BBC Children's broadcasts.

[transportphoto]

After more than 50 years of Children's television on the BBC's main channel, today, the last children's programme was broadcast on BBC One. From tomorrow onwards, all BBC children shows will only be shown on dedicated CBBC and Cbeebies.

What are your opinions on the move? I believe that a large majority of young people, say 11-13 year olds, who watched programmes such as Blue Peter because they weren't being labelled as children's shows, because they were being shown on BBC One, now they are only being shown on the dedicated 'Children's' channels they'll stop watching them. It also means a reduction in the overall children's provision, because we no longer have both channels running in tandem, now all of the programmes have to fit into the dedicated channels which still shows only between 7am and 7pm.

TP

 

[starrymarkb]

It's only really following on from ITV who cut back a few years ago. Depends on what appears in its place.

 

[radamfi]

The channels may only be on 7am to 7pm, but of course the programmes can mostly be seen 24 hours a day on demand. ITV did a similar thing some time ago - has any analysis been done whether audience levels for those programmes dropped because they were only on CITV? Presumably children's programmes only remained on BBC One because some people could not get CBBC. Now that anyone who can get BBC One can also get CBBC, it would be wasteful duplication for children's programmes to be on two channels at the same time.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust...iew_report_research/dqf/final_conclusions.pdf

"The unique reach of children's content on BBC One and BBC Two is also very low. Only around 7 per cent of CBBC's target audience currently watch CBBC content on BBC One and BBC Two but do not also watch the CBBC channel, while CBeebies content on BBC Two has unique reach of just 2.3 per cent of its target audience."

 

[transportphoto]

Interesting figures there, perhaps I was wrong.

Of course with (nearly?) everyone now receiving digital TV they can all access the dedicated channels.

Tp

 

[radamfi]

Of course with (nearly?) everyone now receiving digital TV

In some parts of Milton Keynes, you are not allowed to install external aerials because cable was installed instead. However, the cable service there is still analogue. This is probably the only place in the UK where some people still watch analogue TV. However, some people have installed aerials and dishes regardless of the rules.

 

[tbtc]

As someone who's youth is well behind him, this seems like the end of an era.

But the reality is that modern kids are much more savvy about how they watch telly - the idea of only watching it live seems fairly quaint to a lot of them - it's all about "on demand" and the likes.

TV, like many things, is becoming much more specialist these days, with dedicated channels for sport/ films/ food etc (just like dedicated websites).

 

[Yew]

At least half way though the day, people won't have to switch to BBC 2, like back when I watched it.

I think the BBC are trying to combine their resources to combat Disney and Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.

 

[Greenback]

I think the BBC are trying to combine their resources to combat Disney and Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.

The future is quite clearly dedicated channels. Personally, I would prefer to see BBC and BBC2 be entertainment channels with a variety of general interest programems such as drama, comedy, quizzes, films, documentaries and even soaps, but with sport, news, children's programmes moved to their own specialist channels.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who will disagree though!

 

[90sWereBetter]

To be honest, the quality of the BBC's children's programmes has been on the decline for ages. I remember watching the likes of Grange Hill, Raven, The Basil Brush Show, BAMZOOKi, ChuckleVision, Demon Headmaster and many others when I was younger (9-13 years of age), and they were so bloody good. Indeed, if I could find complete episodes on the 'net, I'd still watch them if I could. Fond, fond memories.

I still even occasionally watch Come Outside, simply for the nostalgia.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

To be honest, the quality of the BBC's children's programmes has been on the decline for ages. I remember watching the likes of Grange Hill, Raven, The Basil Brush Show, BAMZOOKi, ChuckleVision, Demon Headmaster and many others when I was younger (9-13 years of age), and they were so bloody good. Indeed, if I could find complete episodes on the 'net, I'd still watch them if I could. Fond, fond memories.

I still even occasionally watch Come Outside, simply for the nostalgia.

And then when you change to ItV you had Pokemon, SMTV live, Recess, digimon, Art Attack, Zzzap and others.

 

[SS4]

If you look beyond the knee jerk reaction of anger or sorrow it's a good idea. The amount of people who can't get freeview is minimal and the BBC can no longer afford to cater to a very small proportion of people.

There wasn't that much kids tv on BBC1 and 2 really and certainly none when the dedicated channels air airing. With BBC One HD you could end up with the same programme on three channels.
I cannot be sure if it's nostalgia or not but I feel the quality of kids shows is much worse than it was 20 years or 10 years ago.

Lastly, what will the BBC put on in their place? More antique shows? I hope not!

 

[jon0844]

Milton Keynes aside, everyone who got analogue TV should be able to get Freeview, and the switch off means they boosted the power too.

So it makes sense, as well as moving some other stuff to BBC 3 and 4.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It's a good idea to move things to specialist channels. I can see the BBC going the way Greenback wants it - BBC One and Two being general interest, BBC Three for young people, BBC Four as a specialist interest channel and CBBC and CBeebies for younger children.

 

[WestCoast]

What can we expect to replace this programming? Not that I'm often in a position to tune in at these times!

 

[tbtc]

It's a good idea to move things to specialist channels. I can see the BBC going the way Greenback wants it - BBC One and Two being general interest, BBC Three for young people, BBC Four as a specialist interest channel and CBBC and CBeebies for younger children.

Young children. That's part of the problem with the BBC output. Whilst CBeebies is pretty fantastic (our household isn't yet old enough to require CBBC so I can't really comment), the BBC seems to have a big gap in its output between CBBC and BBC Three.

Maybe these days teenagers watch more "grown up" things (Hollyoaks) or more "age unspecific" things like the Simpsons - there seems to be a bit of a gap for those who're starting secondary school though.

From what I understand of Grange Hill these days it's much more of a "kids" show than something tackling issues like drugs (as it was in my day).

 

[radamfi]

Milton Keynes aside, everyone who got analogue TV should be able to get Freeview

Being very pedantic now, Freeview coverage is not quite 100% of the population outside Milton Keynes. Some people who used to watch analogue terrestrial TV used to watch with a fuzzy picture as that location was not officially covered by analogue terrestrial TV. In some of these areas, the digital terrestrial TV reception is not sufficiently strong for a robust picture. However, these households can get a satellite dish to watch digital TV.

 

[LE Greys]

Being very pedantic now, Freeview coverage is not quite 100% of the population outside Milton Keynes. Some people who used to watch analogue terrestrial TV used to watch with a fuzzy picture as that location was not officially covered by analogue terrestrial TV. In some of these areas, the digital terrestrial TV reception is not sufficiently strong for a robust picture. However, these households can get a satellite dish to watch digital TV.

Unless they're in a listed building, like us. We also live in a hollow, so don't have line-of-sight to any transmitter. Luckily, Sandy Heath was able to up its power when the analogue signal was turned off, so we can now receive it OK.

Oddly, we could never get Channel 5 before.

 

[Bungle73]

Young children. That's part of the problem with the BBC output. Whilst CBeebies is pretty fantastic (our household isn't yet old enough to require CBBC so I can't really comment), the BBC seems to have a big gap in its output between CBBC and BBC Three.

Maybe these days teenagers watch more "grown up" things (Hollyoaks) or more "age unspecific" things like the Simpsons - there seems to be a bit of a gap for those who're starting secondary school though.

From what I understand of Grange Hill these days it's much more of a "kids" show than something tackling issues like drugs (as it was in my day).

Grange Hill isn't anything these days. It finished in 2008.

When I used to watch it it dealt with issues like a character drowning in a swimming pool (Zammo's cousin iirc), and of course the aforementioned Zammo's drug addiction.

They also shifted the location from a London comprehensive to somewhere up north...or somewhere. Why they did that I have no idea.

 

[Darandio]

Somewhat related, yes it's ITV but the BBC did report it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20780372

As these are many of the programs I grew up with, I'm rather looking forward to this.

 

[richw]

As someone with young children, I prefer a dedicated channel, If they are sitting watching TV I dont need to worry if I'm out of the room and a program ends what will come on next. Although generally after childrens shows the next programs are suitable, I wouldnt want them watching programmes like Doctors, and some times the News if something horrific is being reported.

 

[Class172]

Young children. That's part of the problem with the BBC output. Whilst CBeebies is pretty fantastic (our household isn't yet old enough to require CBBC so I can't really comment), the BBC seems to have a big gap in its output between CBBC and BBC Three.

Maybe these days teenagers watch more "grown up" things (Hollyoaks) or more "age unspecific" things like the Simpsons - there seems to be a bit of a gap for those who're starting secondary school though.

As someone who is close to the age bracket that you are describing, I would personally say that I never had the need for a type of show that fits between CBBC and BBC3. I do watch The Simpsons but I would say it is at this age that an individual begins to develop tastes for the genre of program, which are often spread across many channels.

I as an example have long preferred scientific and documentary type programs to a soap, which I cannot bear to watch. Nearly all of the programs on BBC3 and ITV2 I simply disregard as rubbish, and never have the need or want to watch them. There will also be people with tastes the opposite to me.

Although I have 'grown out' of CBBC as such, there are a couple of programmes which I still like to watch, such as Horrible Histories, which I think is excellently produced. However most I'd say is worse than even the programmes I watched say 7 years ago.

Unfortunately I have a younger sister who is obsessed with CBBC and whenever I walk into the lounge or turn the TV on, loan behold, you can guess which channel is on...:roll:

 

[radamfi]

How long will it be until some programming becomes on demand only? I would have thought that children's programmes would be one of the first genres that it could happen with.

 

[yorksrob]

From what I understand of Grange Hill these days it's much more of a "kids" show than something tackling issues like drugs (as it was in my day).

TBH it was never the same after Mr Bronson left (and they changed the theme tune).

 

[All Line Rover]

As someone who is close to the age bracket that you are describing, I would personally say that I never had the need for a type of show that fits between CBBC and BBC3. I do watch The Simpsons but I would say it is at this age that an individual begins to develop tastes for the genre of program, which are often spread across many channels.

I as an example have long preferred scientific and documentary type programs to a soap, which I cannot bear to watch. Nearly all of the programs on BBC3 and ITV2 I simply disregard as rubbish, and never have the need or want to watch them. There will also be people with tastes the opposite to me.

Although I have 'grown out' of CBBC as such, there are a couple of programmes which I still like to watch, such as Horrible Histories, which I think is excellently produced. However most I'd say is worse than even the programmes I watched say 7 years ago.

I couldn't agree more. For me, BBC3 only degrades the BBC's reputation for quality factual programming and seems a desperate attempts to reach audiences more suited to ITV. The BBC has a huge archive of fantastic documentaries but it can take 2 or 3 years, sometimes even longer, for them to be repeated. BBC4 is not sufficient. It's a pity the BBC don't publish their collection of documentaries on the iPlayer.

 

[yorksrob]

I couldn't agree more. For me, BBC3 only degrades the BBC's reputation for quality factual programming and seems a desperate attempts to reach audiences more suited to ITV. The BBC has a huge archive of fantastic documentaries but it can take 2 or 3 years, sometimes even longer, for them to be repeated. BBC4 is not sufficient. It's a pity the BBC don't publish their collection of documentaries on the iPlayer.

I don't entirely agree. BBC 3 does at least seem to be a good testing ground for new comedy (I enjoyed Cuckoo recently, which I think aired on it), although why Eastenders needs to be repeated on it as well is beyond me.

BBC 4 is splendid though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Lastly, what will the BBC put on in their place? More antique shows? I hope not!

Nah, probably just more cookery and makeover programmes instead

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Lastly, what will the BBC put on in their place? More antique shows? I hope not!

Nah, probably just more cookery and makeover programmes instead

For example, Tuesday 8 January 2013 has:

Escape to the Country, Perfection and Antiques Road Trip; so property, quiz, antiques!

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcone/programmes/schedules/london/2013/01/08)

 

[Class172]

BBC 4 is splendid though.

It would be good if they advertised BBC4 programmes a bit more as yes there are often very good ones on, but I often miss them or discover them as they finish.

 

[SS4]

BBC 4 is splendid though.

Agreed. My biggest gripe about BBC4 is that too many programs are not on BBC HD at the same time

 

[yorksrob]

Agreed. My biggest gripe about BBC4 is that too many programs are not on BBC HD at the same time

Ah well, I only upgraded from black and white a couple of years ago so I won't be worrying about HD for a few years !

 

[radamfi]

Agreed. My biggest gripe about BBC4 is that too many programs are not on BBC HD at the same time

BBC HD will be closed down and replaced by BBC Two HD.