2007 when the iPhone was launched I collected a long list of “not impressed”, “meh”, “big deal”, “style over substance”, “it’s all hype”, “my HTC TyTN can do more”, “what a disappointment”, “majorly underwhelmed” and similar reactions. They can hug to themselves the excuse that the first release of iPhone was 2G, closed to developers and without GPS, cut and paste and many other features that have since been incorporated. Neither they, nor I, nor anyone, predicted the “game-changing” effect the phone would so rapidly have as it evolved into a 3G, third-party app rich, compass and GPS enabled market leader. Even if it had proved a commercial and business disaster instead of an astounding success, iPhone would remain the most significant release of its generation because of its effect on the smartphone habitat.” Read More

When developers start demanding multi-tasking, wireless syncing/integration with Mac OSX computers and pro applications, we will see a device that will be useful, convenient and soon we will not be able to live without.

So let’s all take a chill pill, sit back and wait for the 2nd generation. Unless you’re a freelance/small developer, then it’s worth getting into this now, while they fix it. As we learnt with the iPhone the early app developer catches the audience.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has filmed a message including GH Media’s 3D video ident supporting GEW and applauding all those involved around the world.

“The Obama Administration is dedicated to boosting entrepreneurship both in the United States and other countries, where talent is widespread, but opportunity often is not… We can’t afford to leave out anyone who has an idea, a dream, an invention or innovation, and the desire to work hard to make that a reality.”

Clinton joins government officials from around the world in supporting GEW, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.