Has the BBC given up on over the air broadcasting?

[Dave2002]

I thought I heard a comment this morning - around the time of the Life Scientific programme on R4, that "if listeners want to hear the book .... they should switch to BBC sounds".

Does that mean that anyone who doesn't have a computer, mobile phone or tablet and an internet connection is now officially "not a person"?

Maybe I imagined that.

[DracoM]

No, you didn't.................alas!

[Bryn]

No, you didn't.................alas!

The announcer forgot to mention that what is usually the 0:30 hours repeat had become the single broadcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0010gl1

[gurnemanz]

The removal of the Eileen Atkins reading at 9.45 yesterday morning does seem to have been a one-off measure to accommodate a full hour of The Life Scientific. I found it annoying and unnecessary but did not see it as not part of a sinister trend. The online versions of programmes sometimes include extra bits that didn't fit into the time slot of the on-air broadcast, as with the In Our Time podcast - so it is actually a bonus for those interested rather than a deprivation for over-the-air listeners

[Dave2002]

I don't dislike BBC Sounds, and we do use it a lot. However I am concerned that just as now one is not considered human if one doesn't have a permanent connection to a smartphone, that over the air broadcasting should not be cut back in an attempt to force people to buy equipment which they maybe don't want or really need. There are perhaps still many people who don't have computers or phones, or don't want them, but who do rely on radios. As a proportion of the total population they may only be a small minority, but nevertheless they may number thousands or even millions, and really rely on radio to provide services which help them.

If this was a one off incident, and not part of a significant trend or deliberate strategy, then maybe a short apology (Feedback?) would be appropriate, but if it's a "thin end of the wedge" move, then should we not be aware of it so that we can decide whether that is a way that broadcasting should go?

[Cockney Sparrow]

I knew someone responsible for transmitters (either owned by, now, a PLC or certainly management under contract to them). When the N Yorks TV transmitter was U/S (A fire IIRC - I was only visiting N Yorks) it was a case of - try the surrounding transmitters or use the internet. For - was it a month?

The enforce, but failed, switch to DAB was to avoid investment in FM transmitters. I don't know whether DAB can use TV sites and masts. My acquaintance (lost touch with him and in any case well retired) did say they would always have a LW transmission - is that for the Nuclear Winter scenario? Maybe they only need a few LW transmitters for the whole country - I forget, if I ever knew, the technicalities.

I think we can accept we'll have to use the internet. Should I descend into a life of dementia (and believe me, I am fully aware this is nothing to be flippant about) I'll be at the mercy of whatever turning a switch spews forth - possibly a debased stream of commerce orientated drivel because that is what the interests of media owners seem to be heading to bring about. (The Times has at least one anti BBC story per day - they serve their master's interests). Thinking about it, we have a fair few threads here critical of the BBC, perhaps not searching for understanding of its reasons - and I don't exonerate myself in that respect.

Sort of makes the case for CDs - should be able to carry on playing them for a good while........

[Old Grumpy]

I think Arqiva is the word you are looking for CS. Yes, the transmitter has been inactive for three months and has now been brought down for removal and further examination. We now have a new temporary transmitter on the site (https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2...without-signal). I managed to returned our TV to another transmitter in the interim, albeit with the loss of a few channels. Many previously served by Bilsdale could not and we are told there will still be some "not spots" with the temporary transmitter where there is no terrestrial broadcast TV reception for people previously served by the definitive Bilsdale transmitter.