BBC Four & CBBC to close

[Toby brown]

I wonder if some of these cuts will actually happen the bbc does u turn on cuts a lot. 6music asian network red button etc

[JetixFann450]

Again, I understand the argument of closing BBC Radio 4 Extra and BBC Four, but CBBC?

I just don't get what they're exactly saving with closing CBBC, granted I suppose the closure of CBBC means that programming for that audience is likely to be mixed in within BBC Three? Where BBC Three turns into a 24 hour channel and CBBC turns into a "block"? Akin to what I assume NPO Zapp / NPO 3?

Again, it's all fantasy at this point but that's just a shock to hear.

[L1]

So it feels like the BBC3 argument again, if it’s “going digital” (puke) then what are the actual savings to be made in removing digital “linear” channels. It’s going to be largely fixed cost, right?

Some fees to Red Bee maybe, but that doesn’t seem like a lifechanging sum of money.

Commissioning for iPlayer or "digital" will be different than that for linear slots. Shows don't have to be a specific length, schedules don't have to be filled in quite the same way. They must be saving a good amount with these changes otherwise what is the point of doing it.

[natashajacobs]

So it feels like the BBC3 argument again, if it’s “going digital” (puke) then what are the actual savings to be made in removing digital “linear” channels. It’s going to be largely fixed cost, right?

Some fees to Red Bee maybe, but that doesn’t seem like a lifechanging sum of money.

I’d agree, especially on 4, but with CBBC they have the live links and shows which are expensive. You just wonder how they came to this conclusion after the BBC3 debacle, although maybe there won’t be as much opposition this time. BBC2 daytimes is so devoid of anything that they might as well show some kids tv before HoG at 6

[AxiosBrit67]

Overseas, It has already happened. DR (Dansk Radio) axing DR3 in 2013 and merged them with DR P3 (Radio station) this year, and NPO also cut some funding since 2010 and closed two digital channels in 2012.

Assuming in long-term some services need to be merge to survive the budget cut, CBBC and CBeebies can be merge to single channel and retaining the former name, in similar way that BBC News and World News that also need to merge because we didn't need a duplicate channels that are essentially same audience target and same genre. I also think in my opinion, Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra can also be merge, renamed as just Radio 5 (like in early 90s era), because we don't need a duplicated stations that are essentially same genre (sport), and move most news-related content to Radio 4.

[telebox2001]

How can the Scotland channel continue to be justified?

[natashajacobs]

Overseas, It has already happened. DR (Dansk Radio) axing DR3 in 2013 and merged them with DR P3 (Radio station) this year, and NPO also cut some funding since 2010 and closed two digital channels in 2012.

Assuming in long-term some services need to be merge to survive the budget cut, CBBC and CBeebies can be merge to single channel and retaining the former name, in similar way that BBC News and World News that also need to merge because we didn't need a duplicate channels that are essentially same audience target and same genre. I also think in my opinion, Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra can also be merge, renamed as just Radio 5 (like in early 90s era), because we don't need a duplicated stations that are essentially same genre (sport), and move most news-related content to Radio 4.

Afaik radio 5 is super cheap and radio 4 has over 4x the budget so if anything they would start to cull some of the content on radio 4. Indeed I wonder if they will start to use some of the sounds podcasts to fill airtime on both stations

[Roger Darthwell]

How can the Scotland channel continue to be justified?

Indeed.....and BBC Radio Cymru 2 as well!

[This is UTV]

Where BBC Three turns into a 24 hour channel and CBBC turns into a "block"? Akin to what I assume NPO Zapp / NPO 3?

Sounds like CBBC on Choice (6am-7pm) and BBC Choice (7pm-4am) all over again.

[Dogorilla]

While it's undeniably essential for the BBC to increase their investment in digital 'content' (as fed up as I am of hearing that word), it's very sad that it has to come at the expense of linear channels thanks to the underfunding of the BBC.

[Ash101]

Assuming in long-term some services need to be merge to survive the budget cut, CBBC and CBeebies can be merge to single channel and retaining the former name, in similar way that BBC News and World News that also need to merge because we didn't need a duplicate channels that are essentially same audience target and same genre. I also think in my opinion, Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra can also be merge, renamed as just Radio 5 (like in early 90s era), because we don't need a duplicated stations that are essentially same genre (sport), and move most news-related content to Radio 4.

You cannot merge 5 Live & Sports Extra. Mainly because Sports Extra is only on air when 5 Live doesn't have the space for coverage (hence 'extra' in the name!). You basically get better value out of Sports Extra existing, because sports coverage that has already been bought is getting an airing on DAB and not just online.

[i.h]

So it feels like the BBC3 argument again, if it’s “going digital” (puke) then what are the actual savings to be made in removing digital “linear” channels. It’s going to be largely fixed cost, right?

Some fees to Red Bee maybe, but that doesn’t seem like a lifechanging sum of money.

Commissioning for iPlayer or "digital" will be different than that for linear slots. Shows don't have to be a specific length, schedules don't have to be filled in quite the same way. They must be saving a good amount with these changes otherwise what is the point of doing it.

But in reality it seems like they’d do it that way anyway - it’ll still be 30 minutes or 1 hour etc, decisions on how to release content on iPlayer etc. And BBC4 / R4Ex don’t have that luxury anyway given that they are already archive channels that have to make do with what they’ve got.

“what is the point” is *my* point

So it feels like the BBC3 argument again, if it’s “going digital” (puke) then what are the actual savings to be made in removing digital “linear” channels. It’s going to be largely fixed cost, right?

Some fees to Red Bee maybe, but that doesn’t seem like a lifechanging sum of money.

I’d agree, especially on 4, but with CBBC they have the live links and shows which are expensive. You just wonder how they came to this conclusion after the BBC3 debacle, although maybe there won’t be as much opposition this time. BBC2 daytimes is so devoid of anything that they might as well show some kids tv before HoG at 6

So that makes more sense, though I suppose they could axe the live continuity (which I assume they are doing anyway with the iPlayer move) and keep the channel as a fully automated thing

[XIII]

The likelihood of the CBBC block returning is zilch, you might get the odd commission on linear like Dodger but that's it.

[Moz]

To be absolutely honest, the BBC was at its most highly regarded when it had 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations.

Perhaps they should be focusing on doing less, better.

[adamiow]

Whilst moving CBBC online is fine, as the audience is likely to be savvy enough to still watch, I do hope they consider a technological solution to continue to have an pseudo linear stream via a playlist/shuffle functionality on iplayer. Asking a child to make a decision every time they want to watch might be rather fun otherwise!