Yeah I know, and I still miss it to this day. I've said it hundreds of times, but the BBC were stupid to axe the UK's only free-to-air documentary channel.
However, BBC4 is getting more like BBC Knowledge was all the time. I think they have realised that they did aim a bit too highbrow with the channel originally, and the commitment to so much original production on a niche channel also seemed to have been too much for them, with far more repeats and fillers than were around at first (The Blue Planet, and Walking with Dinosaurs/Beasts/Cavemen - all ex BBC1 programmes from several years ago have all done the rounds on BBC4 now).
typical BBC they come up with better idents for non licence fee payers,
Don't see why it matters, we don't pay for them.
We pay for the programme though.
But from what I see, the pres is excellent. Why can't we have this kind of pres style in the UK? It's very cutting edge.. and the websites are nicely designed.
I liked all 3 channels' presentations, but BBC Knowledge the most. Quite a clever logo and use of it in the trailer. The websites also look very well designed and easy to navigate.
I also enjoyed BBC Knowledge before it changed to BBC Four here, but recently it has had some very good scheduling and rightly deserves its title of "Channel of the Year". They've now got an excellent mix of
"BBC Two meets ITV3"
and it works well (for me at least).
typical BBC they come up with better idents for non licence fee payers,
Don't see why it matters, we don't pay for them.
We pay for the programme though.
These days we pay for part of the programmes. Many shows now have a non-licence fee budget input through pre-sales - and BBC Worldwide often stump up some production cash as well.
So we pay for "some" of the programme as licence-fee payers - but these days not all of it in many cases. (There are exceptions - as a few shows won't have repeat lives on UKTV channels or sell overseas.)
The websites are well presented. Arguably better than the front end of bbc.co.uk
The BBC Knowledge idents are stunning, especially the use of the logo (and especially the fourth one).
I think for the idents, one thing that becomes clear is that not needing to have the box, they can be more imaginative about where and how they place/present the channel name on the idents.
The BBC Knowledge idents are superb and could teach BBC One a thing or two. Can't say I like the BBC Entertainment ones very much, though - very ITV!
GM
nodnirG kraM
Neil Green posted:
The websites are well presented. Arguably better than the front end of bbc.co.uk
This is very true, but probably because they are not trying to be "all things to all men .. so long as you're running Windows 95 on an 800x600 screen with no plugins whatsoever".
The idents though are fantastic. Entertainment's are great fun and Knowledge is just stunning.
Not convinced by the Entertainment idents. That 'vertical blinds' transition is just horrible, and reminds me of the mid-80s Crossroads titles, or something a very cheesy wedding video producer might use.
The websites are well presented. Arguably better than the front end of bbc.co.uk
This is very true, but probably because they are not trying to be "all things to all men .. so long as you're running Windows 95 on an 800x600 screen with no plugins whatsoever".
That's a fair point.
The difference between the BBC operating in this country 'uniquely funded by the licence fee' and as a pay TV operator in the rest of the world.
