Give Us the Money: TV and Confirmation Bias

The BBC decided to show one episode of David Attenborough's programme only on iPlayer, in case it irritated some folk, by pointing out the UK has a biodiversity problem (https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/10/david-attenborough-bbc-wild-isles-episode-rightwing-backlash-fears). The Corporation also have had a 'walk out' by most football (soccer) presenters, in support of Gary Lineker. Lineker was 'stood down' for expressing, on social media, his objections to the UK government's recent attacks on 'immigrants'. Other 'stars' have apparently been allowed to express their private views, when not in their BBC role (https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/12/what-is-the-bbcs-social-media-policy-and-what-does-it-mean-for-stars-like-lineker). The BBC's behaviour on these two issues seems to be directed by government/right wing media pressure. The Corporation now have senior Conservative Party appointments on their staff and appear desparate to avoid any attacks on their license fee income. The link beween money and TV output is even more graphically illustrated by the US Dominion (makers of voting machines) law suit against Fox 'News' (https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/08/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-what-we-know). Fox News have admitted they failed to tell the truth about the recent US Presidential election. They were worried they might lose subscribers to other providers, still pedalling the myth their viewers 'wanted' to believe. All these events seem linked to concerns about income. Programme providers are prepared to alter output/presenters as a result of political pressures. Making the content more acceptable to bigoted viewers, delivers neither news nor an appropriate understanding of issues. Just like most of social media, the BBC and Fox News seem to be attempting to pander to confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is the strong tendency of people to believe any 'information' that fits their established views and to reject/downplay anything that runs counter to this. We have the technology for creating an information 'golden age' but this is being deliberately distorted for cash.