BBC 4 to be axed?

I agree. I'm supposed to fall into BBC Three's demographic, and it annoyed me hearing many people around my age banging on about how they should get rid of BBC Four instead because it's "boring". Some of my favourite films, documentaries and shows originated on BBC Four (granted they'll probably never make the likes of them again). You'll never please everybody with this sort of thing.

Sign me up to the same boat.

I'd have thought that if it was axed most of BBC4's content would just disappear - it just doesn't fit on BBC2 either in terms of budget or production style

I do think most the flagship content from BBC4 would fit on BBC2, but it is the rest that would get lost. The more we look at the options though the more it highlights how ridiculous it is to try and cut the BBC down to size. Some things may need to evolve and change but it is quite evident that the linear channels need to remain at the heart of the BBC.

I think the BBC is in a Catch-22 situation with the save Three/protect Four debate. The average viewership of BBC Four is older but less easily served via digital means - but if they direct BBC Three viewers to the internet, they'll never get them back. Ultimately, I fear that BBC Four will become obsolete anyway, although we are talking over a very prolonged period of time.

Regarding CBBC - bet they're regretting their decision to scrap CBBC from BBC One/Two. As many have astutely pointed out, their prime viewing times are probably those which used to be shown on BBC One/Two anyway, namely before 9am and after 3.30pm. If they want to cut back, they might consider moving these slots back - or at least save some of the biggest shows (I have no idea what they are these days but assume Blue Peter and Newsround are still going strong...), and leave CBeebies as is, if it gets the viewers, however passive.

I do think the linear channels need protecting, even if their remits change to take on some BBC Three or BBC Four content, even if it has to be put on a bit later at night - I find the post-news slots on both channels are wasted. I really don't see the need for BBC One+1. If you're that bothered about missing something, watch it on iPlayer, DVR it or get over it.

I'd much prefer to see the linear news channel remain and think scrapping it, streaming it, moving it online or whatever they are suggesting would severely damage the broadcast news landscape in the UK. I guess BBC Parliament is pretty cheap to run, but has a low viewership - and would argue that the News Channel is perfectly capable of covering goings on in Parliament to a sufficient degree. Perhaps the content could be put online? I bet MPs would suddenly have something to say about that...

Are we really looking at a future where as Channel 4/All4 are doing, by providing a VOD World Drama section of output that never has a linear broadcast?

Would BBC Two really be able to accommodate Spiral or Wallander in a prime time slot?

The thing with moving such things online is there is even less of an argument for the BBC to be competing in that market than there is in the traditional TV market. I just don't see the justification at a time of ever decreasing budgets in making exclusive online content - it should be the exception rather than the rule, or at the very least running side by side - e.g. a series premiering on a BBC channel and then the whole series being made available online after the premiere until the series concludes.

The latest plans to make BBC2 a rival to Netflix and Amazon rather than C4 just show a lack of vision IMO - they don't really seem to know what they're wanting out of this charter and the BBC really is lacking a bullish leader at the moment with the vision to drive it forward. Tony Hall has been a disastrous DG.

I don't think anyone here has been selfish (far less selfish than other Forums I could mention), it's not easy to do what the BBC will have to do (regarding cuts). No matter what you do...someone is gonna be offended. As I said earlier I really feel for the people having to do this for real. It can't be easy.

What the BBC have to be brave enough to do is to make decisions in the interests of the 65m people outside of the House of Commons, not the 650 in there. There seems to be to this notion that childrens services can't be cut when content for adults is destined to be slashed - if the news channel closed primetime options will have gone from 5 to 3 in just a few years, and cut even further if you took the previous red button cutbacks into account.

Everyone of course has different priorities - the BBC can't ever serve everyone 100% of the time and it means different things to different people. In all honesty I probably only watch 2-3 things on the BBC all week (other than sport, though that portfolio is decreasing!). I use the apps and website daily though, but programming wise the commercial sector just delivers better for me, mainly ITV, ITV2, C4 and E4. However I firmly believe a weaker BBC would mean a weaker ITV and Channel 4 too.

I can see the logic in merging CBBC/CBeebies where a 6am-5pm service for the pre-schoolers and 5pm-9pm for the older kids. This is CBBC extends hours to 9pm. For the loss of the two breakfast NR bulletins, the evening bulletin would be 15 mins long with the opportunity for longer packages.

Yet more people watch them than other news outlets. They still rate pretty highly. People value curation. With time at a premium, it's nice to let someone else search for the interesting stuff and give it to you in a neat package.

Is that the solution? Threaten to close BBC Parliament and massively scale back local and regional broadcasting - maybe dropping the Sunday politics regional opt - and you might find MPs a bit more willing to fight for less of the licence fee being creamed off for non BBC things and/or increases in line with inflation.