BBC Three is back

[Mcr Warrior]

Now that BBC3 is back, understand that it's now been decided to bin off BBC4 from Freeview TV and for the latter channel to go online only.

CBBC and BBC 4 axed and 1,000 jobs at risk in 'digital-first' plans

BBC World News and BBC News Channel will also merge to create a single 24-hour TV news channel serving both the UK and abroad

www.lancs.live

Extract of web story...

CBBC and BBC Four and will end as linear TV channels over the next few years as part of the latest round of cuts at the broadcaster.

Director-general Tim Davie announced to staff today (May 26) that 1,000 jobs will also be lost across the public-funded part of the corporation. BBC World News and BBC News Channel will merge to create a single 24-hour TV news channel serving both UK and international audiences.

Seems on the face of it that the Beeb's top brass have chosen to penalise the more serious part of BBC's broadcasting spectrum in order to protect the trivial.

So, is it a good idea to drive away a segment of the market that pays the Beeb's licence fee in order to target the 'yoof' audience?

 

[yorksrob]

The series "Peacock" with the lad who was in "people Just do nothing" is turning out to be pretty good as well.

And not BBC3 particularly, but "Here We Go" is excellent.

Keep this up please BEEB.

And get the sequel to Wolf Hall done as well.

 

[birchesgreen]

Thats sad, the only BBC TV i watch is BBC4 when they show some Scandi-Noir.

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, consigning BBC4 sounds like an admission of defeat.

CBBC ? sorry - we made do with a broom cupboard and Gordon the Gopher (and Ed the Duck) and we were fine.

 

[johncrossley]

BBC Four no longer shows anything new, on principle, except live events, such as sport. For example, new Top of the Pops shows are on BBC Two first nowadays rather than BBC Four. So, in theory, the BBC Four channel is effectively already defunct as all its content (except live events) is already available on the iPlayer.

(If we are being pedantic, BBC TV channel names use the full word rather than the number. So BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three and BBC Four, not BBC1, BBC2, BBC3 and BBC4).

 

[Kite159]

BBC Four no longer shows anything new, on principle, except live events, such as sport. For example, new Top of the Pops shows are on BBC Two first nowadays rather than BBC Four. So, in theory, the BBC Four channel is effectively already defunct as all its content (except live events) is already available on the iPlayer.

(If we are being pedantic, BBC TV channel names use the full word rather than the number. So BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three and BBC Four, not BBC1, BBC2, BBC3 and BBC4).

Which is a shame because there has been some good educational science programs shown on BBC Four over the years, not aimed for the masses (in terms of being dumbed down). Programs which the likes of ITV wouldn't touch with a 50 foot barge pole unless they can shoe-horn some 'celebrity' in.

 

[johncrossley]

Which is a shame because there has been some good educational science programs shown on BBC Four over the years, not aimed for the masses (in terms of being dumbed down). Programs which the likes of ITV wouldn't touch with a 50 foot barge pole unless they can shoe-horn some 'celebrity' in.

In theory, these programmes will still be made, but will be shown first on BBC Two. BBC Four is now almost exclusively a repeats channel.

 

[Kite159]

In theory, these programmes will still be made, but will be shown first on BBC Two. BBC Four is now almost exclusively a repeats channel.

Most likely dumbed down to appeal to the typical BBC Two audience, maybe with a random 'celebrity' shoe-horned into the show.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Getting rid of CBBC is a bad move. What about families with children who can't afford Netflix/Disney etc?

 

[Ashley Hill]

I watch quite a few programs on BBC4 but didn’t and still don’t watch anything on BBC 3. The Beeb are backing the wrong horse here.

 

[dosxuk]

BBC4 lost its budget for new programming in January. The subsequent Licence Fee settlement means even more savings need to be found. A sop to moving BBC4 online/ closing BBC4 is that they are also applying for iPlayer to be allowed to show more original programming (currently it's only really allowed to play stuff that's been shown on a linear channel).

BBC4 was already a shadow of its former self, and should have been put out to pasture when it's programming budget was removed. However if we get more archive content added to iPlayer as a result, this can only be a good thing.

Getting rid of CBBC is a bad move. What about families with children who can't afford Netflix/Disney etc?

They will still be able to watch online. Audience studies have shown that Cbeebies audience's primarily watch the linear output, while CCBC viewers generally like to binge watch on demand.

If the licence fee isn't going to increase at least in line with inflation, then services are going to have to be reduced. In real terms the BBC's income has been dropping for about 15 years now - there's not much left to chop without upsetting significant numbers.

 

[507020]

Yes, consigning BBC4 sounds like an admission of defeat.

CBBC ? sorry - we made do with a broom cupboard and Gordon the Gopher (and Ed the Duck) and we were fine.

But this ‘broom cupboard’ continuity has continued under various names (the CBBC office, then CBBC HQ) and it was always the best part CBBC. It can’t have even cost much for something so entertaining and you don’t get that from non-linear streaming services, so I don’t see how this will work.

Getting rid of CBBC is a bad move. What about families with children who can't afford Netflix/Disney etc?

Not only that, Netflix, Disney and competitors output largely American focussed content. The purpose of CBBC is to provide British children’s content. Getting rid of it would mean destroying a huge market segment.

 

[duncanp]

Getting rid of CBBC is a bad move. What about families with children who can't afford Netflix/Disney etc?

I think this means that Blue Peter will be going online only.

Sad really, and it shows how much the BBC is out of touch, and has lost its way.

John Noakes would be turning in his grave.

 

[Paul Jones 88]

BBC is going the wrong way with this, I think that the BBC will be gone in the next ten years, none of the young people I know ever watch it and most of the time they are showing dumbed down dross, I despise the idea of being forced to fund the BBC on threat of imprisonment just because I own a television, the BBC should be made to fund itself through advertising and programming sales like all other providers.

 

[yorksrob]

Everything's too commercial now.

That's the problem with everything these days.

 

[TheBigD]

BBC is going the wrong way with this, I think that the BBC will be gone in the next ten years, none of the young people I know ever watch it and most of the time they are showing dumbed down dross, I despise the idea of being forced to fund the BBC on threat of imprisonment just because I own a television, the BBC should be made to fund itself through advertising and programming sales like all other providers.

+1

The license fee should be abolished immediately. £150+ a year saving for a lot of people dealing with the cost of living at the moment. The world has moved on and it's time the bbc adapted to reality.

With stuff like netflix, Rumble, a whole range of commercial channels, and social media etc etc there is simple no need for the bbc. Whatever your interest, political leanings hobbies etc etc there is a whole array of stuff out there on various platforms.

Of course as the bbc is so popular and well respected (sarcasm) it will have absolutely no problem in being a commercial broadcaster with people freely choosing to subscribing to their content.

 

[JRT]

Maybe get rid of BBC TWO?
Don't think they are currently showing any original programming?
Monday's quiz selection a few months ago was
Mastermind originally BBC ONE
Only Connect BBC FOUR
University Challenge GRANADA

 

[GusB]

Maybe get rid of BBC TWO?
Don't think they are currently showing any original programming?
Monday's quiz selection a few months ago was
Mastermind originally BBC ONE
Only Connect BBC FOUR
University Challenge GRANADA

It's still original programming in that the programmes are still being produced, and aren't repeats.

 

[Hadders]

+1

The license fee should be abolished immediately. £150+ a year saving for a lot of people dealing with the cost of living at the moment. The world has moved on and it's time the bbc adapted to reality.

With stuff like netflix, Rumble, a whole range of commercial channels, and social media etc etc there is simple no need for the bbc. Whatever your interest, political leanings hobbies etc etc there is a whole array of stuff out there on various platforms.

Of course as the bbc is so popular and well respected (sarcasm) it will have absolutely no problem in being a commercial broadcaster with people freely choosing to subscribing to their content.

The BBC is not perfect but at £150 a year it's an absolute bargain.

How much would hard pressed families pay for Netflix etc etc. Far more than £150 a year.

 

[Kite159]

The BBC is not perfect but at £150 a year it's an absolute bargain.

How much would hard pressed families pay for Netflix etc etc. Far more than £150 a year.

The difference is you don't have to pay for Netflix but you have to pay for the BBC even if you don't watch any of its channels (unless you are on demand only and put up with the threatening letters from Crapita )

The standard Netflix is £10.99 a month (2 devices in HD) with a higher tier for ultra HD and 4 devices but a hard pressed family won't be paying for the top tier

 

[Bevan Price]

There are probably elements within the Tory party who would like to see BBC flogged to one of their "friends", if they thought they could get away with it. Getting rid of the licence fee would ease any transition.

 

[Ashley Hill]

BBC4 has shown some excellent documentaries over the years and also shows comedies like Yes Minister. I’ve often thought this channel was more cerebral whereas BBC3 seems to be following the likes of ITV2 and C5 into lowest common denominator shows.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Wonder how much money will actually be saved by making BBC4 digital only, given that much of its output is repeats?

 

[GusB]

BBC4 has shown some excellent documentaries over the years and also shows comedies like Yes Minister. I’ve often thought this channel was more cerebral whereas BBC3 seems to be following the likes of ITV2 and C5 into lowest common denominator shows.

You'd have to descend quite far before the depths of Channel 5 are reached. BBC3 might not be my thing, but I'd rather it was funded than the trash that exists on C5. I can't really comment on ITV2 because I don't pay much attention to it.

 

[ChrisC]

You'd have to descend quite far before the depths of Channel 5 are reached. BBC3 might not be my thing, but I'd rather it was funded than the trash that exists on C5. I can't really comment on ITV2 because I don't pay much attention to it.

I don’t agree with you about Channel 5. Up until about 5 years ago it was like ITV2 and BBC3 a channel that I would never watch. Channel 5 was certainly complete trash but during the last 5 years there has been a big change. Lots of the trash is still there, especially during the day, but in the evenings they are now showing some excellent documentaries. Some of their history and travel documentaries are extremely good and for me have replaced what has been lost from BBC4. The presenter Rob Bell does some great documentaries including the series of walks along lost railways. Some of their gardening programmes, especially with Carol Klein, have been good. They have even started to produce some excellent drama. Their new version of All Creatures Great and Small was very well done.

I really miss BBC4 for their excellent documentaries, travel programmes and especially live music and it was one of my most watched channels. I can’t see me ever watching much on BBC3. However, Channel 5 is now a channel I am beginning to watch far more frequently. I don’t watch BBC2 and Channel 4 as much as I did in the past and feel that they have both lost their way a bit.

 

[wireforever]

Message on my TV screen to say BBC news channel will cease to broadcast on freeview HD from the end of the month .I am always losing my HD channels due to bad weather .I have considered a roof aerial rather than the loft aerial and other options such as a Freesat dish and running a cable from the downstairs TV (virgin media)to upstairs TV rather than £10 per month for a 2nd tivo box

 

[johncrossley]

Message on my TV screen to say BBC news channel will cease to broadcast on freeview HD from the end of the month .I am always losing my HD channels due to bad weather .I have considered a roof aerial rather than the loft aerial and other options such as a Freesat dish and running a cable from the downstairs TV (virgin media)to upstairs TV rather than £10 per month for a 2nd tivo box

The BBC News Channel in HD is only available to about two thirds of the population as it uses the COM7 multiplex which shuts down next Friday. COM7 was always intended to be temporary as the frequencies are needed for 5G. It was supposed to encourage users to buy HD compatible boxes and TVs but it was filled with a lot of low budget standard definition channels.

The HD channels that you are losing might all be this COM7 multiplex so that will no longer be a problem in a few days time. You might be in marginal reception area, and your aerial might not be optimised for the COM7 channels. For example in London, most people have Group A aerials. When COM7 moved to a new frequency a couple of years ago, out of the Group A channel range, many viewers in London lost those channels. They could have got them back by installing a new aerial but those channels were always going to be switched off by 30 June 2022. So I would wait until after Friday before deciding to replace your aerial.

BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD will have improved coverage after 30 June as they move from COM7 to a 'normal' multiplex which covers 99% of the population.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Not BBC3 but much better is Forces TV. Unfortunately it’s shutting down at the end of June. As well as army bits and pieces it also shows a lot of vintage ITV sitcoms such as Oh No,It’s Selwyn Froggit and On The Up. It is better than the repetitive Gold channel as it does alter its programming regularly. It will be missed.