Channel 4 vs American idiocy

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The above photograph is from 2007. It shows the assassination of George W. Bush.

Of course, at the moment the photo it is merely a mock-up, created by Channel 4 for a new programme to be shown on More4, "Death of a President". They claim it is a "thought-provoking" rather than "sensationalist" documentary designed to look at Bush's foreign policy from a new angle. It is a typically controversial attempt to bolster the channel's ratings - More4 is funded by advertisements, and needs proof that people are watching to earn the most cash.

Here in Britain, we can dismiss such tactics. But in America, it's provided sensationalist extremist yanks with enough ammunition for another anti-British-establishment rant. Fox News, possibly the most biased of all news agencies reported the programme as being commissioned by "BBC Channel 4". American companies have threatened to boycott advertising their products on Channel 4 channels. Programme-sharing agreements look to be in doubt.

My view? At least wait until they've actually made the show first: here in the UK we like to think first, and then act. A technique the trigger-happy Fox News might like to consider.

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