BBC is a broadcast operation in Britain.

Just because it appears on cable in the US doesn't make it "cable news."

At least know what you're dissing before making your snarky comments.

That double-take was priceless!

Where did we identify the Beeb as a "cable news"? We compared the cabbie's performance to a cable news stuffed shirt. Trust us, we know it's not a U.S. cable channel -- they talk too damn funny!

The clip is from the BBC's 24-hour news channel.

Apparently, he's not a cabbie.

http://www.newswireless.net/index.cfm/article/2708

Video Dog:

What else might be the meaning of your subhead:

"A cabbie gets on the BBC to talk technology, proving what you already suspected about cable news"

...other than "here's an example of cable news"?

If this wasn't your intent, then "...proving what you already suspected about shag carpeting" would work just as well, as would, "...about diet sodas," "...comfy armchairs," and any other non-sequitur.

Either you were "proving" a shortcoming of cable news, or you weren't. The subhead says you were, and my response was that the channel in question was broadcast, not cable, in Britain.

In any event, didn't Norman Minnow and Marshall McLuhan pretty well sum-up the state of television generally, including news, sometime about 40 years ago? I realize that VD, as it were, is essentially a little fluff to go along with the theoretically more serious content here, but jeez, suggesting that television--broadcast or cable--appeals most often to the lowest common denominator isn't exactly taking you out on a limb.

I had not seen the deck to that piece -- I wrote the post, not the display copy for it. Still, it doesn't say "here's an example of cable news," and its point is correct: the cabbie's appearance underlines how easy to go on interview news shows and bluff your way through. The post makes that point pretty clearly. So. . . still not sure of what you're worked up about. (Also, it appeared on BBC's 24-hour news channel -- about as close an approximation to American cable news that you'll find.)

I read lots of McLuhan in college, too (we're both so smart!) but I promise: I'm genuinely not trying to replicate him in 30-word blog posts. I really just thought it was a great clip.

KL

The man is named Guy Goma and he is originally from the Congo. More details here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4774429.stm. Anyway, the newspapers here in the UK have had a field day tweaking the BBC over the mix up.