BBC Three & Four closing down?!

mattboothers · 14-01-2011, 14:17

I read the newspaper yesturday and it mensioned BBC struggling and needing to close these down.

Why dont they just merge them together to save space. BBC Four 06:00am-6pm
and BBC Three 6pm-6:00am.

**Chris** · 14-01-2011, 14:20

There isn't an audience for BBC4's content during those hours.

The real problem the BBC has is that Three and Four between them achieve what used to be BBC2's remit. It's sometimes hard to understand what BBC2 is for these days. I think there's certainly an argument for ditching one or the other of them and merging that remit back into BBC2.

Which paper were you reading, and could you try to find, and link to, the online version of the article?

haydnwalker · 14-01-2011, 14:21

Why bother using both, and just have BBC3 with a concentration of better programmes as opposed to BBC4 with poop ones?

They seem to use them for "up and coming" programmes that they don't think will get many viewers, and then when they are wrong, they move them to BBC1/2, which defeats the object of those channels.

The only thing I watch on BBC3 is Family Guy anyway (and they are all repeats now at the moment).

mattboothers · 14-01-2011, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by haydnwalker

Why bother using both, and just have BBC3 with a concentration of better programmes as opposed to BBC4 with poop ones?

They seem to use them for "up and coming" programmes that they don't think will get many viewers, and then when they are wrong, they move them to BBC1/2, which defeats the object of those channels.

The only thing I watch on BBC3 is Family Guy anyway (and they are all repeats now at the moment).

In regards to Chris I will try to get the article online if possible.

When do BBC 3 show new family guy. I had to take it off series cause i got a load of Family guys back to back and they were all old ones.

Edit: Not the article from the paper but found this which is similar... http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...-channels.html

muppetman11 · 14-01-2011, 14:30

Here you go Chris

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...cuts-bbc3-bbc4

---------- Post added at 14:29 ---------- Previous post was at 14:27 ----------

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/...5875-22845043/

---------- Post added at 14:30 ---------- Previous post was at 14:29 ----------

http://www.cable.co.uk/news/bbc-digi...axe-800342927/

**Rob** · 14-01-2011, 14:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by haydnwalker

Why bother using both, and just have BBC3 with a concentration of better programmes as opposed to BBC4 with poop ones?

I look at it the other way round. BBC4 has better programmes (if you like channels such as discovery and history, you'll like some of the BBC4 output) and BBC3 the poop stuff. Both channels are aimed at different audiences. But realistically both are often doubling up on BBC2. Given the BBC iplayer, VOD and suchlike one wonders if there is a real need to repeat 3-4 timea a week stuff on BBC3/4 that only needs to be shown once on BBC2.

**Maggy J** · 14-01-2011, 14:47

Much of what is on BBC 1 and 2 I've no inclination to watch and BBC 3 and 4 often have shows I prefer.Sadly if they go I suspect I'm going to be a losing out.

v0id · 14-01-2011, 15:44

The only shows on BBC3 I watched were Being Human and Torchwood, the latter moved to BBC1 with its last series and Being Human could find a home on BBC2.
The rest of 3 is filler like endless repeats of Family Guy (which could also could move to 2), and those makeover programmes (which could be scrapped

)

Taf · 14-01-2011, 15:54

The BBC had all those extra digiatl slots to fill so spread anything good accross them, instead of concentrating them into their original 2 channels.

Byebye BBC3 and BBC4!

Why not a dedicated sports channel to stop them interfering with normal scheduling on 1 and 2?

mersey70 · 14-01-2011, 18:33

If BBC Four is closed yet they expect me to pay towards the BBC World Service from 2014 I will seriously be annoyed.

I couldn't care less about BBC Three but it's all down to personal tastes I guess however I really don't think the press have got onto the World Service issue much, why on earth should licence fee payers fund a service that isn't even aimed at us? Cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast don't even have their own local BBC radio service.

I just don't see why the UK needs a World Service of its current scope in 2011, sometimes I think the BBC and the Government still think we have an Empire!

The World Service costs more than the combined budget of BBC Radio's 1-5 and has a bigger budget than the US Government VOA services which seem crazy although I have no doubt it will shrink in the years to come.

mertle · 14-01-2011, 18:47

instead of closing they should rebrand them. Like Taf says and the other could be retro/vintage channel.

Beeb have absolute tons of stuff they could broadcast. Will PEOPLE get TV license reduction for half a service maybe we should demand half the tv licence.

So in effect 2 more general entertainment channels set to go and those on freeview going to big losers. I dont watch them very often myself but feel for those who do according to barb therye shafting 7m viewers.

What is it with powers to be silly season to upset viewers nearly combined 10m television viewers have been shafted by beeb/sky.

**Maggy J** · 14-01-2011, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by mertle

instead of closing they should rebrand them. Like Taf says and the other could be retro/vintage channel.

Beeb have absolute tons of stuff they could broadcast. Will PEOPLE get TV license reduction for half a service maybe we should demand half the tv licence.

So in effect 2 more general entertainment channels set to go and those on freeview going to big losers. I dont watch them very often myself but feel for those who do according to barb therye shafting 7m viewers.

What is it with powers to be silly season to upset viewers nearly combined 10m television viewers have been shafted by beeb/sky.

Ask Murdoch why he wants to own all the world's media.

**Chris** · 14-01-2011, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

Why not a dedicated sports channel to stop them interfering with normal scheduling on 1 and 2?

For the same reason they still show news and children's programmes on 1 and 2, despite the existence of BBC News, CBBC and Cbeebies.

BBC1 (and to a lesser extent BBC2) have a very specific public service obligation as general broadcast channels. Basically they have to do a bit of everything.

**Hugh** · 14-01-2011, 20:42

Reading the supplied links, it doesn't appear to state anywhere that 3 and 4 are being cancelled - just that it is an unstated assumption because they were not mentioned as priorities.

nodrogd · 14-01-2011, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

The BBC had all those extra digiatl slots to fill so spread anything good accross them, instead of concentrating them into their original 2 channels.

Byebye BBC3 and BBC4!

Why not a dedicated sports channel to stop them interfering with normal scheduling on 1 and 2?

If there is going to be a big shake of the BBC TV channels, and I think one is inevitable, it won't happen until after switchover is complete. There has already been some talk of BBC3 taking more sports content. As for a vintage BBC channel, I don't think so. The Beeb creates additional income from selling rights for it's TV programmes just like any other TV company.