Wellie says: "Ban the BUS... the omniBUS"

Now, specifically, I want to discuss the amount of air time wasted on the Eastenders omnibus programme on BBC1.

Are these omnibus editions short-changing the license tax payer?

Although there is a logic in repeating primetime output "out of hours", why isn't this done for more BBC programmes? Why can't the omnibus programmes be put into BBC3 for instance, or during the night where the viewer can record the programme?

Should the BBC's main network channels be showing less repeats, and instead experimenting with new shows and formats?

Eh? The EE omnibus doesn't count as a repeat - it's a chance for those who were out/working during weekday evenings to see the programme all in one. If they didn't do this, there would be an uproar from housewives who can't/don't watch BBC3, and who fancy watching it, with their feet up in front of the fire, roast in the oven, kids playing in the park, and husband down the pub watching the football!

Where I would agree with you is when BBC1 put Only Fools on at primetime

It does count as a repeat.

But why is this not extended to other programmes then?

EE omnibus is a cheap and dirty way to eat a couple of hours from the Sunday schedule.

But it's a well-watched repeat. There would be quite a backlash from the several million who watch, or catch up with, the repeat episodes on Sunday afternoon.

Hear Hear. But its a wonder they havent moved it to BBC Three. What would we like to replace it on BBC One though if they did move it Lord Wellington?

Like what, the BBC News?

Perhaps the BBC should dedicate some air time to arts programming for instance?

I think most poeple would actually want the BBC to invest in more programming, rather than just cheap repeats.

How about some programming for ethnic minorities? It's the fashion now.

Arts programmes wouldn't really fit the bill in the EE Omnibus timeslot IMHO.

As to investing in more programming - surely if the BBC showed fewer repeats they would need to make more original programmes. Given that their income is fixed, this would mean making a greater number of cheaper programmes. I'd rather have a fewer number of higher budget shows, than hours and hours of stuff shot by recent Media Studies graduates on wobbly miniDV camcorders...

Arts programmes wouldn't really fit the bill in the EE Omnibus timeslot IMHO

But given that the BBC still insists that ratings aren't important (well, that's what it insists when a programme bombs - if it does well, it trumpets its ratings success!), wouldn't you agree that it would add a bit of credibility to its claim to be public-service-focused if it started offering a *genuine* alternative to the commercial channels by showing, say, serious arts programmes in the middle of prime-time on BBC-1?

I'd rather have a fewer number of higher budget shows, than hours and hours of stuff shot by recent Media Studies graduates on wobbly miniDV camcorders...

But if you have a fewer number of higher-budget shows, you've still got a schedule full of holes - so you plug 'em with hours and hours of stuff shot by recent Media Studies graduates on wobbly miniDV camcorders...

Then you'll just start off on one saying standards at the BBC have dropped because of this kind of programming. The Corporation can't win with people like you around.

The BBC seems to have plenty of money to throw at minority digital tv and radio channels.

Given the amount of childrens programming already available on the digital platform, is it RIGHT that the BBC has TWO dedicated childrens channels, in addition to the childrens programming on during the afternoons? Christ, only the blacks get that many channels usually.

The BBC could EASILY fill it's schedules if it got rid of BBC 3 and 4. There is really only enough programming to fill 2 or 3 channels without repetition.

It would make more sense, if the BBC were able to flog it's other programming to other broadcasters, such as uktv so that their older programming still gets broadcast.

This would mean more money for origional programming; less repeats on the primary network channels; and for nostalga, classic programmes still get a showing...

Now, what's wrong with that?

The fact you'd have to pay extra for the UK TV channels - they aren't FTV.