BBC Two ident

I think it's the quality of programmes BBC 2 offers. Ranging from news and current affairs, comedies, quiz shows.

BBC 2 offers something for everyone.

Erm... not really, no.

And how is it channel of the year? It doesn't get the highest ratings, it produces few "must-see" programmes, I see very little which would qualify it for said award.

Exactly. Better 21 hours of good stuff than 24 hours of cr@p. Other channels take note!

High ratings don't mean anything.

Let's be honest. Most British people are Blind Date watching dimwits who settle down after a day at work to watch TV which dosent require much in the way of constructive thought.

BBC 2 is a good channel. It's far better than it was 10 years ago, when the highlight of the evening was a 3 hour opera performance or a documentary about the economic state of the soviet union.

Thankfully those days have gone, and we have a blend of well-produced programmes which people of all ages can enjoy.

The Simpsons, League of Gentlemen, Correspondent, Gardeners World, Weakest Link, Newsnight etc.

Something for everyone I think.

However boring you may find them (and I'll be first to admit a three-hour performance of La Traviata isn't my idea of a great evening), these have an important place on BBC2 surely? Not all of us have BBC4 so opera etc. must remain accessible.

BBC 2 has moved away from that type of programming. Yes, it still carries events like the Proms and Chelsea Flower show, but a lot more of these programmes have moved to BBC 4.

BBC 2 is more of a light-entertainment channel, mixed in with documentaries and current affairs.

The 2001 idents typify the direction this channel is moving. The phrase 'sister channel of BBC 1' has never been so accurate.

BBC 3 is more youth orientated with a target audience of 18-30, whereas BBC 4's key demographic is your pipe smoking 40-50 year old who drives a Volvo estate.

BBC 1 and 2 will remain as channels which offer a much wider variety of programming.

If you don't have digital TV, then of course you are missing out. And it has never been so easy to convert to digital. Sky, yes I know it can be expensive if you are on a budget, but the choice is huge. Freeview is probably the best choice if you are simply wanting to watch the rest of the BBC channels and a bit of Sky News / News 24.

S4C~ isn't fully 24 hours either, I don't see them winning awards.
Why, it even still has a live clock, and proper closedown and start-up annos, and there are no ECPs [except for one programme], they do 'next' boards, not many trails -- all the things you rave about. It even breaks down frequently like things did in the 70s. No awards.

Oh wait yes, maybe it's the programming.

Have I Got News For You and the Saturday Kitchen are definitely a couple of other *musn't miss* events too.

And I don't understand why a channel must close down and have a frightful loud tone to be worth anything to you.

What nonsense, anyway it is on 24 hours a day 5 days a week and at weekends it often only closes for a couple of hours if that

Even though Have I got News For You is on BBC1!

As with so many other things, BBC TWO has been younged-down, but not to a major degree. The old-folks-home hour (nice keep your garden/house looking lovely programme followed by Ready Steady Cook) is followed by a stint for the younger viewer with The Simpsons, Buffy/Fresh Prince/Star Trek - not my cup of tea, but there you go - and from then on it makes broadcasting its own with programming such as University Challenge (Headteacher wannabe Paxman caning students), Time Commanders (very well made but unspeakably boring), The Day Britain Stopped, Smallpox 2002 (Brilliant "what if" programming) etc etc etc. Newsnight is starting now over on (nods) BBC TWO. Newsnight Review. Sgt Bilko or Room 101 running up to the Learning Zone. Overall it does pump out a hell of a lot of good stuff!!

And then we have The Leakest Wink ... well we can't have it all I suppose!!

Indeed. But I did do mean the repeats really, since I can never see them on the Friday first showing [boo].

The last series has been half repeated on 2 as well so far, but isn't on again for a while now -- I want the Brucie one again!

The crux of my argument is that broadcasting 24 hours does not make one channel better than another which shuts down overnight. Nor on the other hand, should a channel be frowned upon if it doesn't transmit round the clock.

So I'm delighted BBC2 has won "Channel Of The Year"; they've been judged, quite rightly, on the quality and range of programming and not the amount of broadcast hours.