Educational Broadcasting 2020

Everything was happy according to Bob, I've even seem him say that when painting dead branches. I guess that's why he's being seen as such a tonic right now, he was always positive.

I actually find it interesting how on the whole the internet is respectful to Bob when we've seen how mean spirited, if now downright hateful, internet memes often are.

He was on PBS America for a bit.

Having nostalgic flashbacks and missing my dad watching TLC with Bob Ross, Norm Abrams, This Old House and The Furniture Guys on TLC with him.

This Old House and Furniture Guys were both great. Not always to my taste - but amazing to see craftspeople at work, and interesting to see just how different US and UK house construction is.

I have long held the view that broadcasters are not always family friendly when it comes to children outside of designated timeslots and channels.

I really do expect better from the BBC this time round, and it makes me wonder how serious they are about these educational programmes. I don't think that they should be moved to CBBC because kids need entertainment as well as education during the lock down, but BBC2 would have been a much better choice than Red Button.

A few discussions point in a direction that these educational programmes verge on a token gesture to show the world that the BBC is doing something for children's education during the lock down even if in reality what it is doing isn't very effective.

As I have previously stated, the BBC is entering uncharted territory as they have never officially delivered educational programmes directly to children on a linear channel in the past.

With one of BBC One or BBC Two providing a continuing news service for most of the working day (09:00-10:00 BBC One, 10:00-13:00 BBC Two, 13:00-13:45 BBC One, 16:30-19:00 BBC One) the choice would basically be to either cut the output of news on the main channels (which is not a great idea for a public service broadcaster during the biggest story in decades even if it ordinarily filler) or having no adult 'entertainment' programmes which is simply asking for people to go out.

You're seriously suggesting three months of programmes produced at a months notice is a "token gesture" and something they're not "serious" about?


Whilst I personally agree BBC2 should have been used for the Bitesize component at least just because they haven't doesn't mean it should be dismissed. In the days of Daytime on Two and ITV/C4 Schools they may have been broadcast in a linear manner and in the early years schools may have wheeled out the TV at the broadcast time but once videos came along that was the route schools went, so it makes sense to focus on the iPlayer as todays on demand platform, especially when the programme component is only part of the educational service the BBC provide.


I don't think there is any PSB requirement to have continual news on BBC1/2 from 9am - 1pm when that content is available to those who want it on the BBC News Channel. IMO now actually there is more PSB value in having viewers watch less news - too much is not good for anyones mental health, so I do think at least the BBC Bitesize programmes from 9am - 11am could have had a home on BBC2, with possibly an hour or two of the supporting shows too.

"a token gesture"? Are you serious?

I have a feeling if the BBC had done nothing at all you'd have just come out and said so. Damned if they do and damned if they don't, according to you.

I don't see how there can be given it's only in the past few years there has been news all morning. The only issue maybe with Prime Ministers Questions on a Wednesday

The waters are muddied somewhere with PMQs as to whether its "PSBable", considering the same footage goes out on BBC Parliament, the News Channel, Sky News, and some of the other news channels too no doubt, and also online these days.

Maybe a few years ago when the only other outlet for PMQs was the Parliament Channel, but these days I'd argue it depends. When there are major things going on like the current pandemic, then yes. Otherwise if the lead story is the regular "we have no money for this, that and the other, so we'll do this instead" type story, then no.

As it doesn't even move for Wimbledon I guess there is some obligation for it to be aired live.

I don't believe there is a legal requirement, it could just be that the BBC believe it's the right thing to do. Most of the legal PSB requirements date back to a time before there was TV in Parliament after all.

The BBC's 'Westminster Live' programme on BBC Two started when TV started in the House of Commons in 1989, and was the first regular live TV coverage of PMQs I think.

Part of the problem is the negativity in the likes of the Daily Mail if they suddenly decide not to show PMQs where they always have done.