BBC Four to become archive channel (p15)

If Sky Arts ends up on Freeview in the same sub SD sludge that Sky News is broadcast in, then forget it!

There's 2 potential solutions to that.

One would be for BBC 3 to return as a linear channel, so could take back that programming, so the closure of BBC 4 would make the return of BBC 3 a more viable option.

The other option would be for more of that sort of programming to be shown on the red button, with maybe some additional programming on BBC 1 and 2.

I don’t think BBC3 will be any more successful if it comes back as a linear channel. Netflix, streaming services and the US networks do a better job of understanding the demands of young people. The BBC do not understand what young people really want, and I think that shows not only in the content, but in the declining ratings over the last few years. Budget increases didn’t matter, and neither did hiring new creative teams. As soon as BBC3 moved online, the majority of their target audience disappeared to streaming services (and ITV2 when Love Island’s on).

And as an aside, my parents watch some BBC3 shows. They’re in their 50s. So even when it’s trying to target a new audience, the Beeb are still stuck in their old ways.

I don’t see the BBC lasting another 30 years. Gen Z and younger millennials haven’t grown up with the BBC as previous generations did - and when their current audience (estimated at an average of 65-70) dies out, there likely won’t be anyone to take their place.

As much as I think axing BBC3 was a mistake there is no way BBC4 should be axed to make way for it to return - we'd proably just end up in a cycle of the stations repeatedly closing to make way for each other.

What then do you see happening in 2050 then? Programmes will still be made, probably not in the way in we understand them. With the current situation I believe the BBC has been magnificent in keeping use informed, entertained and especially distracted even if only for a brief time. Today's Gen Z and younger millennials will be fee payers and viewers of the future and they will remember what the BBC did during this time and may react unkindly to any plans to scrap it. The notion of governments of any kind with the exception of totalitarian ones scrapping the BBC would cause chaos.

With respect to your referring of the current audience age range of 65-70 I would like to ask on what you base this theory. Is Dr Who a show for Senior Citizens? Do the vast majority of Top Gear's viewers have a cup of Horlicks next to them?

The BBC as a broadcaster will survive but yes, it will have to adapt. I personally can't see them scrapping scheduled programmes but there will be more online content.

Sci-Fi would have you believe you can just point something at your head that zaps 13 episodes of a TV series into your head as if you'd sat through it and watched it properly. So you wouldn't need live broadcasts or even live streaming, so we wouldn't have a TV licence then, more a "zapp it" licence

Of course whether that becomes a reality by 2050 or at all remains to be seen. Though I doubt it at all. Would save a lot of time and wear on people's arses and sofas though (for TV purposes of course... *ahem* moving on...)

ah, my mistake.

Are you thinking of Only Connect? That started on BBC Four and later moved to BBC Two.
I'm pretty sure BBC Four had another quiz show as well, which only lasted one series, and I don't think they've done any other quizzes since Only Connect was promoted.

Hive Minds presented by Fiona Bruce? Managed two series.

BBC Two should be producing and airing the programmes BBC Four have now. BBC Two could take a large chunk of the BBC Four money and use it to bring the documentaries, concerts, art programmes, culture - you know, when BBC Two's remit was supposed to be that in the first place when it launched in 1964.

BBC Two's schedule during the day is a prime opportunity to offer these documentaries, concerts, art and culture shows too, instead of the simulcasting of the news channel and the constant repeats of BBC One daytime programming.

This could be the opportunity BBC Two needs, to be relaunched and kicked up the arse, with the closure of BBC Four, and the transfer of its home produced programming to BBC Two.

BBC Three as a brand should be axed and renamed something different for its online service.

This means the linear channels would be simply BBC One, BBC Two, BBC News, BBC Parliament, CBBC and Cbeebies. Surely that would be enough cost savings?

Just my opinion and thought - Use the closure of BBC Four to get back the proper BBC Two of old.

Didn't they also have a maths or logic based quiz in their early days.



Yes, because airing stuff in the afternoon on BBC2 costs a fraction of what it would cost to air them in the evening on BBC4.

Yes, it was a show called Mind Games: http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Mind_Games_(2)