BBC Four & CBBC to close

[CCFG]

I'm being quite optimistic about the whole ordeal, I get the reasons to axe BBC Four, as it has since reshifted into a repeats channel but there's a lot of stuff on the BBC worth repeating that it arguably doesn't matter, they could easily rely on acquired foriegn content and their own archives for at least a few years running, but I do wonder if a "BBC Extra" channel would essentially allow BBC to still run a 4th channel, albeit for extra coverage if say, most other channels aren't able to.

As BBC Four is now essentially a repeats channel how much would the BBC actually save if it were to close the channel? I suspect any savings would be relatively minimal. Then there's the question of what to do with the 7pm to 7am timeslot. Whilst the HD hours could be utilised in Scotland and Wales for Three HD the SD unused hours would likely go to waste.

HD hours could only really be utilised if BBC4 HD manages to get squeezed onto BBCB. COM7 closes in June at the very latest. Though that being said there is space on BBCB for one more HD channel, if not two. These would presumably be BBC News HD and CBeebies/BBC4 HD. Though honestly, given the decisions Freeview has made in the past few years, wouldn't be surprised if they closed.

[Roger Darthwell]

I don't see any reason to keep the channel, other than MAYBE an overspill for sports and arts coverage. And being that it is currently being reported by The Times, a newspaper which arguably doesn't like the BBC and neither do any of the other newspapers owned by News UK, I'd say don't worry about it until a newspaper like The Guardian starts reporting on it.

I'm being quite optimistic about the whole ordeal, I get the reasons to axe BBC Four, as it has since reshifted into a repeats channel but there's a lot of stuff on the BBC worth repeating that it arguably doesn't matter, they could easily rely on acquired foriegn content and their own archives for at least a few years running, but I do wonder if a "BBC Extra" channel would essentially allow BBC to still run a 4th channel, albeit for extra coverage if say, most other channels aren't able to.

Also, I genuinely feel BBCMeridan is poking holes at things that are successful just because they don't watch them or see value in it, even though the BBC is meant to cater for everyone. Whether it's axing a pre-school channel or shows that are successful, it just seems they lose the plot a lot.

I think that BBC Four could be a brilliant archive channel, bear in mind that the BBC had LOADS of stuff from it's archives that they can show.......I mean personally if one day BBC Four only shows old episodes of Tomorrow's World dating back to the early 80s, I wouldn't complain.

[HEW2343]

I don't see any reason to keep the channel, other than MAYBE an overspill for sports and arts coverage. And being that it is currently being reported by The Times, a newspaper which arguably doesn't like the BBC and neither do any of the other newspapers owned by News UK, I'd say don't worry about it until a newspaper like The Guardian starts reporting on it.

I'm being quite optimistic about the whole ordeal, I get the reasons to axe BBC Four, as it has since reshifted into a repeats channel but there's a lot of stuff on the BBC worth repeating that it arguably doesn't matter, they could easily rely on acquired foriegn content and their own archives for at least a few years running, but I do wonder if a "BBC Extra" channel would essentially allow BBC to still run a 4th channel, albeit for extra coverage if say, most other channels aren't able to.

Also, I genuinely feel BBCMeridan is poking holes at things that are successful just because they don't watch them or see value in it, even though the BBC is meant to cater for everyone. Whether it's axing a pre-school channel or shows that are successful, it just seems they lose the plot a lot.

I think that BBC Four could be a brilliant archive channel, bear in mind that the BBC had LOADS of stuff from it's archives that they can show.......I mean personally if one day BBC Four only shows old episodes of Tomorrow's World dating back to the early 80s, I wouldn't complain.

Or things like this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0013vcs

[HTV Best]

Isn't UKTV basically a number of BBC owned archive channels. If anything had to go BBC Four, in its archive channel format, would be the sensible choice. Not that I'm condoning it.

[eyeTV]

To be fair archive is something that doesn't really need a linear broadcast channel, its content can sit very well on iPlayer. It's also something that could be monetised online if there is so be some form of subscription model in a future BBC.

If it's a better focused and slim-lined broadcast BBC we are looking at, it would make sense to reduce linear broadcast archive as much as possible.

[WillPS]

You must be on another planet if you think the BBC will axe Strictly or The Apprentice.

Well the corporation can't just keep axing channels to save money as it doesn't actually save much money, they can find other ways of savings by axing programmes.

Why do you keep trying to get the BBC to axe the shows that actually DO make them money?

How does The Apprentice make the BBC money?

[HTV Best]

To be fair archive is something that doesn't really need a linear broadcast channel, its content can sit very well on iPlayer. It's also something that could be monetised online if there is so be some form of subscription model in a future BBC.

If it's a better focused and slim-lined broadcast BBC we are looking at, it would make sense to reduce linear broadcast archive as much as possible.

Or chuck it on UKTV and take the subscription and/or advertising fees.

[Roger Darthwell]

I don't see any reason to keep the channel, other than MAYBE an overspill for sports and arts coverage. And being that it is currently being reported by The Times, a newspaper which arguably doesn't like the BBC and neither do any of the other newspapers owned by News UK, I'd say don't worry about it until a newspaper like The Guardian starts reporting on it.

I'm being quite optimistic about the whole ordeal, I get the reasons to axe BBC Four, as it has since reshifted into a repeats channel but there's a lot of stuff on the BBC worth repeating that it arguably doesn't matter, they could easily rely on acquired foriegn content and their own archives for at least a few years running, but I do wonder if a "BBC Extra" channel would essentially allow BBC to still run a 4th channel, albeit for extra coverage if say, most other channels aren't able to.

Also, I genuinely feel BBCMeridan is poking holes at things that are successful just because they don't watch them or see value in it, even though the BBC is meant to cater for everyone. Whether it's axing a pre-school channel or shows that are successful, it just seems they lose the plot a lot.

I think that BBC Four could be a brilliant archive channel, bear in mind that the BBC had LOADS of stuff from it's archives that they can show.......I mean personally if one day BBC Four only shows old episodes of Tomorrow's World dating back to the early 80s, I wouldn't complain.

Or things like this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0013vcs

Absolutely, they have loads of stuff in their archives that they can show!

[XIII]

The Apprentice is one of the BBC's top shows for 16-34, there is no chance in hell they're getting rid of it.

[BagelCrisp]

Ironic how This happened to BBC Three back then, I'm not sure anyone here genuinely sits down and watches BBC Four out of leisure right?

[BBCMeridian]

The Apprentice is one of the BBC's top shows for 16-34, there is no chance in hell they're getting rid of it.

Well it doesn't mean it will last forever, programmes do tend to come and go every now and again.

[Markymark]

Ironic how This happened to BBC Three back then, I'm not sure anyone here genuinely sits down and watches BBC Four out of leisure right?

I do. The Friday night music stuff mainly.

[Brekkie]

The archive is used quite differently to how UKTV use it. Firstly they go back further but secondly it feels much more curated rather than just sticking on any repeat.

[NancerOnTheLIVEForum]

The Apprentice is one of the BBC's top shows for 16-34, there is no chance in hell they're getting rid of it.

Well it doesn't mean it will last forever, programmes do tend to come and go every now and again.

It's been running since 2005 with no signs of slowing down, they aren't going to axe it. I don't know why you always think the BBC should get rid of their highest rated shows.

[thePineapple]

I do. The Friday night music stuff mainly.

I'm curious to know, if BBC Four was, say, a playlist of archive material on iPlayer, much like BBC Three is now, would you still watch those music programmes?