"BBC-TV sacks classical music department" - Lebrecht

[Nick Armstrong]

http://slippedisc.com/2016/11/exclusive-bbc-tv-sacks-classical-music-department/

[Richard Tarleton]

Clearly it doesn't have a great deal to do at present ? Not clear what difference this will make - is the alternative to buy in or commission programmes from production companies?

I liked this bit, from the press release

From Strictly Come Dancing, Doctor Who and Mrs Brown’s Boys, to Glastonbury, Big Blue Live and Life and Death Row, its’ programmes are renowned for their quality and loved by viewers.

4 out of 6 I wouldn't watch under any circumstances - I did watch ZZ Top's Glasto set this year , and I'm all for wildlife progs (and note the variation on the greengrocer's apostrophe).

[vinteuil]

I liked this bit, from the press release

From Strictly Come Dancing, Doctor Who and Mrs Brown’s Boys, to Glastonbury, Big Blue Live and Life and Death Row, its’ programmes are renowned for their quality and loved by viewers.

4 out of 6 I wouldn't watch under any circumstances - I did watch ZZ Top's Glasto set this year , and I'm all for wildlife progs (and note the variation on the greengrocer's apostrophe).

... note too how the absence of the Oxford commas adds to the ambiguity...

"Dr Who and Mrs Brown's Boys" and "Big Blue Live and Life and Death Row"

[Richard Tarleton]

... note too how the absence of the Oxford commas adds to the ambiguity...

"Dr Who and Mrs Brown's Boys" and "Big Blue Live and Life and Death Row"

I couldn't work that out at all - is it meant to be "Life on Death Row"? I daresay press releases are written by the work experience.....

[Hornspieler]

Clearly it doesn't have a great deal to do at present ? Not clear what difference this will make - is the alternative to buy in or commission programmes from production companies?

I liked this bit, from the press release

4 out of 6 I wouldn't watch under any circumstances - I did watch ZZ Top's Glasto set this year , and I'm all for wildlife progs (and note the variation on the greengrocer's apostrophe).

Okay, so now it's the viewers' chance to vote (Just like in "Strictly Come Dancing")

Who would you, like to see discarded? (and perhaps, Why?)

HS

[Richard Tarleton]

Okay, so now it's the viewers' chance to vote (Just like in "Strictly Come Dancing")

Who would you, like to see discarded? (and perhaps, Why?)

HS

HS, I was just permitting myself a wry smile. I'm only too aware I'm in a minority here

[french frank]

... note too how the absence of the Oxford commas adds to the ambiguity...

Yes, but the added apostrophe in its' sort of compensates …

If this is true (and Mr Lebrecht has heard tell), it follows the abolition of the BBC's Classical Music Board which was chaired by RW. This became absorbed into BBC Music headed by BS, head of popular music.

[Cockney Sparrow]

The Proms is a large ticket item for the BBC and they promote it relentlessly across all their platforms - obviously a high level decision, and we are I suppose fortunate that they want to defend and sustain them. One hopes that they also want to sustain the BBC Orchestras - although perhaps a part of that would be aversion to the voluble, bitter, and political struggles from each of the regions of the UK they would expect if they tried to do away with any one of them. I am guessing, also within their defensive ring, is the BBC Singers which I surmise is on the organisation chart as a co-presence with the jewel in the crown, the BBCSO.

So presumably thats enough in their view - and in terms of TV its the Proms during the season with the occasional re-hash as trailer or afterthought, ransacking archives (preferably royalty rights free) for "best of..." programs and the very occasional opera relay or other program - seen as one offs under a subject heading like any other. The debasement of the last remaining regular slot - Friday early evening on BBC4 - foretold the situation. We've had the gruesome experience of seeing them broadcast "The Good Old days" - surely just an item of historical interest; I find it not fit to be watched.

But we know the barbarians are taking control all over our institutions, so we should be grateful for the positive changes we've seen on Radio 3, and we just need to hope its left alone in terms of control and budget.

[Nick Armstrong]

I daresay press releases are written by the work experience.....

I gave up reading the press release before that litany of progs I don't watch. The idea that 'Mrs Brown's Boys' could be held up as some sort of banner of quality boggles the mind.

Its' like not cool yeah?

[cloughie]

I couldn't work that out at all - is it meant to be "Life on Death Row"? I daresay press releases are written by the work experience.....

...and with the BBC cuts no leeway to finance a proof raeder!

[cloughie]

I gave up reading the press release before that litany of progs I don't watch. The idea that 'Mrs Brown's Boys' could be held up as some sort of banner of quality boggles the mind.

Its' like not cool yeah?

Yes, Cali but it's amazing how many people other than you and me, really think it is!

[gurnemanz]

I'm very glad not to be dependent only on the BBC for classical music on TV. We have access to free-to-air German channels in HD reception via satellite dish. This website gives very useful information about what is coming up on all channels.

[french frank]

The idea that 'Mrs Brown's Boys' could be held up as some sort of banner of quality boggles the mind.

But one of the BBC's measures of 'quality' is, precisely, how much the people who choose to watch it enjoy/'appreciate' it. When they also take listening figures into consideration it's hard to see how 'quality' differs from 'popular appeal'.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I've been happy with Freeview up to now, but maybe its time to get a satellite dish. (Though, I rarely get to see an opera at home all through - too long for my OH). I presume / hope its possible to record for catch up purposes?)

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm very glad not to be dependent only on the BBC for classical music on TV. We have access to free-to-air German channels in HD reception via satellite dish. This website gives very useful information about what is coming up on all channels.

Where do you find these gurnemanz - is it accessible via my Sky dish for example?

Thanks