Paraffin

BBC DG Tim Davie has delivered a big speech at the Royal Television Society, and it's worth a read. 

He managed to use 'jeopardy' only once (as written), which is an improvement, but I think he's wrong on one big point: "A switch off of broadcast will and should happen over time, and we should be active in planning for it."

I'm convinced democracy, governments and open societies need to maintain broadcast services, for communication in times of threat and national disaster. The 'internet' is too vulnerable to bad actors, at national and individual level, and war and disaster are still real possibilities over the years ahead. Within the past year, the BBC has reactivated short-wave transmissions to connect with oppressed minorities. 

And though we're talking about a change of platform and delivery rather than content, there's room for legacy in delivery. Radio didn't kill newspapers; TV didn't killed radio; and IP shouldn't kill broadcast.  Have a think, Tim. Have you got candles and a paraffin heater ?