Grandstand axed!!!

They also are saying that documentaries may now air in 15 minute 'bitesize chunks' to get more people to watch. I wouldn't be surprised if this lead to Panorama being axed.

The Sky At Night is still being shown on BBC1 and repeated on BBC2 and it only has been shown once a month since it started

Ive had enough of TV execs using the new 'digital age' to axe shows like grandstand ect.
The 'digital age' argument used by the likes of ITV and the BBC for the decline in audiances is false.
It is true that more people have access to multi-channel television than ever before, and this will have a slight impact on 'traditional' channels; but there is one solution I think the executives of these channels have failed to come up with - Make Good Shows!
Most people will see what the BBC or ITV have to offer before they turn to the likes of Sky One or the History channel. If the shows made were of interest to the audiance, then the audiance will stay, if its 'Davina' or some other trash then of course people will turn away.
Grandstand has been axed because the BBC no longer have any decent sport to show on a saturday afternoon, Mark Thompsons excuse on the new 'digital age' just hides the BBCs failings to bring sport the audiance wants to watch to our televisions.

Rant over, I thank you

I agree to a certain extent. But I feel this will be used as an excuse not to show minority sports, and as a result BBC Sport's portfolio may diminish. Grandstand provided a window for many minority sports outside of the Olympics; and the Grandstand brand name gave these sports some added limelight.

Even nowadays, for minority sports to have an event shown live on Grandstand is a major feat. I fear that these sports will now look elsewhere to boost their audiences.

So Mark Thompson wants to concentrate on younger viewers. Priceless. The BBC is already littered with overt trendiness, plus the number of older viewers has never been higher. Why are execs so out of touch?

And no doubt many DGs down the line will keep flogging that one as a poor excuse for bringing the axe down on old shows.

What is Mark Thompson doing? The way he explains this action, strongly suggests he wants to remove it simply because it is old. That's some absurd logic. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. It's messing with a fine formula.

Has the status of Grandstand in the eyes of the public been considered, and in particular, whether the people think it should go? I think this has been overlooked entirely. I don't understand how the conclusion was reached that people apparently associate Grandstand with B&W television! From what I read, it seems this couldn't be further from the true perception.

I've always associated the name 'Grandstand' with quality sports coverage, and it hasn't aged one bit;. It's a pity Mr Thompson doesn't share the same view.

Question is, if many others disagree with him, will he turn a blind eye? Sadly, I think so.

...And what's all this about more teenage programming? A DEF II Mk2 or something? I'm not entirely sure there's any need for it.

And have you noticed what the intention is for drama ? :

"Intensifying the pace, energy and emotion of TV dramas, such as the award-winning Bleak House or The Street currently on BBC ONE, while continuing to cherish the big runners like EastEnders and Casualty that audiences love."

Faster and faster, from the melodramatic to the hyperdramatic.

No mention of paying attention to intelligence, you'll note.

The anecdote, "If it doesn't need fixing, don't fix it" comes to mind.

that'll be "If it aint broke, don't fix it" then

Its my time of the month... please forgive me!

I know that everyone likes Teenagers to come to their channels, but unlike any other, does the BBC need them?

We pay for them to make programmes, therefore they don't theoretically need to attract teenagers to boost advertising revenues. Perhaps Mark Thompson still has too much Channel 4 inside him, even though Channel 4 has greatly improved since he left!

I hope not ! There's a young chap who does reports on there, I think (hope) he is being groomed to take over.

TSAN is unique on British TV. It's the only programme (and certainly the only science/technology one) that hasn't been dumbed down with wobbly camera work, inane presentation, and pointless graphics. I assume the 20 yr old branding freaks are tucked up in bed recharging their egos when it's on, otherwise they'd have 'sexed' the programme up by now, and replaced Sir Patrick with Graham Norton or Ms D.McCall..