BBC Breakfast

Cue Bill's "Press 'TV' and then '2'...".
Why does the BBC allow a programme with regional opt-outs to be moved across onto a channel that doesn't official support opt-outs.

In a couple of years time, they won't be able to transfer programmes to BBC 2, certain parts of the country as parts of the Look North and North West regions will not recieve anything but London. But yes i agree that if the BBC want to help drive digital take up they have to stop putting regional programmes on BBC 2, it happens at least once a year with wimbledon, and will probably happen a few more times this year due to other sporting events, can't they just put the Commonwealth Games on BBC 2. It will be intresting to see what the BBC do in 2008 during the Beijing Olympics, will the North of the country suddenly become part of the London region?

Well I think it's riduculous shifting BBC1 programmes such as Breakfast to BBC2 just to put these events on. I mean, why does it have to go on BBC1? There's plenty of "less important" programmes on BBC2 that can be dropped for the Commonwealth games, just like they did for the winter olympics.

With regard to the above post, why would it just be the north and north west which would receive London? Wouldn't it be all the English regions? I think it's about time all the English regions for BBC2 were put on digital. The Super League show on BBC2 North is only available on analogue - which wil be switched off in 5 years.

I don't know about the North West, but in previous instances, the Look North (Leeds) version has been shown on Look North (Hull) on BBC Two analogue as Hull can't opt on 2. AFAIK all digital viewers will get London.

It's an utterly stupid situation which could happily be solved by putting the Commonwealth games on BBC Two. It's not like 2's a digital channel that some people can't get.

... in England.

Really? Surely if they can opt on 1 they can opt on 2, simply by feeding BBC2 from Belmont properly.

IIRC, Look North Hull is available on digital. On my digibox, Look North Leeds is EPG 101 which is BBC1 Yorkshire. I can get hull on EPG 975 (or something like that), which is BBC1 Yorkshire and Linconshire. But of course, that's BBC1 and not 2.

But to do that they would have to have additional kit in Hull, and additional circuits between Hull and Belmont so that they could opt into the BBC2 distribution, all to accommodate a situation which isn't meant to happen and which will be obsolete in a handful of years' time... a good way to spend the license fee?

The reason the English regions can't opt BBC2 digital is to do with needing a statmuxer in the regional centre and a distribution rate feed of BBC2, in addition to kit to actually do the switch. Plus in the case of satellite backhaul feeds to London and capacity/ EPG channels for the variations.

Far cheaper for the schedulers to get a clue...

Have the Beeb ever discussed the problem on air anywhere, or has it been 'fobbed off' as nutters moaning?

It seems to fall within NewsWatch's remit - if you're in an affected area, why not give them a bell?

I'd put this down to stupidity and a lack of understanding of the consequences by those responsible.

With a bit of luck there will be a ton of complaints and this will be the last time it happens.

If only because it means more early shifts for me and getting out of bed at 4.30am. Though I'm not bitter. No.

Hey, c'mon, it can't be that bad? Cab to work, and maybe even an hour or so on night pay. Surely that's enough to compensate?

Outside of London we tend to drive ourselves!