I haven't seen anyone post about this yet, but according to a516digital (who I know posts on here) it appears that children's programmes are returning to BBC Two on Saturday mornings from 29th November, nearly two years after they were moved exclusively to CBBC and CBeebies.
I wonder if this is a temporary or experimental measure, as unlike when children's programming was removed two years ago, the BBC haven't made any announcement or big fuss about this as of yet. Anyone know any more details?
Wonder if this is due to the ratings for the CBBC being significantly down year-on-year? Might make sense to put some kids shows back on the general channels, particularly during school holidays?
Parents / Grandparents are more likely to surf through them if they are on popular general channels rather than being parked way out of the way on channels in the kids TV ghetto of the EPG I guess ? (I know kids are all supposed to know where the channels are in the EPG - but I don't think everyone does)
I wonder if this is a temporary or experimental measure, as unlike when children's programming was removed two years ago, the BBC haven't made any announcement or big fuss about this as of yet. Anyone know any more details?
I doubt the Beeb will mke any announcement because BBC2 on weekend daytimes is just considered a "spare" resource and has absolutely no budget so the line-up has to be made up entirely of repeats and simulcasts. Hence why Saturday mornings recently have been devoted to repeating all the F1 practice sessions off the red button, it's either that or a blank screen. So whether the Beeb are showing programmes from BBC1, BBC News or CBBC in that slot it doesn't matter, really. It's simply a question of filling a space.
I don't think it'll make the slightest bit of difference to CBBC's overall ratings. I can't speak for the kids of today's generation but I think most kids either go to the channels directly or they go to On Demand such as iPlayer or Netflix, filling a gap sporadically on BBC TWO isn't going to make any difference to any declining ratings. I'm not objecting to putting high profile series on other channels like they used to do with some dramas in the 1990s.
Usually the likes of ITV output a lot more CITV during Christmas to make up their very small quota for children output on their main channel, though that hasn't happened in recent times as ITV have been better in showing it most weekends.
I'm guessing the BBC would have the same type of quota set by Ofcom? That might be the reason for this sudden change of heart, either that or they're piloting a comeback for a Saturday Morning show and seeing if the audience is there?
I don't think it'll make the slightest bit of difference to CBBC's overall ratings. I can't speak for the kids of today's generation but I think most kids either go to the channels directly or they go to On Demand such as iPlayer or Netflix, filling a gap sporadically on BBC TWO isn't going to make any difference to any declining ratings. I'm not objecting to putting high profile series on other channels like they used to do with some dramas in the 1990s.
They still do that, of course, with shows like Wolfblood which has run on BBC3 and Horrible Histories of course. It's important to remember that CBBC and CBeebies are now twelve years old so no kid ever remembers them not being there and would ever think of looking anywhere other than kids channels for kids shows.
As for parents, surely the vast majority of them are at least watching with their children at some point? My sister can give you chapter and verse on the CBeebies schedule and if you've got children you'll know all about the various kids shows, much like my parents knew all about the shows I watched when I was growing up. If you haven't got children, who cares? You're not the target audience.
Usually the likes of ITV output a lot more CITV during Christmas to make up their very small quota for children output on their main channel, though that hasn't happened in recent times as ITV have been better in showing it most weekends.
I'm guessing the BBC would have the same type of quota set by Ofcom? That might be the reason for this sudden change of heart, either that or they're piloting a comeback for a Saturday Morning show and seeing if the audience is there?
The BBC isn't set quotas by Ofcom. That's the BBC Trust's job.
I wonder if this is a temporary or experimental measure, as unlike when children's programming was removed two years ago, the BBC haven't made any announcement or big fuss about this as of yet. Anyone know any more details?
I doubt the Beeb will mke any announcement because BBC2 on weekend daytimes is just considered a "spare" resource and has absolutely no budget so the line-up has to be made up entirely of repeats and simulcasts. Hence why Saturday mornings recently have been devoted to repeating all the F1 practice sessions off the red button, it's either that or a blank screen. So whether the Beeb are showing programmes from BBC1, BBC News or CBBC in that slot it doesn't matter, really. It's simply a question of filling a space.
It's a disgrace that BBC2 is being used this way but that probably belongs on another thread. I agree with 'Steve Williams' that Children these days won't look elsewhere for their programming so this is pointless except to save a bit of money, unless of course this is a pointer to one of the Children's channels (CBBC) moving to BBC2 every day? Nothing would surprise me these days...
As for ITV Breakfast's Children's programming, surely Ofcom could scrap that now that ITV own the Breakfast franchise?
This is clearly a response to the Trust recommending some CBBC and CBeebies content be used as filler on the 'Adult' channels as part of the offsetting of lack of original daytime programming due to DQF funding cuts. One CBBC programme with Steve Backshall has already been run in this manner.
I'd suspect that this will run for a test period to judge responses, if successful, we could see a 'best of CBBC' strand on BBC TWO permanently.