Has the BBC lost the plot?

[jon0844]

In my opinion, TV - including BBC - are too obsessed with so-called celebrities, and are willing to pay far too much to get them on TV.
For example, do they really need 3 or 4 "pundits" to discuss every sports event transmitted "live" or as highlights.
And whilst Mr Lineker is pretty good at his football analysis, I am sure there are people who might be "almost as good", but for a lot less money.

As for A Question Of Sport" - I think that most programmes get a bit stale when they have been around for a long time, and would benefit from a long break. (Just as happened with Dr Who - it had been getting stale and came back much refreshed after its "holiday", )
Pity they don't give "soaps" some long holidays.

When GB News attempted to cover the football during the whole Linekar 'scandal' last time, it was a total embarrassment and shambles. Personally, I think most people want to see and listen to people who are good, not 'almost as good'. But there is of course a right for people to talk about the level of pay, and the BBC seems to be more transparent than most.

It's a fact of life now that the BBC has to compete with commercial broadcasters, hence paying a lot of money to secure the latest gameshow concept, to have big name stars on shows and the like - because if they didn't, nobody would watch.

At least home-grown content can be sold abroad commercially, which Top Gear was a perfect example. That brings money to the organisation beyond the license fee income.

I have no doubt if the BBC decided to just ditch all the big-name presenters, and get the general public to come on and give it a go, the same people moaning would start going on about 'woke', 'virtue signalling' and other buzz-words.. The fact being that some people just hate the BBC full stop.

 

[75A]

Unfortunately you are correct, but not for the better.

Indeed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Dec 2023 ==

I have no doubt if the BBC decided to just ditch all the big-name presenters, and get the general public to come on and give it a go, the same people moaning would start going on about 'woke', 'virtue signalling' and other buzz-words.. The fact being that some people just hate the BBC full stop.

I don't hate the BBC but I dislike having to pay for it.
I pay for Sky Sports and I don't mind because I watch it, can't say the same for the BBC.

 

[wilbers]

As for A Question Of Sport" - I think that most programmes get a bit stale when they have been around for a long time, and would benefit from a long break. (Just as happened with Dr Who - it had been getting stale and came back much refreshed after its "holiday", )
Pity they don't give "soaps" some long holidays.

Is that its long extended holiday, or the Chibnall era. Dr Who does feel like its come back again this year; with Chibnall there was the odd good script in there, but overall a nope. He would be fine as writer who came up with a few ideas each year and had someone to tell him which was the good one.

 

[AM9]

Indeed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Dec 2023 ==


I don't hate the BBC but I dislike having to pay for it.
I pay for Sky Sports and I don't mind because I watch it, can't say the same for the BBC.

Do you watch it then?

 

[75A]

No, not at all, not BBC1/2/3 or 4.

In the past, before I retired (7 years ago) I would listen to Test Match Special on Radio 4 @ work, but now I just watch it live (obviously not on BBC because they don't show live Test Matches!)

 

[westv]

Indeed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Dec 2023 ==


I don't hate the BBC but I dislike having to pay for it.
I pay for Sky Sports and I don't mind because I watch it, can't say the same for the BBC.

Do you watch ITV or C4? They are funded via advertising which ultimately is paid for by the consumer.

 

[AM9]

Do you watch ITV or C4? They are funded via advertising which ultimately is paid for by the consumer.

... and Sky where there are ads.

 

[75A]

I know and I'm quite happy with that.
I mainly watch sports 'live', anything else I watch I tend to record and then have the option to 'fast forward'

 

[Statto]

Question Of Sport (QoS) has been dreadful for years now, trying too hard morphing into They Think It's All Over, A League Of Their Own, style shows which QoS never was.

QoS needs to get back to the format that it was it's heyday which was, Picture Board, Home or Away, Action Round, What Happened Next, Mystery Guest, Picture Board part 2, 1 Minute Round, when it was a good fun quiz show, & seeing sports stars in a different environment away from the sports they were competing in.

 

[Buzby]

... and Sky where there are ads.

And the same on ITV and C4, but the gotcha is as UK licenced broadcasters you are still forced to buy a licence to watch them (including the ads). I paid for ITVX to opt out of the adverts, yet the film I watch state ‘Due to contractual obligations this programme contains adverts’. Who’s? Why ITVX’s upcoming promotions! So they contractually obligated to themselves whilst I’ve opted out but still get them!

 

[Ashley Hill]

I still enjoy HIGNFY but it’s nothing like it was a few years ago especially when Angus Deyton was the host. The quality of the guests has waned with third rate celebrities instead of topical guests. Some host’s struggle because they are not presenters therefore appearing un-natural in their presentation style. The show often goes off at a tangent during the questions meaning one round can often go around in circles for ages before finally getting the answer. It has become more of a comedy quiz show than a satirical quiz show.

 

[Trackman]

And the same on ITV and C4, but the gotcha is as UK licenced broadcasters you are still forced to buy a licence to watch them (including the ads). I paid for ITVX to opt out of the adverts, yet the film I watch state ‘Due to contractual obligations this programme contains adverts’. Who’s? Why ITVX’s upcoming promotions! So they contractually obligated to themselves whilst I’ve opted out but still get them!

I wonder if it's a deal with the film company to have a cut of ad revenue.

 

[ChrisC]

I don't hate the BBC but I dislike having to pay for it.
I pay for Sky Sports and I don't mind because I watch it, can't say the same for the BBC.

It’s all very much a matter of personal taste and we all like different things. What people are prepared to pay for varies greatly. I would never pay for Sky Sports because I wouldn’t watch it, but I don’t mind paying for a TV licence because I do watch BBC programmes just about daily.

For over 20 years I subscribed to Sky and had the general entertainment package but not Sport of Movies. I had Sky when it first went digital as I live in a location where in summer tv reception through an aerial was t good when all the trees were in leaf. Around 5 years ago when the price was creeping up towards £40 a month I cancelled. I looked at my planner and realised that over 90% of what I had recorded was actually available on Freeview and therefore ridiculous that I should continue to pay for Sky in addition to a TV licence. I changed to FreeSat and don’t miss Sky at all but I am nearly £500 a year better off. Most of what I watch is BBC1, BBC2, BBC4 and BBC News. I watch some ITV1, Channel 4 and 5, but not that much. I rarely watch BBC3 or ITV 2/3/4. I do sometimes watch Yesterday, Drama and Sky Arts. I used to listen to 2 and BBC Local Radio but rarely do recently. I still listen to Radio 4 amd Radio 5 Live and for music now mainly Boom Radio, Classic FM and occasionally BBC Radio 6 Muisic.

As I said we all like different things and have different things we are willing to pay for.

 

[Gloster]

One of the things that causes the rows about TV companies (the BBC usually) changing formats, other than political and media groups firing off at organisations that criticise or compete with them, is habits. People who have been watching a programme for a while have continued to watch because they liked the format when they first watched it and don’t want it to change. However, people who watched it a few times in the past, but didn’t return because they disliked the format, are difficult to attract to it when the format is changed, even if they might like it if they did. (“I watched that ten years ago and it was rubbish.” “Bit it’s been completely redone.” “Still a rubbish show, I bet.”)

 

[AlistairCowell]

Indeed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Dec 2023 ==

I don't hate the BBC but I dislike having to pay for it.
I pay for Sky Sports and I don't mind because I watch it, can't say the same for the BBC.

It’s all very much a matter of personal taste and we all like different things. What people are prepared to pay for varies greatly. I would never pay for Sky Sports because I wouldn’t watch it, but I don’t mind paying for a TV licence because I do watch BBC programmes just about daily.

For over 20 years I subscribed to Sky and had the general entertainment package but not Sport of Movies. I had Sky when it first went digital as I live in a location where in summer tv reception through an aerial was t good when all the trees were in leaf. Around 5 years ago when the price was creeping up towards £40 a month I cancelled. I looked at my planner and realised that over 90% of what I had recorded was actually available on Freeview and therefore ridiculous that I should continue to pay for Sky in addition to a TV licence. I changed to FreeSat and don’t miss Sky at all but I am nearly £500 a year better off. Most of what I watch is BBC1, BBC2, BBC4 and BBC News. I watch some ITV1, Channel 4 and 5, but not that much. I rarely watch BBC3 or ITV 2/3/4. I do sometimes watch Yesterday, Drama and Sky Arts. I used to listen to 2 and BBC Local Radio but rarely do recently. I still listen to Radio 4 amd Radio 5 Live and for music now mainly Boom Radio, Classic FM and occasionally BBC Radio 6 Muisic.

As I said we all like different things and have different things we are willing to pay for.

Quite right, each to their own, but we all still have to pay TV Licence, though the BBC can sometimes be a disgrace.
I don't watch television nowadays, but I did when I was younger.

I remember watching BBC One on a Saturday night at my grandparents: Dad's Army was on, The Generation Game, Noel's House Party and The National Lottery Live. Casualty was on as well back then and it is still on today. On Thursday nights, we had Top of The Pops.

The BBC was supposed to inform, educate and entertain, really?

 

[westv]

On the subject of sports, I see that BBC Sports Personality is on a Tuesday evening. How long has it been on a Tuesday rather than a Sunday?

 

[778]

Has the science documentary series Horizon also been cancelled by the BBC? There have not been any new episodes for over a year, but I have not heard that the BBC has finished it. Doctors is another long running show (although not as long running as a Question of Sport) that is being axed by the BBC.

 

[Kite159]

I can't actually remember the last time I've watched anything from the BBC, the days of good science documentaries on BBC4 are mostly gone. If I had the option, I would ditch the TV licence, but sadly my mum watches live TV.

Outside the news when it gets shown at work during lunchtime

 

[JamesT]

On the subject of sports, I see that BBC Sports Personality is on a Tuesday evening. How long has it been on a Tuesday rather than a Sunday?

It was moved away from Sunday last year due to the World Cup final. Previously it had been on a Sunday for almost all of the preceding 40 years. I’ve not seen a reason given as to why it couldn’t be on Sunday this year.

 

[AlistairCowell]

Has the science documentary series Horizon also been cancelled by the BBC? There have not been any new episodes for over a year, but I have not heard that the BBC has finished it. Doctors is another long running show (although not as long running as a Question of Sport) that is being axed by the BBC.

Doctors only existed for 23 years. I don't like that show.

 

[Gloster]

On the subject of sports, I see that BBC Sports Personality is on a Tuesday evening. How long has it been on a Tuesday rather than a Sunday?

I would just point out that Sunday next is Christmas Eve. Or should the day be dedicated to the modern gods (of sport)?

Doctors only existed for 23 years. I don't like that show.

But think of all the fading and second-rate actors who will be out of work. They haven’t got over the axeing (*) of Crossroads yet.

* - Not that they needed an axe with those cardboard sets: a blunt Stanley knife would do.

 

[GusB]

Doctors only existed for 23 years. I don't like that show.

Only? 23 years is a fairly good run for such a show.

I was never into a Question of Sport, mainly because I'm not into sport in general, but I was rather surprised by the implication that the show was woke.

In my opinion, anyone who says that something is woke is a bigot who doesn't like having their silly, outdated views challenged.

 

[westv]

I would just point out that Sunday next is Christmas Eve. Or should the day be dedicated to the modern gods (of sport)?

There's more than one Sunday in December.

 

[Gloster]

There's more than one Sunday in December.

And then you would have people screaming that their Christmas was ruined because Spoty had been moved so far from Christmas.

 

[AM9]

Quite right, each to their own, but we all still have to pay TV Licence, though the BBC can sometimes be a disgrace.
I don't watch television nowadays, but I did when I was younger.

I remember watching BBC One on a Saturday night at my grandparents: Dad's Army was on, The Generation Game, Noel's House Party and The National Lottery Live. Casualty was on as well back then and it is still on today. On Thursday nights, we had Top of The Pops.

The BBC was supposed to inform, educate and entertain, really?

So you've identified about 4 hours of entertainment programming that you chose to watch. There were countless others to watch, particularly on BBC2 that did just that, I.e. educate and/or inform. Did you avoid Panorama, Horizon, whatever wildlife programmes were on, the many editions of the news or The Money Programme?
Or did you just cherry pick what to post here in order to make your point?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

On the subject of sports, I see that BBC Sports Personality is on a Tuesday evening. How long has it been on a Tuesday rather than a Sunday?

I would just point out that Sunday next is Christmas Eve.

Probably be logistically fairly tricky getting together all the guests, TV staff and the studio audience (and then getting them back home again) for a (two hour) show, if broadcast live on Christmas Eve.

 

[westv]

I did a quick Google for SPOTY and it appears to not to have been on a Sunday only twice in the last 40 years.

 

[dangie]

I would just point out that Sunday next is Christmas Eve. Or should the day be dedicated to the modern gods (of sport)?..

Christmas television is swamped with films. I rarely watch films, but I know others do so I understand why they are shown.

Conversely, many people like sport, so I wouldn’t have a problem with some sport being shown.

 

[Richardr]

I also have a suspicion, although this is connected with other shows, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the right combination of guests at a price that can be afforded. Sportsman‘s knowledge is, in my opinion, increasingly centred on their own sport and, because they have been nurtured to it since a young age, have only a limited ability to talk and joke about anything else.

I'm sure there is a lot behind that, plus:

1. The same is true for viewers. 20 or 30 years ago people watched a lot of different sports partly because so little football was televised, and partly down to lack of choice. The era of Grandstand / World of Sport finished years ago. Whatever happens and whoever shows it, a Rugby League commentator will no longer be a national personality, Show Jumping won't be shown across a week several times a year at peak time, athletics isn't a regular peak time draw, and few people outside enthusiasts watch horse racing. The latter three have remained to a large extent on terrestrial TV, interest has just fallen away; and
2. In the main sports participants are paid large sums, which they never used to be. No way will a top footballer such as Kevin Keegan risk his career to injury in Superstars, and similarly they have no need or wish for the appearance fee on a quiz show.

 

[ChrisC]

So you've identified about 4 hours of entertainment programming that you chose to watch. There were countless others to watch, particularly on BBC2 that did just that, I.e. educate and/or inform. Did you avoid Panorama, Horizon, whatever wildlife programmes were on, the many editions of the news or The Money Programme?
Or did you just cherry pick what to post here in order to make your point?

Completely agree about the amount of good quality programmes the BBC still produces which would still ’educate and inform’. I watch very little general entertainment programmes these days because I do feel that the quality has deteriorated to a point where most of them are no longer worth watching. However, my planner is always full of good quality documentaries, historical, wildlife, travel, topical programmes and good quality drama which I have recorded. Most of this is from BBC1/2/4, with some from ITV, Channel 4 and 5.