There was an article a few weeks ago on Media Guardian suggesting that the BBC should cut BBC Two Daytime rather than axe 6 Music and would probably save more money.
I can't help but agree that it's a pointless strand of programming, and much more so now that Schools programmes have been dropped.
Programmes like The Daily Politics and Working Lunch could easily transfer to BBC One, although I've always doubted the point of the latter. Surely its target audience of business people are at work when it's on?
You'd think so. The Daily Politics could be moved to News 24, whilst I'd merge Working Lunch with the One o'clock News and make that an hour-long bulletin (including regional news) on BBC1.
Axing BBC2 daytime though only serves a purpose if BBC3 or BBC4 were axed, and hence CBBC or CBeebies could use BBC2's daytime hours instead. Trouble is they need the flexibility though - BBC2 daytime might be pointless most weekdays, but at the weekends and during sporting events it's very much needed.
There was an article a few weeks ago on Media Guardian suggesting that the BBC should cut BBC Two Daytime rather than axe 6 Music and would probably save more money.
I can't help but agree that it's a pointless strand of programming, and much more so now that Schools programmes have been dropped.
Programmes like The Daily Politics and Working Lunch could easily transfer to BBC One, although I've always doubted the point of the latter. Surely its target audience of business people are at work when it's on?
I don't see why BBC2 should suffer in this way though. I'm all up for Working Lunch merging with BBC1's 'One O Clock News' and The Daily Politics moving to News 24, but to axe BBC2 daytime seems really drastic to me and somewhat unfair on the channel itself which simply deserves more respect and recognition from the BBC.
I think come the DSO in 2012, the BBC are going to have to seriously review the schedules across all the BBC channels. All of the simulcast programming across the channels will have to end, including simulcast News 24 overnight on BBC1 and CBBC on BBC1 and BBC2, although I'm expecting the BBC to still have some form of CBBC schedule in place on both BBC1 and BBC2 even after DSO, but hopefully not as much programming as there is at the moment.
But I really hope the BBC doesn't reduce the hours of BBC2. This would also be considered a big backward step for the channel after it's hours where extended back in the mid 1980's.
I think keeping CBBC on BBC1 (or BBC2) is as important as keeping the news bulletins - just because there is a digital channel, it doesn't mean it shouldn't have a "terrestrial" window. BBC News overnight is just filler - it's not there to cater for those who can't get it on digital, it's there to fill the overnight slots cheaply. I agree though it shouldn't be on BBC2 too - and certainly not as early as it is some nights. IMO both should have to air programming until at least 2am.
But I really hope the BBC doesn't reduce the hours of BBC2. This would also be considered a big backward step for the channel after it's hours where extended back in the mid 1980's.
They need to come up with a replacement for Pages from Ceefax pretty quick before then! I'm amazed it's still going now, given huge swathes of the country can't get Ceefax full-stop anymore.
:-(
A former member
Let be honest here, Daytime on has never really been around that long in the first place. and BBC2 during the day it crap anyways. I do agree overhaul will be needed: What could the bbc broadcast during the night? apart from cheap fillers?
There was an article a few weeks ago on Media Guardian suggesting that the BBC should cut BBC Two Daytime rather than axe 6 Music and would probably save more money.
I can't help but agree that it's a pointless strand of programming, and much more so now that Schools programmes have been dropped.
Although he has kind of a point his argument falls down with his comments on 'Pointless', it's a really good programme!
The problem with just turning off BBC2 during the day is that then there'd be articles moaning about why they are paying £xxx pounds a year when one of the channels in blank for most of the day! I'm not convinced it would save that much money anyway, it's not as if they can save money by turning off transmitters these days.
They need to come up with a replacement for Pages from Ceefax pretty quick before then! I'm amazed it's still going now, given huge swathes of the country can't get Ceefax full-stop anymore.
There's a few, cheap but vaguely useful things they could do overnight - simulcast a radio station for example or just go left field like some German channels used to do and show a burning fire or a fishtank. A TV equivalent of Birdsong Radio could be popular
Let be honest here, Daytime on has never really been around that long in the first place. and BBC2 during the day it crap anyways. I do agree overhaul will be needed: What could the bbc broadcast during the night? apart from cheap fillers?
That's a good question. They could opt to show old films in the late night slot but this would probably prove too expensive, unless they shown movies in the public domain for a far cheaper price or even for free.
The best bet would be to either extend the hours of The Learning Zone from 2am instead of 4am or show repeats of BBC2 shows that are shown during the daytime. They could do with showing a late film everynight as well, like all the other terrestrial channels do. Perhaps show a film at 11.50pm or 12.20am and show Learning Zone at 2am till 6am the next morning.
I also agree about Pages from Ceefax. I'm sure this will be phased out completely in the next 18 months or so. It is already gradually being phased out as we speak. I can see that trend continuing as we get closer to the DSO in 2012.
BBC2 daytime has been suffering for a while though and really needs to improve. They could do with showing BBC4 programmes during the daytime and give BBC2 the identity it used to have. BBC2 could show the best shows of BBC4 in a dedicated daytime slot.
They need to come up with a replacement for Pages from Ceefax pretty quick before then! I'm amazed it's still going now, given huge swathes of the country can't get Ceefax full-stop anymore.
Even more reason to put it on then surely?
Not if the intention is still to show a preview of a service available in full elsewhere as was the original intention. If it's just to fill dead air with chunky graphics and cheesy listening, then great
I find "Working Lunch" a very interesting programme. To say it only applies to those who are actually working is a little narrow-minded.
There are millions 'out here' either unemployed, retired or simply 'interested' in finance. Perhaps there are some in the UK who should pay more attention to strands of programmes like this, rather than wasting their 'hard-earned' cash on trivia at inflated interest-rates!
As for adding it to the end of BBC1's 1300 bulletin, it'd make the 'heavy' slot too long. Leave it where it is. I did prefer the old format, and presenting team, however. There is a time and place for this programme. That is where, and when it is aired, now.
Daily Politics is another, similar, strand of programming, in that covers a different subject in a lighter mode.
I find "Working Lunch" a very interesting programme. To say it only applies to those who are actually working is a little narrow-minded.
There are millions 'out here' either unemployed, retired or simply 'interested' in finance. Perhaps there are some in the UK who should pay more attention to strands of programmes like this, rather than wasting their 'hard-earned' cash on trivia at inflated interest-rates!
As for adding it to the end of BBC1's 1300 bulletin, it'd make the 'heavy' slot too long. Leave it where it is. I did prefer the old format, and presenting team, however. There is a time and place for this programme. That is where, and when it is aired, now.
Daily Politics is another, similar, strand of programming, in that covers a different subject in a lighter mode.
RIP School's countdown-clocks.
Thinking about it, moving Working Lunch to BBC1 at say 1.30pm would be 'news' overkill. Come the DSO, that argument would be better justified as News 24 would cover all aspects of news there is - sport, business, world affairs etc. So I agree, Working Lunch should stay on BBC2 where it is far better suited. The same goes with Daily Politics, although I think the PM questions every Wednesday should be dropped come the DSO where it would be shown on News 24 or even via the red button. But I would keep the 4 times daily 30 minute Daily Politics shows where they are in a 12pm slot.
It will be interesting to see what happens to BBC1 and BBC2 come DSO in 2012 though and what changes are going are going to be made. I can see quite a few changes for BBC2's daytime lineup. I wonder what Mark Thompson will opt for? He may well decide to axe the CBBC channels and keep CBBC running on BBC2 every morning, which was suggested a while ago on the Daily Mail website.
but I suspect they'll just put a slide up like BBC3 and 4 do.
