Only by default. Yes, teenagers like EastEnders but then so does everyone. The whole point of BBC Switch should be to cater for the 13+ range, the lower end of which were previously served by CBBC. Hollyoaks does this for T4, what does BBC Switch have? An American soap where everyone is perfectly airbrushed and reflects their own lives little. ISTR there was more original output for Def II even though this started out as an unashamed rip-off of C4's Network Seven.
Perhaps BBC Three should go and its commissioned programmes move onto this switch strand...
Or perhaps not...
I think a key problem with BBC Switch is that it didn't have any estabhlished programmes to base itself around, unlike T4 which initially basically provided in-vision continuity for programmes which to some degree had been estabhlished.
Of course considering BBC Switch is just two weeks old it's not an entirely fair comparison, but the T4 we know today is one that kind of moulded to the audience profile it was picking up.
When it launched it also included childrens programming earlier on a Sunday, before kind of growing up through the day with shows in the vein of Saved by the Bell, Hollyoaks and Dawson's Creek - and even The Waltons in it's early days.
The childrens programming was quickly moved out of the strand - and over time T4 has adapted to it's audience which was probably older than they expected - and aiming for this slightly older demographic is probably why T4 has been around nearly 10 years.
I can't see BBC Switch lasting that long!
Indeed, the very first T4 launched in October 1998 at 5am (or in that hour) with kids programmes introduced by Fran before Mr Ben Shephard came along around 8 - 12.30. It was in May 1999 that it started to aim more at teens by starting to air at 9 (though I think it was 10 at first) and just air hollyoaks, dawsons and started to commission their own programmes.
I think that the only reason T4 has stuck around is because of the in vision continuity, channel 4 could have easily stuck at just airing the programmes as they were every Sunday morning, but they decided to bring in something, a brand, a strand and a face to piece it all together, and it worked, over the first couple of years becoming a very strong brand, and it all worked because of a certain Mr Andi Peters. People may say that he ruined TOTP (personally I just think that he brought it up to date), but the era in which he reined over T4 back when it was produced by channel 4 at horseferry road was most probably the greatest era, not just the faces (Ben, then Dermot & Margherita), the presentation even though over the top colours and cheap animating bars worked, and the fact that the majority of the programme was live and especially when they used to use the whole of the channel 4 building, and even when they just used what I believe to be the staff restaurant.
Anyway, my point is that is what I think switch needs, not someone hip, just a face to read out messages, to interview guests, and to introduce shows. Though personally I'd also move it to midday through the afternoon, and move TMi to proceed it, that way the two brands can mix and carry audience across.
Surely more TMi viewers will continue to watch than Tracy Beaker as a lead in, saying that kept how it is, I can't see it picking up much on an audience, especially with just two programmes, even if they air edited versions of family guy, and a BBC Three on Switch on BBC Two (not the official title though) documentary, drama or comedy.
Although that could then work in another way, when Neighbours disapears to five, they may move CBBC to BBC Two, so why not bring back the 6pm slot by branding up 5.35 (or whenever) to 7pm at BBC Switch, personally they could brand the first couple of hours on BBC Three as BBC Switch, as long as they do put money into content.
I think the main problem with "BBC Switch" is that people my age aren't about to sit down and be told what they want to watch by the BBC.
Being at this age is all about making choices and deciding what you want to do - even 13+, the rebellious streak begins and these guys don't want to sit in front of a TV where stuffy management wants to tell them what they want to watch.
It's already catered for - Trouble, Nickelodeon, and (to a certain extent) the Disney Channel have it covered. The BBC launching this service would just seem dated and boring.
And Saturday afternoon is hardly the best slot - it might have more of a chance on Sunday afternoon.
The branding is probably doing the strand more harm than good - something like Sound might appeal to people if it was in the schedule in it's own right, but as part of this BBC Switch it's not just putting off the wider audience, but probably putting off the teen audience it's targetting too.
It's already catered for - Trouble, Nickelodeon, and (to a certain extent) the Disney Channel have it covered. The BBC launching this service would just seem dated and boring.
You forget one thing, however. These channels rely on acquired, mainly American imports. British teens need something to reflect their own culture and lives and that's why BBC Switch deserves to be done properly.
It's already catered for - Trouble, Nickelodeon, and (to a certain extent) the Disney Channel have it covered. The BBC launching this service would just seem dated and boring.
You forget one thing, however. These channels rely on acquired, mainly American imports. British teens need something to reflect their own culture and lives and that's why BBC Switch deserves to be done properly.
Why do people want to be reminded of how horrible their lives are? I thought that was what Eastenders was for.
The American imports are fairly heavily placed on these channels' schedules, granted - but they present largely a better view of human nature and provide a little bit of an escape for the people who would want to watch it.
Personally, I am a British teen, Simon, and I don't want something that "reflects my culture and life" - I will choose what I want to watch, thank you - I don't need someone else, BBC or not, telling me what I "need".
Personally as I said before they need in vision, guests, and programmes to get people talking, the more people talk about it (especially in the later years of school) the more people will watch it.
Speaking about schools, I remember back when I was at school that we had pepsi exercise books for a limited period as part of a promotion, I think there were some TV programmes in there as well.
Why do people want to be reminded of how horrible their lives are? I thought that was what Eastenders was for.
The American imports are fairly heavily placed on these channels' schedules, granted - but they present largely a etter view of human nature and provide a little bit of an escape for the people who would want to watch it.
Or you could say what is the point in rubbing peoples' noses in it with "escapist" American dramas where everything is so damn wonderful. Paradoxically, I have heard from American teens over the years who can't understand why British teen dramas like a certain GH aren't shown in the US, since they felt it presented a more accurate presentation of teen angst than their own high-school based shows which, in their opinion, showed things through rose-tinted spectacles.
EastEnders is a bad yardstick to measure our dramas by since it is institutionally depressing - and why people are preferring Corrie and Emmerdale.
Quote:
Personally, I am a British teen, Simon, and I don't want something that "reflects my culture and life" - I will choose what I want to watch, thank you - I don't need someone else, BBC or not, telling me what I "need".
Well it's Ofcom's view that British young people need more programmes which do reflect their own lives in a way that acquired series may not be able to. And for once I'm with them on this.
Only by default. Yes, teenagers like EastEnders but then so does everyone.
Not everyone.
But your point is interesting - teenagers
do
like exactly the same programmes as adults. They feel patronised very easily. I have a friend who is 18 and adores a lot of BBC4's output - and this is because they want intelligent, well-made television. Not the trash that BBC Switch is pumping out.