Should there be a comprehensive overhaul of ALL BBC channels

What makes people think the move to a subscription BBC will remove the TV License? Many European countries have a TVL, which in some cases is higher than in the UK. It isn't used to fund a PSB: most of the revenue is just added to the general taxation pot and PSBs are funded through advertising.

People may end up paying more rather than less. or even just paying the same but not having any BBC at all.

As I've said before, I think it's only natural evolution to see extended channel portfolios being cut back. We only ended up with BBC3, BBC4, BBC this, BBC that as a result of turn of the century thinking that digital TV=more channels=more choice=better. That was a perfectly reasonable position for the time, but this was a pre-broadband, pre-IPTV time where the technology and the infrastructure for viable catch up services like iPlayer did not exist and more broadcast channels was the only way to deliver more content.

I believe that whilst a traditional broadcast channel is still the best vehicle for airing new content, for catchup and repeats iPlayer will take over which will make it harder to justify continuing to support a large channel portfolio spending much of their broadcast hours airing little-viewed repeats.

The only BBC channels I would say are guaranteed to survive are BBC1, BBC2, and the News Channel. Parliament probably will too as it's cheap and filling a public service remit, possibly one (but definitely not both) of the kids channels might hang on (although it wouldn't surprise me if they also go and kids programming goes back to being a strand on BBC1/2). But long term I can't see them maintaining all the channels they have now in a world when broadcast TV shifts to being about new content with repeats being viewed mainly through iPlayer. BBC3's closure is just the start, IMO.

And I don't think this is purely a BBC thing, I think *all* mainstream broadcasters will end up going through the same sort of process, and the almost-entirely-archive broadcasters like UKTV may end up finding they have no place at all in the broadcast TV market.

I think it's very likely than in 10 years time there won't be any more than 20 or so mainstream TV channels broadcasting in the UK in total, everything else will have transitioned to an on-demand form (although doubtless there will still be hundreds of shopping channels cluttering up EPGs)

My idea of an overhaul....

CBBC and CBeebies to become one channel with name of CBBC operating between 6am and 8pm
BBC 3 to stay as a Broadcasting channel taking the more "risqué" comedies and other shows from BBC2 and broadcast between 8pm and 6am
BBC Four to merge with BBC2 to become a lifestyle, documentary, high-end/foreign drama and arts channel with the name of BBC2
BBC 1 to be the general entertainment and popular drama channel
BBC Parliament to merge with BBC News then daytime will not be full of fillers and continuous repeating of news
BBC Alba should be dropped and let the other partner in the channel take it over and even buy the programmes from BBC - then money can then be invested into S4C which is a PSB channel!

No, CBBC and CBeebies should be kept sperate.

I do agree with BBC Alba being closed, but would suggest that small budget be kept and its programmes more on line, or better still its archive of classic STV and Grampain show.

I don't agree with you that Alba should be closed. Even though I can't understand a word of it, I do enjoy watching the programmes on it. One example being Nationwide an Alba when they showed stories from across Scotland from years gone by...

I have no time for BBC Alba whatsoever. It's not comparable to Welsh - Scotland does not have one national language, it had quite a few, and the amount of people who speak Gaelic is merely in the tens of thousands throughout the country. Its only benefit is indirectly providing the only distinctly Scottish channel on air, albeit one most people in the country can't understand.

I'd axe it tomorrow. However, politically, the Gaelic lobby is very strong and the Scottish Government would go **** at any such suggestion. Also, if I remember rightly it's not solely funded by the BBC anyway.

This is what I don't get. How come BBC 3, 4, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News Channel and BBC Parliament all together cost less than BBC 2 with £100m+ to spare yet BBC Two is struggling with cost. Surly there is something going wrong with BBC 2 somewhere. If I was the BBC I would have closed BBC Parliament and made that an online thing as it is now. The news worth stuff on BBC Parliament is on BBC News Channel anyway. They could just do a today at parliament type thing at night on news channel. I would then merge BBC 2,3,4 in to two new channels. One more comedy and drama and the other more art and documentaries type thing. I would also question is the channel 2 place hold really worth it's money. I don't think it is to be honest.

BBC iPlayer and internet TV is our future, But it's is not our present. 98% still watch a TV. Also not so long ago Tony was say that channels are important. BBC 3 and what it stand for is hugely important to the BBC. Making it online only at this stage is a risk and bad choice. I am sure if the BBC was less sentimental they could get the money from else where.

I also think the BBC Children's as it is world class. It is something that Murdoch is jealous of. The two channels are for two different age ranges. Merging the two channels will effect both. I would like someone to explain how one CBBC could show the bedtime hour and young dracula at the same time. Also to think children would not notice repeats is stupid. Of course they know. Just because they are young does not mean they are stupid. Also some children's show mainly off CBeebies sell well round the world. in terms of CBBC daytime it is a difficult one but schools around the UK have different times of the year off. So when you take that into account there are less days for the BBC to show nothing.

I think sometimes people forget they are not the only ones who pay the Licence Fee. I hate football but I love The Voice (well love a strong word), But I am sure for some people on here that would be the other way round. So the BBC could not put all the money in to football/sport. It would not be fair.

The fact we get access to 8 channel for around 6p a day to me is a bargain.

Merge BBC Parliament with BBC News, no thanks. I watch BBC News a lot during the day and don't want all that drivel thanks.

Politically it would be suicidal to merge BBC Parliament with the news channel or move it online only. Aside from the fact it's clear public service broadcasting at a very low cost, politicians are obsessed with seeing themselves on television and MPs are obsessed with seeing local issues on TV. Otherwise, why would they be relevant?

Merging CBBC and CBeebies would also be a bad idea for the reasons given above. I can't speak on behalf of CBBC but in my opinion CBeebies is a world-class service that can be run at a relatively low cost, given you've got a new audience coming through every six years and don't need to spend a fortune on new programming.

BBC3 was the cynical, easy target as opinion formers and politicians were less likely to give the BBC hassle for ditching it. However, the entire concept of axing an entire channel and moving it online only is a dangerous precedent which I think could come back to bite the BBC. 'Give us more money or the channels get it?' is high risk at a time when people are trying to save cash all over the place.

What's your source for Murdoch being jealous of Children's BBC? Sky have hardly bothered (except for children's programmes on Sky One, which was a success in the 90s but dropped by the end of the early 00s) and Fox Kids was always a very cheap unambitious operation, again summarily disposed of to Disney with little fanfare. Neither strike me as being particularly focussed efforts by Murdoch's standards.


Clearly and obviously a combined CBBC/Cbeebies would not be able to simultaneously show CBBC and CBeebies content. The point is that it matters decreasingly thanks to iPlayer.

I also disagree with your point about repeats. Tell me why Thunderbirds was so successful in the 90s and 00s (and will probably be again at some stage) if awareness of content being not new is an issue. It was new to me in 1993.

The BBC3 chop has in my opinion (and many more) come at least 5 years too early. Online TV hasn't taken off enough yet for this decision (to kill the channel and move some content online) to be made. As many have already stated, if any channel had to disappear I feel it should have been BBC4 that was sacrificed as it's easier to merge their programming with the currently underperforming BBC2.

As well as cutting some of the middle management, another area that I feel should be looked at is reducing BBC1's programming budget. BBC1's counterpart ITV seems to do ok with a lower budget, surely at least £50m can be saved there? As the Licence Fee is helping to fund the start up of Local TV channels, then maybe some of the required savings could be made by reducing the BBC's Regional services to further help these channels? The BBC could just provide a full 30 minute programme at 6:30pm on Weekdays, a 5 minute round up after the 10pm News and two 5 minute bulletins on Saturday and Sundays (with Inside Out and the Regional Political segments of The Sunday Politics becoming parts of the 6:30pm Regional News programme)*. If this was agreed by the BBC Trust, Ofcom could also agree a similar set-up with ITV...potentially helping the fledging Local TV channels while keeping a limited Regional service on BBC/ITV.

* This is a combination of my own and other posters previous ideas about ITV's Regional News, it now seems just as relevant to the BBC service.

If quality really is the byword in the cuts that are being made, then (as previously suggested by others) maybe the BBC should also be look at cutting large chunks of their Local Radio network. Keep the localised Breakfast slot, the Drivetime slot, the Football and the Footy phone ins etc...out with the less popular, coma inducing programming. In my opinion they should be closing Radio 5's MW slot and merging it with the FM Local Radio stations. The new station...Radio 5 Local. This could also potentially help Community Radio Stations too by the BBC's service being more limited. With funding now limited, surely there is also a case for Radio 4Xtra to close, with it's archive programming featuring on Radio 4 itself? This would allow the BBC to save on some of Radio 4's enormous £122m budget.

TV: BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News, BBC Parliament, BBC Alba (Scotland)
RADIO: R1, R1 Xtra, R2, R3, R4, R5 Local, R5 Xtra, R6, Asian Network.

So yes, I think the BBC does need a comprehensive overhaul...I think there are big savings that can be made while maintaining a quality service. There could even be a Licence Fee reduction, something I'm sure the Tories would love...

To be fair I didn't say close the channel, just that the BBC should drop it and let their partner in the channel take it over completely and let that company buy the content from BBC which will then go towards the funding of S4C - therefore one gaelic channel paying for the running of another gaelic channel - we seem to forget that BBC Alba is not a PSB channel, unlike S4C.