BBC cuts jobs / Charter renewal

Also Rob and Dan Walker are both ways of Walkers advertising on BBC Sport through the backdoor.

I don't see them and think..mm mm I want some crisps.

I couldn't help noticing in the BBC's news report last night on the annual report included a segment of a radio interview David Cameron had previously gave where he expressed the need for entertainment programmes such as Strictly and The Voice. A smart decision from the BBC to remind it's audience of this and potentially make things slightly awkward for the government, should rumours about their green paper due for release tomorrow be true.

The Current programme on BBC One is NOT helping its case.

It wouldn't be on BBC1 if it wasn't for cuts and it's highlighting exactly why BBC3 needs to continue to exist to serve an audience BBC1 and BBC2 can't cater for - they've completely changed the tone of the show to appeal to the middle England BBC1 audience.

I would argue that this series shouldn't be broadcast on BBC1 but should have remained on BBC3. It seems BBC management decided to wind down BBC3 and shift most of it's best programmes to BBC1 and 2 before it moves online.

It's another example of how the more 'successful' BBC Three formats have been tweaked to cater for older audiences.

The Charter Review has begun with the publication of the green paper...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445704/BBC_Charter_Review_Consultation_WEB.pdf

The website where the public can respond is https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/bbc-charter-review-public-consultation and ends on 8th October.

Q2: Which elements of universality are most important for the BBC?

Q10: How should the system of content production be improved through reform of quotas or more radical options?

Q16: How should Public Value Tests and Service Licences be reformed and who should have the responsibility for making these decisions?

Good luck with the replies to those from the public then !!!.......

Well the vox pops on the street on yesterday's BBC News were not great.

Not that many of these types would respond but if asked do you want to pay less for something many would say yes regardless of the consequences.

I dread to think what their name makes you think.

The 2014 annual report may be of interest to some http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/annualreport/pdf/2013-14/bbc_annualreport_201314_bbcexecutive_managingourfinances.pdf notably pages 8 & 9 which contain the cost of running individual TV channel & Radio stations as well as the 'top-sliced' costs. For the radio stations is also interesting to compare their cost against Rajar figures http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php.

Personally, based on the reach percentage there is an argument to axe 1Xtra, and replace it with a pop-up station for events such as Glastonbury & R1 Big Weekend. I suspect this wouldn't get too many complaints from the political class. Similarly I can't help thinking there is a case to revisit the option of closing the Asian Network. That said I suspect the BBC may still be wary after the 6 Music closure threat.

On a related note with regards to the licence fee I'm slightly surprised there is still a lower rate for black & white licences. As of 31st March 2014 there were 11,018 licences issued. In a post-DSO era I can't help thinking the time has come to end the separate cheaper licence.