This is the issue, in one breath they're saying that they want to BBC Local stations to "remain distinctive", but then they're introducing a one size fits all policy. There needs to be some flexibility for local managers to respond to the local situation.
My local BBC sometimes offers about 3 or 4 different commentaries online and on it's various FM and AM outlets.
You may have Worcester Warriors Rugby on one frequency (would this come under the same rules as the football?), Hereford United on another frequency, Kidderminster Harriers on one frequency and either non-league Worcester City or the country cricket club on AM and online. There are also loads of reporters at various non-league football and rugby games. How much of all this will remain? Nothing really tells me.
Hereford & Worcester, going slightly off post, do an excellent Sunday afternoon show to Stoke, Shropshire & themselves.
Hope they find someway to keep that, as well as Keith Middleton?
This would be a perfect opportunity to re-arrange the BBC Channels completely, especially as DSO nears completion.
BBC1:
Keep BBC1 as it is, and take on board the daytime programming of BBC2 when CBBC leaves the channel
BBC2:
Take on board all of BBC4's elements as BBC4 is basically how BBC2 was and should be, whilst the daytime schedule of News, Politics, Current Affairs and Documerntaries would fit into the remit quite easily - a "High-brow" channel
BBC3:
Change the start time from 7pm to 8pm and the runs through to 6am. the 7pm slot would then be given over to the new look CBBC Channel for family drama's such as Doctor Who, Merlin or repeats of Robin Hood (which that slot mainly does now anyway.
CBBC:
weekdays: CBBC blocks at 0600 to 0830 and 1600 to 2000
Cbeebies block 0830 to 1600
weekends: Cbeebies 0600 to 0900
CBBC 0900 to 2000
Cbeebies:
Close it down
BBC Four:
Close it down
No change for BBC News or BBC Parliament
The transponder left behind with the closure of Cbeebies and BBC Four would then become CBBC-HD and BBC Three-HD, especially as the current BBC HD Channel is to become BBC Two HD.
Then on the transponder the currently has BBC Alba:
England and Northern Ireland: BBC Choice - a repeat channel for programmes from BBC1, 2 and 3
Scotland: BBC Alba - mixture of Scottish Gaelic programming and programming timeshifted due to BBC Scotland programmes on BBC1, plus repeats
Wales: S4C/BBC Cyrmu
He clearly suggests they should move that content to CBBC.
Makes some sense - CBBC doesn't really serve anybody daytime on schooldays.
So basically, make CBeebies into filler content for CBBC?
CBeebies is one of the BBC's most successful areas, in my opinion. What are those with under 6s going to do outside the time that CBBC finds it convenient to place its pre-school content?
No, closing CBeebies (and keeping BBC Parliament!) would be an awful decision. That said though I was surprised CBeebies and CBBC didn't get any cuts announced last week - CBeebies especially which is well funded and has a decent back catalogue of shows it can fill the schedule with without people getting too pissed off they're repeats.
And we know CBBC is leaving BBC1 in the afternoon, but any word on CBeebies on BBC2 in the mornings?
No, closing CBeebies (and keeping BBC Parliament!) would be an awful decision. That said though I was surprised CBeebies and CBBC didn't get any cuts announced last week - CBeebies especially which is well funded and has a decent back catalogue of shows it can fill the schedule with without people getting too p*** off they're repeats.
I wonder if it's a case of the kids shows being able to fund themselves via BBC Worldwide income. I heard recently that CBeebies is the most watched channel on the main Indonesian satellite provider and the channel is extremely popular across the far east. No doubt the profits from merchandising internationally are huge.
