Media

Geraldo Describes Contentious Run-In With PBS Reporter: They’re Planning a Fox News Expose

Geraldo at Large

Fox News Channel

Fox News Channel’s Geraldo Rivera is alleging that PBS investigative series “Frontline” has set its sights on Fox News and parent company News Corporation in a major phone-hacking exposé.

News Corporation became enmeshed in scandal last summer amid allegations that its now-defunct British tabloid “News of the World” hacked the cell phone messages of crime victims, celebrities and politicians in a quest for splashy headlines. News Corp. head Rupert Murdoch and his son testified before British Parliament as part of the investigation. The scandal was largely limited to the United Kingdom, despite the company’s many U.S. holdings: In addition to Fox News, it is the parent company of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, among others. No U.S. companies have so far been implicated.

In a lengthy Facebook blog post published Tuesday, the “Geraldo at Large” host said he was out to dinner last month with former colleague Lowell Bergman, now a producer and correspondent for “Frontline.” Bergman, who produced the infamous “60 Minutes” tobacco company exposé, suddenly began “interrogating” Rivera about the hacking scandal:

He explained that his investigative reporting program at Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, in association with reporters from ProPublica are probing our corporate parent, News Corp’s U.S. properties; specifically the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal and Fox News.

The expose is due to run on PBS’ ‘Frontline,’ “in the next few months,” he told me in an ominous tone.

According to Rivera, Bergman lamented the fact that he and his students have been unable to get any Fox News journalist “to go on the record with derogatory information about News Corp.”

[H]e lectured me, saying, according to my notes, “You’re a news organization. You say you have the right to wear a press pass. Well, that comes with certain obligations to defend your company.”

When I told him I was still not interested, and that I was going to report everything he had said to my superiors, his frustrated tone turned threatening, “I’ve got all these journalism students at Berkeley straining at the bit to contact every reporter working for Fox News.”

Now glaring back at the indefatigable Mr. Bergman, I asked, “Are you threatening me?” which he denied, then I said, “Let me get this straight. You are the most left-wing reporter in television news, a Berkley professor no less, and you’re working with ProPublica, the most hard-left reporters’ group in the business, and you’re going to air your documentary on Public Television, and you expect me to convince my colleagues at Fox News that you’re going to give us a fair-shake? Give me a break.”

That was one month ago, Rivera wrote. On Tuesday, he spotted a “Frontline” van outside his office.

“Today a van from PBS’ ‘Frontline’ is parked outside our office,” he wrote. “I hope they’re not hacking my phone.”

Comments (174)

  • BurntHills
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:16pm

    FoxNews? we stopped watching them TOO, the day GBTV came online.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • hillbillyinny
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:33pm

      Me too!

      Report Post »  
    • texanpatriot
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:38pm

      Fox News is becoming mainline just like NBC and CBS. I guess that PBS hasn’t gotten the memo yet.

      I do believe that they lost their edge when Glenn left.

      Report Post » texanpatriot  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:44pm

      FOX reporters have been consistantly lying to us. They are part of the problem. GBTV is here.

      Report Post »  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 5:00pm

      Couldn’t agree more. Go away Geraldo, find another secret crypt to open! I stopped watching Fox a long time ago, they’re also going progressive. Probably as a result of the phone scandal.

      Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • teddyc73
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 5:05pm

      Burnthills and the few that have responded to him clearly know nothing about Fox News. To the person that says they are going “progressive”, are you serious? Really?!

      Report Post »  
    • TH30PH1LUS
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 5:07pm

      My FOX viewership has dropped dramatically since Beck left. I can only stand so much of the pompous O’Reilly. Maybe a little Red Eye once in a while.

      GBTV is my go-to show these days.

      Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
    • theaveng
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 5:15pm

      FOXnews – I don’t have cable so I never see it (I don’t want to enrich either them or Comcast).

      GBTV’s not that great either.

      PBS should not be receiving taxpayer dollars when they are such a leftist pro-Democrat, pro-“let government run every facet of your life” organization. The only good news is that the cost is minimal (about 1 dollar a month)

      .

      Report Post »  
    • LondoMollari
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 5:38pm

      None of you should exlude FOX NEWS. They give you all points of view. Not too sure that Glenn can keep up with that, but that‘s beside the point because he’s his own operation.

      Report Post »  
    • P C BE DAMNED
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:06pm

      Giraldo, Shepard Smith, Bob Beckel, on and on. We got turned off several years ago. Balanced? Who wants balance with communist Homosexuals.

      Report Post » P C BE DAMNED  
    • TEXASGRANNY73
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:28pm

      It’s ELECTION season. This is Obamanation going for the Fairness Doctrine again. I always listen to Fox on the radio plus Beck. On Fox the left isn’t liked by the viewers ie “fair” is you have to hear them regardless and PBS wants your dollars. Colmes Beckel and Geraldo are not the most popular cookies in the jar but Fox grves them a platform, doesn’t it? I quit dish tv because they wouldn’t sponsor Beck (different than quitting Fox) and having to pay for all venues I never watched. Those on this site who gritch and gripe about Beck are now gr. and gr. about Fox. Where do you want real news? Where Hillary told us it was fair–Al Jazeera?

      Report Post »  
    • Trebuchet
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:30pm

      The important thing in this article is that the PBS story is being pushed by Pro Publica which is financed by Herb and Marion Sandler two of the causes of the mortgage meltdown and Geroge Soros. This is a hit piece plain and simple and I would believe one word of it.

      Report Post »  
    • Lucy Larue
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:40pm

      BURNTHILLS,
      Really?!
      FOX News isn‘t perfect but it’s the best we’ve got!
      I watch Glenn Beck too.
      Why should one take the place of the other?

      In this Tass/Pravda environment FOX is fighting the good fight. They are ALWAYS being attacked.
      It seems to me that the ONLY news network that has even an INKLING of “The Journalist’s Creed”,(GOOGLE it buddy), it is FOX!

      I will watch FOX AND Glenn Beck. I thank God for both of them!

      Vox Populi Vox Dei!

      Report Post »  
    • Jackers
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:44pm

      FOX News is just as biased as MSNBC, CNN, and the rest… All of these cable news networks work hand-in-hand with the government and only give us “selected” news…

      I was terribly disappointed with the disgusting way FOX News treated Ron Paul all of this past year… First they completely ignored Ron Paul and then the brief times they mentioned him, it would only be to slander him.

      Clearly, FOX News is in bed with the government; and their job is to push the open-border, One World Order Progressive candidates that the political establishment have “selected” in order to maintain and further the status quo… FOX News “pretends” that they’re honest and we have a voice, but really they’re trying their best to make our decisions for us.

      The good news is that more and more Americans are seeing the light and tuning off “mainstream” media to get the real news on the Net or sites like GBTV. More and more Americans are bucking this corrupt two-party/one-party political scam and selecting Ron Paul as their choice for a chance at freedom and what’s best for America…

      The Internet gives us knowledge, which gives us power… No wonder our government and the mainstream media, like FOX News, support SOPA – the censorship of the Net. We must continue to learn and gain power… It’s our only hope.

      Report Post » Jackers  
    • mountainb
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 7:04pm

      Hey Now,
      Dont let Bill O. hear you talking like that, he might report you to his new buddy in the white house!!!

      Report Post »  
    • TROONORTH
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 8:07pm

      GBTV ??!!?!

      You guys really need to de-tox

      Report Post » TROONORTH  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 8:33pm

      In the end Satan’s minions always destroy and eat each other. Couldn’t happen to a nicer anti-white racist and america hater.

      Report Post »  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 8:42pm

      i don’t watch any of them, not even gbtv (gasp)…

      Really though? nobody else noticed that Glenn changed his tune when he was on fox randomly one week? one week he loves Ron Paul, says he’s the closest thing to our founding fathers we got, etc… then all of a sudden, he ignores a bunch of controversial topics and doesn’t like Ron Paul…

      I believe in my heart that he sold out to someone or a group of someones… and now he’s just pandering… he did say he was a Rodeo Clown, though, in an article… and we all know what the job of a rodeo clown is… to distract the bull (US) from the Rider (Them). just saying.

      wake up now or wake up in slavery… don’t even think for a second there are tons of people jumping to protect YOUR liberty… there are only a handful in congress who even care about individual liberty. Voting Records prove it all.

      4God and 4Liberty…. OWN YOURSELVES PLEASE.

      Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:01pm

      Right on. Occasionally, I’ll watch a Stossel report on Fox, but that’s pretty much it. Never did like Shep Smith or many of the others. Cavuto is good, and so it Judge Napalitano. O’Reilly is an ego-maniac.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:11pm

      Geraldo Rivera should invite all these, “Journalism students at Berkeley straining at the bit to contact every reporter working for Fox News…” for a one-on-one meeting in Iraq or Iran or Afghanistan and leave them there stranded to take care of themselves. That would be a better education for them than anything they would learn at Berkeley! That is… if they lived.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • thedub
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:19pm

      Yup

      Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 5:37am

      I don’t watch FoxNews any more either. But FoxNews should do an expose’ on PBS. That could turn into a mini series.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • eric6161
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:13pm

      I wish I could watch but every time I try and log on it takes 30-45 minutes for me to connect. Since I connect everywhere else, including ‘Netflix,‘ I know it can’t be AT&T’s fault…. or maybe it is. hmmmm

      Report Post »  
    • Jayms
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 3:32pm

      As much as I watch and respect Fox News and Glenn Beck, it would be silly to get your news from one network. Think before you say something.

      Report Post »  
    • SEPARATENOW
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 4:31pm

      Fellow Constitutional Conservatives: I worry a lot that some of us have become less conservatives and more followers of one sort or the other to the point of cultism and excluding other information and reasonable viewpoints altogether. Glenn Beck and Ron Paul are my freshest examples. Are either of these men bad? No. Are either of them trying to create a cult. Probably not. But to see them as the sole source of TRUTH is not rational. (I admit it is almost impossible to watch MSNBC or even CNN for more than 10 minutes without hurling something at the screen including profanity. To say FoxNews is a progressive outlet because Glenn left to pursue his happiness in his own way is delusional. Please stop.

      I’d like to suggest we should not consume, but observe what these media companies are doing and how they are presenting material. Gird yourself with what you know to be right, but observe. It is crucial to defeating their arguments and then, ultimately, their ideology.

      Report Post » SEPARATENOW  
    • MilitaryDad
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 6:14pm

      FOXNews is not going ‘progressive’, they are neutral, as a news organization should be…

      Report Post »  
  • dsherman
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:15pm

    Stckpicker
    I know you trust Geraldo but why would you trust anybody at PBS.Are you as far left as they are

    Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 7:50pm

      Fox is sooo yesterday. Fox is agenda driven journo. Basically there are four organizations that control the TV, and Print Media. They would never touch the real issues like SOPA and NDAA. They support these new regulations.

      Report Post »  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 12:42am

      itv is the next revolution and fox will have to compete with millions of channels. I dumped the dish and all I have now is an HD antenna and a Roku. I find plenty to watch and for much less. The internet is a better place to get your news anyway.

      Report Post »  
  • Zcat
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:07pm

    PBS going after Fox—again!

    Report Post »  
  • ShyMan
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:05pm

    Here’s an exposé.

    Foxnews is not conservative.

    At best they are conservative with exceptions.

    Of course you probably already knew this.

    So I guess it’s not really an exposé.

    Nevermind.

    Report Post » ShyMan  
    • teddyc73
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 5:04pm

      They dont claim to be conservative so what is your point?

      Report Post »  
    • NoNannyState4me
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 6:21pm

      I will give them credit for Judge Napolitano and Stossel. Red Eye is entertaining. About it.

      Report Post » NoNannyState4me  
    • VRW Conspirator
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 10:52am

      I believe from the beginning Fox News always said they were “fair and balanced” which means they were not trying to be conservative or liberal but moderate…or they were trying to be what “news” is supposed to be.. unbiased and factual letting the reader or listener decide for themselves…unless of course you were watching or reading and editorial or opinion piece…

      Fox News and Fox Business – when doing news reports – is just that…factual with no fluffy questions that report what is happening…give both sides a chance to respond..and let the viewer decide…

      Fox News and Fox Business also have a series of shows that are opinion and editorial based most of which either spout Populist notions like O’Reilly or right of center opinions like Hannity, even though he is getting more and more progressive on us when it comes to politics, even if his financial and social views are fairly conservative and if you go to Fox Business and listen to Stossel or Steyn or Barney…they can be libertarian minded.

      Report Post » VRW Conspirator  
  • betterthantv
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:02pm

    Disclaimer- I have NOT read this story, just the headline. Why? Because I DO NOT CARE WHAT GERALDO HAS TO SAY ABOUT ANYTHING! He belongs over at PBS with the rest of the brain dead media!

    Report Post » betterthantv  
    • beverlee
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:44pm

      While I am not a big fan of Geraldo I read the story…try it…it was interesting. PBS is out for revenge. Very unprofessional. I would expect no less from them these days.

      Report Post » beverlee  
    • txn4justice
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 8:26pm

      Does this expose include a centerfold of the hot Fox news women?

      Report Post »  
    • AmazingGrace8
      Posted on January 12, 2012 at 10:50am

      I have always liked Geraldo. Don’t agree with alot of his core-beliefs but THIS GUY has all heart and just A FAST DIGGER for the normal and abnormal news and out there in the elements,weather,war etc. is being very bold. Hope he is around for along time. God Bless You and Your Family, Geraldo. Be safe and still have fun. Oh, and he is handsome too!!!

      Report Post »  
  • gmoneytx
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:01pm

    Geraldo reminds me of a g@y p0rn star. We need take all of mainstream media and flush it down the toilet. I say “GOOD DAY SIR”

    Report Post » gmoneytx  
  • RightThinking1
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:01pm

    All part of funding from CPB. When friends mention that they listen to NPR, I usually tell them that I used to, but now have a shortwave radio and find that the reporting from Radio Havana is less biased. They never seem to know how to react. One actually blurted out “But, but…, it can’t be!”

    Report Post »  
  • cessna152
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:57pm

    Since Beck left Fox I only watch Eric Bolling and a few other Fox Business shows on occasion. Rarely watch any of the others.. I want the truth not left vs right.

    Report Post » cessna152  
    • Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:01pm

      I agree. Even Orielly has lost his touch. Watching Fox since Beck left is like watching a cancer patient pass away. It is just sad. Cavuto is good as well, but the rest is garbage.

      Report Post » Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup  
    • betterthantv
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:05pm

      Same here. FBN has some good shows. Stossel, The Judge, Follow The Money and even Lou Dobbs. But FOX itself is worthless without Beck! Hannity is just a shill for the GOP and O’Reilly drives me nuts most of the time. Shep is too liberal for me and Greta, well, I just can’t.

      Report Post » betterthantv  
    • betterthantv
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:06pm

      Ooops, I forgot Cavuto. I usually watch him while waiting for Beck on GBTV

      Report Post » betterthantv  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:12pm

      I like the judge, stossel and Lou Dobbs.

      Eric Bolling is so obviously in the tank for any republican idea that he annoys me. I liked him originally, but he’s quickly becoming another Hannity for me. A complete shill for the republican party.

      Report Post »  
    • Thatsitivehadenough
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:29pm

      Me too. Used to watch so much Fox, but since they AGREED TO DEMANDS and got rid of Beck, turned on America, I hardly watch anymore. O‘Reilly is hugging the middle of the road SO much I can’t stand him. He‘s become part of what’s wrong in America. Someone who thinks the left has some good points.

      But PBS doing an expose is pathetic. PUBLIC broadcasting. Not Obama’s Marxist Broadcasting: OMB.

      Report Post » Thatsitivehadenough  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:44pm

      Eric Bolling? What does he know? Nothing. Works off 3×5 cards. He is the lowest-rated program on Fox. Bet he’s cancelled soon.

      If you want to learn how the government trashes the Constitution, watch “Freedom Watch” with Judge Napolitano (same times as O’Reilly, but switch to Fox Business News).

      Report Post »  
    • CanteenBoy
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 5:07pm

      The 5 is a decent show.

      Report Post » CanteenBoy  
  • Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:56pm

    The truth shall set you free. No lies then there will be no expose’.

    Report Post » Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:02pm

      Another instance of a Taxpayer Funded Government Entity, going after a Privately held company.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • stockpicker
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:46pm

    While the PBS story seems compelling, I just don’t believe or trust Geraldo.

    Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:55pm

      What a shock…the liberal media wants to harm Fox News..the only opposing mouthpiece on television to the liberal state media. Not only the only opposing moutpiece, but it out rates it’s competing cable news network combined. Liberals cannot tolerate dissent, they must silence it.

      Report Post »  
    • Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:59pm

      Me either. Not one word. The guy gets assaulted at OWS, yet he still supports them.

      He believes that history will be written by the progressives and wants to go down in history as the “voice” of them. He is such a phoney that he is a walking joke with a moustache. Pathetic.

      Report Post » Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:44pm

    Why doesn‘t pbs do an expose on obama’s abuse of power as president?
    If they were real journalists, that story alone could fill a month’s programming…

    Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:58pm

      and of course..an expose’ on MSNBC is out of the question for PBS. Like cropping photos to hide a black man’s race who happened to be carrying a firearm (legal in his state), then proceeding to manufacture a story about “racist, dangerous tea partiers”. It’s time to defund PBS…there’s no question at this point.

      Report Post »  
    • I.Gaspar
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:12pm

      Avengerk:
      Pbs should be made to refund all the money they have taken over the years, as well.

      Report Post »  
  • warr9553
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:41pm

    it almost eletion time it time to shut the guys at fox up that way there will be no chance of hearin the true about obama.state run media,hope and change

    Report Post » warr9553  
    • kevin
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:50pm

      that is a malcom x line and his uncle freds check out martha trowbridge report it will blow your mind

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:13pm

      Sadly, Fox News doesn’t cover ron paul much either.

      Report Post »  
  • kevin
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:37pm

    barak obama is the secret spawn of malcom x real name bari shabazz check birth records death certificate ss numbers all very queer also obama doesnt wear glasses why the white house photo with him wearing the same missing glasses from the assasination

    Report Post »  
  • larrylarrylarry
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:34pm

    hello 4170010873

    Report Post »  
  • surroundedbyidiots
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:34pm

    Shall we cut off funding to pbs now? They seem to be right there with npr.

    Report Post »  
  • Star Spangled
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:32pm

    Time for News corp to do an exposé on Berkley and ProPublica . After all turn about is fair play .

    Report Post » Star Spangled  
    • chips1
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 4:17pm

      All you have to do is go undercover. Wear loafers, put an ear ring in your left ear and slur your words. Berkley has lots of info just there for the taking.

      Report Post »  
  • TXPilot
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:31pm

    When Geraldo speaks, people on heavy medication listen. As for PBS doing and expose’ on FOX, they will probably find evidence of how it has been slowly sliding to the left lately…..very sad. I’m sure they can use Alan Colmes and Bob Beckel for accurate and concise sources of information.

    Report Post » TXPilot  
    • noczars
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:51pm

      @Taxpilot= My view exactly. Fox replaced Glenn with Beckel. What a joke. Beckel AND Jeraldo are several of the most LEFTIES in news. I now watch Glenn’s 2 hour GBTV Show @ 2pm PT and 5pm ET.
      As far as Jeraldo, the reason they contacted him is because they know he is a lefty. The same reason Jeraldo could walk through OWS idiots.

      Report Post » noczars  
  • loopy1
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:31pm

    Come on! Geraldo is as left as they come, but he didn‘t fall for the Frontline guy’s attempt to have a Fox News personality make negative statements about his employer. I don’t agree with anything Geraldo believes, but at least he showed integrity here.

    Report Post »  
    • PPMStudios
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:44pm

      I agree with you RE Geraldo.

      I pretty much think he’s nothing more than a “sensationalist” hack. But, if this (his) story is true… It does show this lawyer has some integrity…..

      Report Post » PPMStudios  
  • lodgerat
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:29pm

    I’m sure glad our tax dollars are being spent on a wonderful left-wing project. Maybe they should spend a couple dollars on investigating our President and his shady background and questionable connections. Just saying

    Report Post » lodgerat  
  • SoCaLCapitalist
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:29pm

    Shocking Geraldo actually being fair. He is a journalist that tends to lean to the left. Way to go Geraldo. I haven’t liked you since the talkshow when you got your nose broken by some racist dufuss. But I respect the fact he stood up to some leftist Berkley loser.

    Report Post »  
  • Todd P
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:29pm

    Maybe they‘ve got one of the Radio Shack spy microphones that can eavesdrop from 500’ and they‘re aiming it at Geraldo’s window? Hehehehehehe……..

    PBS sucks big time!

    Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:40pm

      @TODD P…..yes, but if you would just donate generously, during one of their bi-weekly fund raisers, I’m sure they would have the funds to suck “huge time”…lol

      Report Post » TXPilot  
  • jakartaman
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:27pm

    2013 defund

    Report Post »  
  • TSUNAMI-22
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:24pm

    Maybe they should expose Al Capone’s vaults this time……for real.

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:23pm

    PBS, your tax dollars at work.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Steelhead
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:22pm

    the vault – lol, Geraldo is special

    Report Post » Steelhead  

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