BBC to close Red Button service

*sigh*

I didn't mention it because of WHY or HOW it was done, but rather merely as a reply to this statement:

"It's the first time in almost 20 years the Beeb and another UK broadcaster have engaged in a joint collabortaion I think ?"

which, in Wales, is factually wrong, no matter how much you all try and worm out of it.

Oh, and then there's BBC Alba.

Well they need to sort the snooker coverage out before shutting down the BBC Red Button, Just three and half hours on BBC2 on Saturday doesn't cut it.

Sounds like more than enough to me.

Probably enough time to pot about three balls - if they play at speed!

Well they play snooker a lot quicker then us.

Sport is something easily provided by the commercial channels. The BBC should not be engaging in bidding wars with commercial companies for any rights -- if the commercial sector is willing to pay through the nose for sports rights, let them.

As for the red button -- the BBC has three full time channels (as of next year), and not much of the schedule is so important that pre-recorded programming can't wait for a couple of days so that live material can be shown. OAPs eating jam and watching old episodes of Bargain Hunt for the fourth time can surely find something else to do.

I would rather the BBC cuts back on this kind of thing than genuine public service commitments.

EastEnders is shedding viewers at the moment through.