R2OK!

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5742 Location: Hampshire

There is a rumour that BBC4 is either to be axed or moved on line to make room for BBC3 to return to terrestrial TV. Just a rumour, I hope.

The average age of BBC4 viewers is 62. It is the most grown up of the BBC channels and I for one would miss it greatly. Elderly people who don't "do" internet but do have brains and cultural interests would miss out badly. Even internet-savvy people like us might not be inclined to move off our comfortable sofas to sit in front of a computer to watch something. Yet again the BBC is chasing after the 16-24 year olds and might move some of BBC4's budget to BBC3 and maybe bring the latter back to terrestrial TV. If BBC2 get some of the arts programmes there won't be much room for them.

Fog on the Tyne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 1090

A disgrace if this is true, it was my understanding that BBC3 was removed from the digital platform to save money and yet they seem to spend more on programming for BBC3 than for BBC4. The trails for BBC3 shows are endless.
Another nail in the coffin for BBC I fear.
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The wheel keeps on turning...
This fool made it round.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19293 Location: Cheshire

I read the same Eileen and I just hope that it's not going to happen.

What really annoys me is for at least 3 nights of the week the 'after News @10' programming is all BBC 3, most of which is a turn off for us. Maybe I'm missing out on some good shows but from the trails I somehow doubt it! Our usual comment after such a trailer is 'I don't think so!'.

Perhaps they should put a few more BBC4 shows on BBC1 instead of the BBC3 stuff.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1167 Location: London

Please sign the petition. Every little helps.

https://www.change.org/p/british-broadcasting-corporation-save-bbc-four-from-closure?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=share_petition&recruited_by_id=75b549c0-961b-11ea-b5bb-b37f6fd1ad85
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3414 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

I've signed it.
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1167 Location: London

Nice one, your Lordship.
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Signed!
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John W

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6784

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1167 Location: London

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7180 Location: North Yorkshire

Signed
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Pirate Johnnie Walker played my request on 11 April 2009

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1167 Location: London

Thanks Angela. They've buckled under pressure and rightly so. But it's a feeble compromise, I think. The tactic of taking the best programmes from BBC 4 and putting them onto BBC 2 is a tactic they've used before. If people don't have the nous by now, to be able to find good programmes on BBC 4, but can if they're shown on BBC 2, is beyond my reckoning capabilities.

Another thing. They're going to bring back BBC 3, apparently, seeing they've had a few successes of late, especially the wonderful Normal People. I'm amazed they got rid of it in the first place. Cowardice from the fear of the big bad Tories. Though now, it should be the ridiculously inept clueless Tories. And the BBC are still sacred of them - re last weeks dressing down of Emily Maitlis, who is by far the BBC's best of anything. And therein lies the rub. Instead of punishing the viewer or listener every time, by cutting this and cutting that...remember we've been here before, with the threat to BBC 4 and 6 Music, with one of the villains-in-chief, Mr Davie (I've forgotten his first name) one of the short listed mediocrities lined up to be the next DG of the whole shebang. We should be worried. Anyway, I digressed...instead of punishing us, they should be cutting back on all the suits who do next to nothing to earn the vast wages they're paid.

So, BBC 4 stays for the moment, albeit with repeats and no new programmes on the horizon. I expect we should be tugging our forelocks that they have allowed us this, while they churn out the mostly mindless drivel for the masses on BBC 1. Make Jay Blades the new DG and we might get somewhere. Somebody who is actually in touch with the great unwashed.

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/bbc-four-saved
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1167 Location: London

As I said, we should be worried. I knew he'd get the job. He's a hatchet man.
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19293 Location: Cheshire

Sadly I agree with you Raver. I sometimes wonder is there any point to anything now?

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Fog on the Tyne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 1090

I honestly think that the BBC is in a bad place right now. I think they are making bad decisions regarding their content - chasing a young audience which quite frankly doesn't exist; most of the younger audience view things via other platforms rather than tv and the same applies to their listening patterns.
The threat to BBC 4 clearly shows this.

At the same time they seem to be making enemies within government which won't help when charter comes up for review in a few years and there's still the rumbling issue of tv licences for the aged.

I can see a good deal of cloth cutting in the next year or two and I only hope that the correct decisions are made but unfortunately I'm not that optimistic.
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The wheel keeps on turning...
This fool made it round.

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3414 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7180 Location: North Yorkshire

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6784

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5742 Location: Hampshire

Well, now we know - BBC4 is to move off the TV screens and onto online in 2025. That is plain ridiculous. I watch BBC4 a lot and want to continue watching it from a comfortable sofa in the living room while easily switching between channels rather than perching in front of the computer in the "office" upstairs.

Where does it leave elderly people who enjoy intelligent programmes but who have no access to the internet? And, FGS, why has BBC3 been brought back to TV screens when it is aimed at the younger generation who look at programmes on devices a lot of the time and are internet-savvy?

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1167 Location: London

Well said Eileen. Every word hit the spot. No matter how much they try and promote BBC 3, it won't get the audience, but that won't stop them from plugging it.

Now, seeing that us elderly people are the licence payers, then we should have a say in some of the output. Take BBC 1, for a start. Filled with decorating and improving houses and gardens, glorified boot sales dressed in the guise of endless antique (or old tat) programmes, etc etc. Is this what we want for our money?

I said Davie was a butcher two years ago on this thread and feel no satisfaction to be proved right. They should be accountable to us who fund their corporation.
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5742 Location: Hampshire

I have sent the post I made above to the complaints department.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1167 Location: London

Good for you. Nothing ventured...
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life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19293 Location: Cheshire

Well said Eileen! BBC should be killed off and buried forever as far as I'm concerned.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005