One of the things about the times in which we live is that horizons expand more and more rapidly.

Today we can go online and communicate faster and to a wider audience than ever before. Email, Instant Messanging and VOIP let us reach anyone we need. Websites, blogs, vlogs and podcasts let us see and experiance the world around us.

Offline we have more radio and TV channels accessible to everyone than ever before. In a few years we will all have access to digital TV and the “old” idea of BBC, ITV and Channel 4 will have gone for ever.

Years ago I got satellite, back in the days when Astra was the satellite to have. I was amazed at all the places and cultures I could now see. Similarily, when Freeview launched I got that and was stunned at the quality of some of the programmes. At last there was now a place for foreign films and for documentaries about the culture of other countries.

I even liked the old repeats of travel programmes on Sky Travel. Whicker’s World from years gone by, Palin wandering from Pole to Pole.

But the problem is with most of these things is that finances get in the way. Things have to make money and reach the widest possible audience. We move from diversity and pluralism to bland sameness.

That’s started now with Freeview. Sky Travel with it’s regular doses of World Live cameras around the world is being pushed off Freeview in favour of Sky Three. Oh joy, and I just finished 24 series 3.

Bon Voyage Sky Travel…