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BBC3 or BBC4?

Please be 3 (March 2014)

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JO
Jon
JAS84 posted:
CBBC and Cbeebies share their transponders with BBC three and BBC Four, so closing a numbered channel means also closing a kids one. That's just not happening. Full stop.

No because they could replace Three or Four with BBC One (or Two) +1 like Brekkie suggested. Savings would could from cutting the channel's programming budget rather than the transmission costs which I guess would also come down slightly if they became a time shift service too.
Last edited by Jon on 4 March 2014 2:38am - 2 times in total
IS
Inspector Sands
There's not really much of a saving in
terms of distribution, it's just one channel on a mux or transponder. Playout is done by a third party so they might save a bit of cash but won't pass it on.

The only real saving is programming and Three & Four are the cheapest
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 4 March 2014 11:03am
IS
Inspector Sands
Cando posted:

BBC are obsessed with 'the next generation' of licence fee payers, not a hope in hell Three goes.

Yep, BBC Three is the most important of the two as it helps to grab to the license fee payers of the future. Without it E4 and MTV and ITV2 etc have that generation sewn up, and mainly with imports.
London Lite and tmorgan96 gave kudos
WP
WillPS
Inspector Sands posted:
Cando posted:

BBC are obsessed with 'the next generation' of licence fee payers, not a hope in hell Three goes.

Yep, BBC Three is the most important of the two as it helps to grab to the license fee payers of the future. Without it E4 and MTV and ITV2 etc have that generation sewn up, and mainly with imports.

But would they? I'm amazed by how many teenagers and young adults just don't watch telly at all any more.


The BBC have already officially given up on the 'teen' demographic; what's to stop them doing the same with young adults? Or leaving their content to iPlayer only?
BA
bilky asko
David posted:
I believe the way that the Sky EPG works means they would still need EPG slots for all their channels, even if the majority of them were hidden for most viewers. I expect ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky only hide the regions to make sure people see the right adverts.

What really needs to happen is the BBC, ITV and perhaps Channel 4 get together and refuse to pay the Sky EPG fees. Sky would have to back down and let them have the 'service' for free.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/26387384
JK
JK08
From Digital Spy

Quote:
Jack Whitehall, Matt Lucas campaign for BBC Three after cost-cutting rumours

Jack Whitehall, Matt Lucas and Russell Kane have all shown their support for BBC Three after speculation over the channel's future.

BBC director general Tony Hall recently announced that cuts of £100 million would have to be made at the corporation. There has been no official line that BBC Three or any other channel will be axed.

Comedians and presenters have spoken out in support of BBC Three on Twitter, while "#SaveBBC3" trended worldwide on Tuesday evening (March 4).

The official BBC Three account tweeted about the rumours circulating online, writing: "Who knew people love BBC Three more than pancakes?! Feeling loved. #SaveBBC3"

Matt Lucas, whose comedy Little Britain first aired on BBC Three, wrote extensively about saving the channel, saying: "Hearing horrible rumours about the possible closure of BBC3. This would be really bad for new comedy. Like, REALLY bad.

"Little Britain, Gavin & Stacey, Torchwood, Being Human, Mighty Boosh, Pramface, Ideal - BBC3 is the home of new comedy & drama #SaveBBC3"

Meanwhile, Bad Education actor Jack Whitehall said that the channel's support of new comedy was "vital".

"I really hope reports that the BBC may kill BBC3 are just rumours," he added.

5 Live presenter Richard Bacon suggested that BBC Three could spark a similar response from viewers to BBC 6 Music, the digital station which was saved from the axe in 2010 following a vocal campaign by listeners.

"BBC3 makes lots of great, clever, distinct programmes. If the rumours of it being cut are true, we might need to retool that 6Music campaign," Bacon tweeted. "As a BBC employee, I can't get involved in campaigns. So it's entirely up to you if you want to start using #SaveBBC3."

Live at the Electric's Russell Kane described BBC Three as "the crucible of upcoming comedic artists".

Radio 1 DJs Greg James, who co-presented Staying in with Greg and Russell on the channel alongside Kane, and Jameela Jamil also tweeted about the importance of the station.

"Such a load of balls if the rumours about BBC3 being axed are true.Genuinely brilliant new comedy + live music needs that platform," said James.

Jamil wrote: "#SaveBBC3 because it's just about the last thing left made for young people."

Stacey Dooley, who has fronted several documentaries for the channel, also said on Twitter: "What on earth???! #SaveBBC3 ....the critics are so predictable. They fail to mention channel has numerous bafta docs to boast. #teambbc3"

Presenter Rick Edwards also wrote the following on the microblogging site: "Dear BBC, Please do not swing an axe into the back of BBC3's young head. You murdering old swines. Thanks, R Edwards."

Digital Spy has reached out to the BBC for comment.

BBC Three launched just over 11 years ago, on February 9, 2003.


http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a555482/jack-whitehall-matt-lucas-campaign-for-bbc-three-after-cost-cutting-rumours.html
TM
tmorgan96
I love how some people, who are completely outside of BBC3's demographic, say that the channel 'is pointless' and such.

The channel's fate should be decided by the demographic of which it appeals to.
JA
JAS84
Jon posted:
JAS84 posted:
CBBC and Cbeebies share their transponders with BBC three and BBC Four, so closing a numbered channel means also closing a kids one. That's just not happening. Full stop.

No because they could replace Three or Four with BBC One (or Two) +1 like Brekkie suggested. Savings would could from cutting the channel's programming budget rather than the transmission costs which I guess would also come down slightly if they became a time shift service too.
Aren't we forgetting something? 6.30pm on BBC One is local news. So replacing BBC Three with BBC One+1 means extending CBBC by an hour.
GO
gottago
The BBC is planning to turn Three into an online only service according to Broadcast. Not a good move at all IMO.
VM
VMPhil
WillPS posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
Cando posted:

BBC are obsessed with 'the next generation' of licence fee payers, not a hope in hell Three goes.

Yep, BBC Three is the most important of the two as it helps to grab to the license fee payers of the future. Without it E4 and MTV and ITV2 etc have that generation sewn up, and mainly with imports.

But would they? I'm amazed by how many teenagers and young adults just don't watch telly at all any more.

You've made this point before but I'm sorry, you're vastly overestimating the amount of teens and young people who don't watch regular TV. Shows like The Inbetweeners have had record ratings for multichannel TV.

As for the campaign, I'm surprised already at how much bigger the Save BBC Three campaign is than Save BBC Four, even it's popularity on Twitter.
JO
Jon
JAS84 posted:
Jon posted:
JAS84 posted:
CBBC and Cbeebies share their transponders with BBC three and BBC Four, so closing a numbered channel means also closing a kids one. That's just not happening. Full stop.

No because they could replace Three or Four with BBC One (or Two) +1 like Brekkie suggested. Savings would could from cutting the channel's programming budget rather than the transmission costs which I guess would also come down slightly if they became a time shift service too.
Aren't we forgetting something? 6.30pm on BBC One is local news. So replacing BBC Three with BBC One+1 means extending CBBC by an hour.

Please stop stating things as if they are fact when they aren't, there could be several other outcomes if that is the route they go down. Other broadcasters repeat the news on their +1 services the BBC may decide on that too.
WH
Whataday Founding member
David posted:
What really needs to happen is the BBC, ITV and perhaps Channel 4 get together and refuse to pay the Sky EPG fees. Sky would have to back down and let them have the 'service' for free.


Is that not the equivalent of some sort of cartel and therefore illegal?

Anyway, as far as the debate is concerned, the point the DG was making was he would rather close a channel rather than have its budget sliced over time. The average day's BBC Three schedule is mainly repeats as it is.

Can I just point out the onslaught of disagreement I faced four months ago when I suggested that they could do this. I even suggested there be a commissioning editor of iPlayer that would oversee the programmes that would survive the closure of the channel but that weren't lucky enough to make the other TV channels.

They had a successful trial of premiering Bad Education on iPlayer recently and they don't do these things for the hell of it. It was obviously carried out in a way to see how BBC Three content would go down as online only content.

And it's all very well these celebrities campaigning to save BBC Three. Would they provide programming for free then? They need a reality check in the same way some TVF members need... THE BBC HAS TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL CUTS AND YET IT HAS A CHANNEL WHICH ISN'T UNIQUE TO EXISTING COMMERCIAL RIVALS.

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