BBC4 to be cut by end of the year

[LHC]

It is being reported this morning that BBC4 is to be closed by the end of the year, with most of its miniscule budget to be used to bolster the online YOOF channel, BBC3.

https://www.cityam.com/bbc-four-faces-closure-as-tv-bosses-battle-125m-covid-19-shortfall/

https://twitter.com/TVZone_/status/1260857383653462021

Although it now consists largely of repeats, its still the best TV channel for arts and documentaries (and indeed, foreign TV series), so this would be terrible news.

[LMcD]

It is being reported this morning that BBC4 is to be closed by the end of the year, with most of its miniscule budget to be used to bolster the online YOOF channel, BBC3.

https://www.cityam.com/bbc-four-faces-closure-as-tv-bosses-battle-125m-covid-19-shortfall/

https://twitter.com/TVZone_/status/1260857383653462021

Although it now consists largely of repeats, its still the best TV channel for arts and documentaries (and indeed, foreign TV series), so this would be terrible news.

Oh dear ....
Where - if anywhere - will Proms be seen - on the red button? Oniine? BBC2?

[MrGongGong]

It's the only BBC TV channel we watch

[kernelbogey]

I believe we are going to have to accept many losses as consequences of the covid-19 pandemic. Not that I regret the news of this one with anythig but sadness.

[Bryn]

It has drifted so far from its original remit that I rarely bother with it, these days. Had it stuck to its 'high' cultural remit I would feel the loss more. As it has become, it will be rather less of a loss, I feel.

[Dave2002]

It has drifted so far from its original remit that I rarely bother with it, these days. Had it stuck to its 'high' cultural remit I would feel the loss more. As it has become, it will be rather less of a loss, I feel.

For us this will be a disaster. I suppose they'll cut the News channel next - or have it completely taken over .... I won't say how .....

As for "high cultural remit" I can remember the time when BBC 2 started that that was a claim for that channel - but it gave up on that a long while ago.

As for diverting resources to BBC Three - as far as I'm concerned - but this is a personal opinion - that would be really crass.

[Count Boso]

Oh dear ....
Where - if anywhere - will Proms be seen - on the red button? Oniine? BBC2?

A happier outcome would be if they're broadcast on BBC2 - where they may be watched by more people. The other side of the coin is that they are no longer televised at all.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Running out of Top of the Pops repeats then?

Let's all make our views known (I have to accept, our sector is regarded as eminently ignorable...). If they don't assure us they will broadcast the art/music/science/documentary strand on BBC2 or 1 (can't imagine it on 3) then I'll probably consider joining the movement to give up the TV licence and a plague on their house.

They truly are in thrall to capturing youth in the belief that they will be stuck in their late teens and twenties for ever...... But then, we knew that as well.

[DracoM]

Saturday night Scandi Noirs.................HELP!!!

[Petrushka]

It has drifted so far from its original remit that I rarely bother with it, these days. Had it stuck to its 'high' cultural remit I would feel the loss more. As it has become, it will be rather less of a loss, I feel.

Pretty much my feeling also.

As for the Proms, whenever they return I think it will go online only with the possibility we actually might get more of them. Several seasons ago, it was suggested that the entire season could be televised but that's never worked out. Going online would mean less competition with other, usually sporting, events and static cameras could be utilised as the BPO Digital Concert Hall do. Could be that's the way the future is going.

[MrGongGong]

A happier outcome would be if they're broadcast on BBC2 - where they may be watched by more people. The other side of the coin is that they are no longer televised at all.

(this is an old one but still relevant IMV)

Does anyone really take that much notice of which "channel" things are on ?

Sometimes when I do watch TV (which isn't that often) if i'm not going to watch a specific thing I simply go up and down until something looks interesting... whether its BBC1 ,2, 4 or any of the others makes no difference.

The vast majority of folks I meet/know under the age of 35 (or so) don't watch terrestrial TV at all or have landlines and so on

[LMcD]

(this is an old one but still relevant IMV)

Does anyone really take that much notice of which "channel" things are on ?

Sometimes when I do watch TV (which isn't that often) if i'm not going to watch a specific thing I simply go up and down until something looks interesting... whether its BBC1 ,2, 4 or any of the others makes no difference.

The vast majority of folks I meet/know under the age of 35 (or so) don't watch terrestrial TV at all or have landlines and so on

It apparently matters to BBC schedulers, as they frequently move programmes from BBC2 to BBC1 (especially when sport is involved) in the apparent belief that more people will watch it. They seem to believe that we're too dumb or lazy to find out what's on other channels. This is particularly annoying during Wimbledon if one has recorded a tennis match, only to find that it was switched to another channel or the red button or online.

[MrGongGong]

It apparently matters to BBC schedulers, as they frequently move programmes from BBC2 to BBC1 (especially when sport is involved) in the apparent belief that more people will watch it. They seem to believe that we're too dumb or lazy to find out what's on other channels. This is particularly annoying during Wimbledon if one has recorded a tennis match, only to find that it was switched to another channel or the red button or online.

It really is odd IMV
Do they really think that people have some kind of "loyalty" to a channel ?

If Radio 1 started playing La Monte Young's music throughout the day I would go there in a flash.

[DracoM]

It apparently matters to BBC schedulers, as they frequently move programmes from BBC2 to BBC1 (especially when sport is involved) in the apparent belief that more people will watch it. They seem to believe that we're too dumb or lazy to find out what's on other channels. This is particularly annoying during Wimbledon if one has recorded a tennis match, only to find that it was switched to another channel or the red button or online.

Spot on!!

[Count Boso]

Does anyone really take that much notice of which "channel" things are on ?

Sometimes when I do watch TV (which isn't that often) if i'm not going to watch a specific thing I simply go up and down until something looks interesting... whether its BBC1 ,2, 4 or any of the others makes no difference.

I think that's correct: they don't care which channel has what they want to watch. But they watch BBC1 and BBC2 because that's where they find what they like - and they have the biggest audiences. They don't listen to Radio 3 because that's not what they want to listen to. But IF this rumour is correct, it shows that the BBC has finally thrown in the towel as far as "high culture" is concerned. Why couldn't they save even more money by closing BBC2? Because BBC1 doesn't have enough broadcast hours to carry all those wonderful entertainment programmes that we love. [And as it seems necessary, that's irony]. Or if they closed BBC2 and kept BBC4? Well, of course, BBC4 would become BBC2.