TV
Indeed, I don't see any great shame in the red button cutbacks.
I don't think it's particularly wise for the BBC to spend money creating content, simply to hide it away on a service the majority of people don't use. If it's good enough it can go on a linear channel. Things like the Radio 2 concerts can just as easily be turned into a 'proper' programme and aired on BBC Two/Four.
The only big loss will be the Wimbledon coverage, although that can be moved online easily enough.
I don't think it's particularly wise for the BBC to spend money creating content, simply to hide it away on a service the majority of people don't use. If it's good enough it can go on a linear channel. Things like the Radio 2 concerts can just as easily be turned into a 'proper' programme and aired on BBC Two/Four.
The only big loss will be the Wimbledon coverage, although that can be moved online easily enough.
WE
Is it live now? My understanding is that all of the Politics Show opt outs have been pre-recorded for a while - it being cheaper to do it on a Friday afternoon with the crew for the 1:30/6:30 than get everyone in on a Sunday
Aren't they still live occasionally when there is a big story happening on the Sunday?
West Midlands was live the other week surely when the Lib Dems were in Brum, as there was a union march on the same day!
Susanna Mendonca was also being used for the NC ISTR.
Is it live now? My understanding is that all of the Politics Show opt outs have been pre-recorded for a while - it being cheaper to do it on a Friday afternoon with the crew for the 1:30/6:30 than get everyone in on a Sunday
Aren't they still live occasionally when there is a big story happening on the Sunday?
West Midlands was live the other week surely when the Lib Dems were in Brum, as there was a union march on the same day!
Susanna Mendonca was also being used for the NC ISTR.
DE
I think, sadly, that is the natural progression for the service. A lot of lesser sports commentaries are carried online or via 5 Live Sports Extra, so it makes some sense to stream outer court coverage via the internet too and would be, I dare say, cheaper than the transponder hire from Astra. I'm not sure how many transponders the BBC have on satellite now for all the potential streams. When I last worked directly on this output there was an increase from the original 5 streams to about 10. This was when multiscreen sport had been proven to be a big success and various other multiscreen apps were being trialled and the English Regions on DSAT bridging service before enough transponders were available to carry every region.
If English Regions stand to save £1m per year by taking two of its smallest regions off satellite, then it probably a very considerable saving to reduce the number of Red Button streams to just one.
Quite how this fits with "No channels being closed" mantra the BBC is heralding I'm not sure. They're not full channels admittedly but they have become a large part of how programming has been supported over the last 10 years. A commercial operator might well have described such a provision as great value for money; 5 streams for the price of one etc.
Indeed, I don't see any great shame in the red button cutbacks.
I don't think it's particularly wise for the BBC to spend money creating content, simply to hide it away on a service the majority of people don't use. If it's good enough it can go on a linear channel. Things like the Radio 2 concerts can just as easily be turned into a 'proper' programme and aired on BBC Two/Four.
The only big loss will be the Wimbledon coverage, although that can be moved online easily enough.
I don't think it's particularly wise for the BBC to spend money creating content, simply to hide it away on a service the majority of people don't use. If it's good enough it can go on a linear channel. Things like the Radio 2 concerts can just as easily be turned into a 'proper' programme and aired on BBC Two/Four.
The only big loss will be the Wimbledon coverage, although that can be moved online easily enough.
I think, sadly, that is the natural progression for the service. A lot of lesser sports commentaries are carried online or via 5 Live Sports Extra, so it makes some sense to stream outer court coverage via the internet too and would be, I dare say, cheaper than the transponder hire from Astra. I'm not sure how many transponders the BBC have on satellite now for all the potential streams. When I last worked directly on this output there was an increase from the original 5 streams to about 10. This was when multiscreen sport had been proven to be a big success and various other multiscreen apps were being trialled and the English Regions on DSAT bridging service before enough transponders were available to carry every region.
If English Regions stand to save £1m per year by taking two of its smallest regions off satellite, then it probably a very considerable saving to reduce the number of Red Button streams to just one.
Quite how this fits with "No channels being closed" mantra the BBC is heralding I'm not sure. They're not full channels admittedly but they have become a large part of how programming has been supported over the last 10 years. A commercial operator might well have described such a provision as great value for money; 5 streams for the price of one etc.
BR
Until broadband is up to scratch nationwide though I don't think the online option is really fair - and I'm not sure they'll want to or be allowed to go that route - and they can't close streams on Sky/Cable under the guise of platform neutrality then put them on broadband. Of course though the issue has never been the extra coverage for things like Wimbledon, Glastonbury etc. or even one off sport events - it's the content they have to create to fill the downtime. If they keep the rights though putting things like the Australian Open, French Open and Diamond League athletics on BBC2 would be a good move.
Re: news summaries - they've said the daytime updates will be scrapped, so does the 8pm summary remain (which is surely more expensive considering the separate presenter and regional element) and is 60 Seconds affected? I'd definitely axe the recently introduced second regional bulletins at the weekend.
And personally I'd throw 60 Seconds and Newsbeat under the same banner so it's Newsbeat on the half hour during the day on Radio 1 then on the hour during the night on BBC3.
Re: news summaries - they've said the daytime updates will be scrapped, so does the 8pm summary remain (which is surely more expensive considering the separate presenter and regional element) and is 60 Seconds affected? I'd definitely axe the recently introduced second regional bulletins at the weekend.
And personally I'd throw 60 Seconds and Newsbeat under the same banner so it's Newsbeat on the half hour during the day on Radio 1 then on the hour during the night on BBC3.
Last edited by Brekkie on 8 October 2011 5:19pm
SN
I think it's a great shame that the morning bulletins are being scrapped - they were always a good way of getting a news update without actually watching the news, they didn't take up too much time in the schedule, and I'm really not sure how much money they will save by axing them.
I'm sure they've got rid of the 3pm before, but I don't think they're much of a loss - who sticks around for a news summary before CBBC/CBeebies starts anyway?
And the 8pm bulletin is OK, but I'd rather see that scrapped than the morning bulletins.
I'm sure they've got rid of the 3pm before, but I don't think they're much of a loss - who sticks around for a news summary before CBBC/CBeebies starts anyway?
And the 8pm bulletin is OK, but I'd rather see that scrapped than the morning bulletins.
J1
I do think it's a shame that red button streams are going, as there is usually some good stuff on it.
But surely things like CBBC Extra (Which is only really limited on Red Button anyway) could be shown before 7am on the CBBC Channel?
I really like the 8pm news bulletin, as it keeps you updated but is only short. Is there any reason why there is a separate presenter for that and not just using one who is on the news channel?
But surely things like CBBC Extra (Which is only really limited on Red Button anyway) could be shown before 7am on the CBBC Channel?
I really like the 8pm news bulletin, as it keeps you updated but is only short. Is there any reason why there is a separate presenter for that and not just using one who is on the news channel?
JO
Newsbeat? What? Why would you throw a radio news bulletin in with a TV one? And would you replace a programme aimed at 16-25 with one aimed at older people, such as Radio 2 or 4's?
I'd throw 60 Seconds and Newsbeat under the same banner.
Newsbeat? What? Why would you throw a radio news bulletin in with a TV one? And would you replace a programme aimed at 16-25 with one aimed at older people, such as Radio 2 or 4's?
CH
I would certainly get rid of the 8 o'clock over the daytime - as you've said, surely it's more expensive to run? There's only 3.5 hours from the end of the six until the start of the ten anyway. I'm sure people can wait!
60 seconds I think might be a requirement by OFCOM or some other higher authority. When the channel first started I'm sure it had to have a certain amount of news (including the 7 o'clock News which was in the end scrapped). Not sure whether this is still the case though.
Re: news summaries - they've said the daytime updates will be scrapped, so does the 8pm summary remain (which is surely more expensive considering the separate presenter and regional element) and is 60 Seconds affected? I'd definitely axe the recently introduced second regional bulletins at the weekend - and personally I'd throw 60 Seconds and Newsbeat under the same banner.
I would certainly get rid of the 8 o'clock over the daytime - as you've said, surely it's more expensive to run? There's only 3.5 hours from the end of the six until the start of the ten anyway. I'm sure people can wait!
60 seconds I think might be a requirement by OFCOM or some other higher authority. When the channel first started I'm sure it had to have a certain amount of news (including the 7 o'clock News which was in the end scrapped). Not sure whether this is still the case though.
HO
I suspect 60 seconds and the 8pm summary would both be kept as they reach audiences who do not regularly access BBC News otherwise - at least that's how the BBC previously marketed them. In contrast, the morning and 3pm updates are useful to those not wanting to change the channel, but don't offer a service not otherwise accessible. I mean, the BBC News Channel even has 'news headlines' at the same time as the updates, not to mention BBC Red Button and the BBC News website.
BR
And of course if the BBC News Channel finds themselves obsessed with a continuing running story, plus with the interactive headlines axed, there may not be options to get a quick summary of the news around.
Newsbeat? What? Why would you throw a radio news bulletin in with a TV one? And would you replace a programme aimed at 16-25 with one aimed at older people, such as Radio 2 or 4's?
Who mentioned Radio 2 and Radio 4? In theory at least Radio 1 and BBC3 should have a large crossover audience and the Newsbeat brand is arguably stronger than 60 Seconds - so having a service of bulletins on the half hour on Radio 1 during the day then on BBC3 on the hour during the evening work in my head at least.
P.S. Anyone think the BBC HD idents could be tweaked into BBC 2 idents somehow as from a purely presentation point of view I'd rather they survived than those for BBC2?
I think it's a great shame that the morning bulletins are being scrapped - they were always a good way of getting a news update without actually watching the news, they didn't take up too much time in the schedule, and I'm really not sure how much money they will save by axing them.
And of course if the BBC News Channel finds themselves obsessed with a continuing running story, plus with the interactive headlines axed, there may not be options to get a quick summary of the news around.
I'd throw 60 Seconds and Newsbeat under the same banner.
Newsbeat? What? Why would you throw a radio news bulletin in with a TV one? And would you replace a programme aimed at 16-25 with one aimed at older people, such as Radio 2 or 4's?
Who mentioned Radio 2 and Radio 4? In theory at least Radio 1 and BBC3 should have a large crossover audience and the Newsbeat brand is arguably stronger than 60 Seconds - so having a service of bulletins on the half hour on Radio 1 during the day then on BBC3 on the hour during the evening work in my head at least.
P.S. Anyone think the BBC HD idents could be tweaked into BBC 2 idents somehow as from a purely presentation point of view I'd rather they survived than those for BBC2?