BBC4 to be cut by end of the year

[zola]

Repeats of Eastenders scheduled tomorrow ( after recycled Glastonbury clips )

[Old Grumpy]

Sky Arts and BBC 4 to swap places?

https://inews.co.uk/news/media/sky-arts-free-to-air-bbc-decision-mothball-bbc4-563635

[Bryn]

Sky Arts and BBC 4 to swap places?

https://inews.co.uk/news/media/sky-a...ll-bbc4-563635

Unless Sky Arts has greatly improved in quality since I was a subscriber (well over a decade ago) it will not be much of a challenge to even the current reduced coverage of 'classical' music on BBC FOUR.

[johnb]

The website states: "The BBC plans to market BBC4 as a subscription service to international viewers." and that "The BBC confirmed it will transfer BBC4’s programming budget to online youth service BBC3."

Is this correct?

[LHC]

The website states: "The BBC plans to market BBC4 as a subscription service to international viewers." and that "The BBC confirmed it will transfer BBC4’s programming budget to online youth service BBC3."

Is this correct?

No, I don’t think it is. The story links to earlier reports in May that the BBC was planning its closure by the end of the year. However, later in May the BBC responded to the many protests at its plans to say that BBC4 would continue to be broadcast, and would also continue to commission some new programmes focused on arts and culture.

SkyArts has much less classical programming than when it first began, but it does still have some. This week this includes a documentary on Rattle and the BPO, the LSO and JEG playing Schumann and Mendelssohn, a profile of Renée Fleming, and a performance of Macmillan’s ballet Anastasia from the ROH. It’s art documentaries are pretty good, and it recently broadcast a 12 part series on the great film composers which was most enjoyable.

[CGR]

Unless Sky Arts has greatly improved in quality since I was a subscriber (well over a decade ago) it will not be much of a challenge to even the current reduced coverage of 'classical' music on BBC FOUR.

Sky Arts used to be rather good. Plenty of good Opera productions, interesting documentaries, even string quartet concerts.

Unfortunately, since the US company Comcast took over Sky in 2018, Sky dropped the Sky Arts 2 channel and turned Sky Arts 1 into showing continuously a series of dreadful Holywood film documentaries and pop music concerts. It can only get better.

I've no sympathy for the woke BBC. BBC Four has gone downhill for the past couple of years. I gave up on it when they started showing football !!!

I watch very little TV these days.

[LMcD]

Perhaps they'll rebrand it as '4 Point Something'. The lower the number after the decimal point, the greater the shift down-market. Perhaps the name could vary day by day, so that discerning potential viewers would have a better idea of what sort of thing to expect?

[oddoneout]

Sky Arts used to be rather good. Plenty of good Opera productions, interesting documentaries, even string quartet concerts.

Unfortunately, since the US company Comcast took over Sky in 2018, Sky dropped the Sky Arts 2 channel and turned Sky Arts 1 into showing continuously a series of dreadful Holywood film documentaries and pop music concerts. It can only get better.

I've no sympathy for the woke BBC. BBC Four has gone downhill for the past couple of years. I gave up on it when they started showing football !!!

I watch very little TV these days.

Reflects government 'thinking' though as sport is lumped in with culture( and digital and media) in one department.
Oddly enough I have been watching more of BBC4's output recently; I think the repeating of programmes and series means I am seeing things I missed first time around. Also there seems to a better mix of subjects during the week rather than seeming to have days of 'pop' repeats - and as you say sporting broadcasts which are of no interest to me.
It is all very subjective though, isn't it? A while ago Jayne L-W listed a number of BBC4 documentaries she was planning to watch, none of which I would choose to see, but that simply illustrates the need to have a balance of material, and a balance of what is shown over the week's schedule, so that you don't get a snap judgement of 'Oh there's nothing I want to see' extending to the whole channel simply because a week's viewing can't provide anything of interest and a reason to watch.

[DracoM]

Just want some decent Scandi noirs on Saturday nights!!
'The Bridge' / 'Borgen' etc..........where are they now?.......sigh!

[gurnemanz]

Sky Arts used to be rather good. Plenty of good Opera productions, interesting documentaries, even string quartet concerts.

Unfortunately, since the US company Comcast took over Sky in 2018, Sky dropped the Sky Arts 2 channel and turned Sky Arts 1 into showing continuously a series of dreadful Holywood film documentaries and pop music concerts. It can only get better.

I've no sympathy for the woke BBC. BBC Four has gone downhill for the past couple of years. I gave up on it when they started showing football !!!

I watch very little TV these days.

I am pretty selective and in my retired state am watching more TV than ever. There's a lot of of good stuff there if you look for it. Very useful nowadays to have the bonus of internet streams (eg current Met operas, recent Wigmore Lunchtime concerts). HD quality and good stereo sound played through hifi makes for a good home viewing/listening experience, especially in these cloistered times. I also have a satellite dish - useful for German arts channels such as ARTE and 3Sat. Our daughter has "lent" us her Amazon Prime (includes BFI) and Netflix codes. I don't go there that often but there is plenty available for most tastes.

There is occasional grain among the chaff on Sky Arts. Just looked at this evening. There's a repeat of their "Treasures of the British Library" which I watched first time round and found to be a worthwhile effort. Some good programmes that randomly come to mind from the last few years are: a complete Bayreuth Ring Cycle, Mystery of Lost Paintings, including the infamous Sutherland Churchill portrait. Picasso Live! Tate Modern with the excellent Kate Bryan, Artists in Love, an very watchable ten-part series presented by Samantha Morton (link).

I have watched a few of those "dreadful Holywood (?) film documentaries" and found them to be well researched and insightful. I don't watch pop concerts but presumably plenty of people do.

I can't remember ever seeing football on BBC Four. Beeb has precious little footie so if it was on I might watch.

What on earth is "woke BBC"?

[LHC]

I am pretty selective and in my retired state am watching more TV than ever. There's a lot of of good stuff there if you look for it. Very useful nowadays to have the bonus of internet streams (eg current Met operas, recent Wigmore Lunchtime concerts). HD quality and good stereo sound played through hifi makes for a good home viewing/listening experience, especially in these cloistered times. I also have a satellite dish - useful for German arts channels such as ARTE and 3Sat. Our daughter has "lent" us her Amazon Prime (includes BFI) and Netflix codes. I don't go there that often but there is plenty available for most tastes.

There is occasional grain among the chaff on Sky Arts. Just looked at this evening. There's a repeat of their "Treasures of the British Library" which I watched first time round and found to be a worthwhile effort. Some good programmes that randomly come to mind from the last few years are: a complete Bayreuth Ring Cycle, Mystery of Lost Paintings, including the infamous Sutherland Churchill portrait. Picasso Live! Tate Modern with the excellent Kate Bryan, Artists in Love, an very watchable ten-part series presented by Samantha Morton (link).

I have watched a few of those "dreadful Holywood (?) film documentaries" and found them to be well researched and insightful. I don't watch pop concerts but presumably plenty of people do.

I can't remember ever seeing football on BBC Four. Beeb has precious little footie so if it was on I might watch.

What on earth is "woke BBC"?

As I recall, some matches from the women's football world cup last year were shown on BBC Four.

[LMcD]

I am pretty selective and in my retired state am watching more TV than ever. There's a lot of of good stuff there if you look for it. Very useful nowadays to have the bonus of internet streams (eg current Met operas, recent Wigmore Lunchtime concerts). HD quality and good stereo sound played through hifi makes for a good home viewing/listening experience, especially in these cloistered times. I also have a satellite dish - useful for German arts channels such as ARTE and 3Sat. Our daughter has "lent" us her Amazon Prime (includes BFI) and Netflix codes. I don't go there that often but there is plenty available for most tastes.

There is occasional grain among the chaff on Sky Arts. Just looked at this evening. There's a repeat of their "Treasures of the British Library" which I watched first time round and found to be a worthwhile effort. Some good programmes that randomly come to mind from the last few years are: a complete Bayreuth Ring Cycle, Mystery of Lost Paintings, including the infamous Sutherland Churchill portrait. Picasso Live! Tate Modern with the excellent Kate Bryan, Artists in Love, an very watchable ten-part series presented by Samantha Morton (link).

I have watched a few of those "dreadful Holywood (?) film documentaries" and found them to be well researched and insightful. I don't watch pop concerts but presumably plenty of people do.

I can't remember ever seeing football on BBC Four. Beeb has precious little footie so if it was on I might watch.

What on earth is "woke BBC"?

I believe BBC4 showed some World Cup matches deemed to be of minor interest - Nicaragua v Kazakhstan or similar encounters.

[alywin]

I can't remember ever seeing football on BBC Four. Beeb has precious little footie so if it was on I might watch.

Haven't they got a match coming up in the next few days? Or was it snooker?

[LMcD]

Haven't they got a match coming up in the next few days? Or was it snooker?

World Snooker Championship 7.00 - 9.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

[gurnemanz]

World Snooker Championship 7.00 - 9.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

They are all over the place with their snooker coverage, literally and figuratively. I was watching the conclusion of Ding v King (has a nice ring) on BBC2 when they broke off at 6pm because it overran, ie got exciting.