Never mind the BBC ... feel the EBC

Well, they've got the flag, the motto, the anthem and they've paved the way for the army, or at least for a Brussels ceremonial guard in Ruritanian uniforms. One just knew somehow that it wouldn't be long before the Federation airline and the Federation broadcaster came along. 

Yes, the European Broadcasting Corporation was let down the slipway this week by Der Spiegel. A 24-language, full colour HD pan-Europe broadcast service via both analogue and DVB-T transmission

• To be funded by the EU directly and by a 5% levy on turnover imposed on Facebook, Google and Twitter
• Facebook & Google (You Tube) also to be forced by law to transmit EBC content for 5% of their output
• None or limited advertising

Finally, we are promised third-rate programmes from sources not good enough to be commissioned commercially - rather like those rather crap feminist stick-man cartoons bought by the Canadian state broadcaster;

"Third, the aim should be much more than just to establish a new media actor that tries to happily co-exist with existing private and public media. Instead, the EBC will also open up new sources of income for private quality media by acting as a platform for private journalistic content."

The hope must surely be that this ponderous, Soviet-style broadcaster can compel itself on captive audiences - on station platforms, in government offices, on giant screens in streets and squares - for in an age of 'pull' media consumption and off-line viewing, it's likely that hardly anyone will watch EBC voluntarily. 

Finally, EU spokesman Margaritis Schinas justified an initial demand of €60bn from the UK by saying it was like buying your round in the pub ..