OT: why were BBC archives deleted or destroyed?

[Jim web]

In article <00494D17-07F7-4D72-9BCC-664A988A53B8 at cantab.net>, Owen
Smith
<owen.smith at cantab.net> wrote:
> Plus nobody thought they were of any value. Before VHS, DVDs, selling
> radio series on cassette or whatever, and iPlayer, once something had
> been broadcast the only value it had was if the BBC wanted to repeat
> broadcast it. They couldn't see the future, and didn't have a "library"
> mindset.

IURC for many years the contracts with actors, etc, only allowed for a
single repeat broadcast. And in the early era of videotape, the tape was so
costly it was re-used for another programme. In addition a full archive
would have cost a lot of money that they spent on new programmes instead.

It seems short-sighted now, but the mindset then was that the actual
performances were 'ephemeral'. The assumption was that it wouldn't be of
interest. And if anyone wanted to see or hear them again, their could be a
new production.

Jim

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