BBC Four & CBBC to close

[Whataday]

BritBox is owned exclusively by ITV in the UK and 50/50 with BBC Studios internationally so it's a very lucrative business. To suggest scrapping it is incredibly daft.

Lucrative? Isn't it loss making?

[London Lite]

Did the BBC pull out in the UK? I was under the impression that ITV decided they wanted full control and are going to phase it out once ITVX comes along?

I think because of some Ofcom rule, BBC only had a small stake in the UK version anyway?

BBC Studios only had a 10% share in Britbox UK.

[tellyblues]

Britbox is like anything else. Once you've seen what you want, you realise what you're paying for. There's probably stuff on there that people have sat through just because it was on at the time but had no desire to watch it beforehand, nor want to now. This is the danger the BBC face with 'digital first' - non-appointment TV particularly cheap factual will suffer drops in viewership if people are encouraged to use the iPlayer. It's cheap factual which is the backbone of TV and helps the more glamorous shows to succeed.

[XIII]

Britbox is like anything else. Once you've seen what you want, you realise what you're paying for. There's probably stuff on there that people have sat through just because it was on at the time but had no desire to watch it beforehand, nor want to now. This is the danger the BBC face with 'digital first' - non-appointment TV particularly cheap factual will suffer drops in viewership if people are encouraged to use the iPlayer. It's cheap factual which is the backbone of TV and helps the more glamorous shows to succeed.

Does it really matter if cheap factual drops in viewership, these programmes are usually very cost effective so can don't needs loads of viewers to be considered a hit. 

Fewer, bigger, better can be a good thing because you can stand out from the crowd.

[tellyblues]

Britbox is like anything else. Once you've seen what you want, you realise what you're paying for. There's probably stuff on there that people have sat through just because it was on at the time but had no desire to watch it beforehand, nor want to now. This is the danger the BBC face with 'digital first' - non-appointment TV particularly cheap factual will suffer drops in viewership if people are encouraged to use the iPlayer. It's cheap factual which is the backbone of TV and helps the more glamorous shows to succeed.

Does it really matter if cheap factual drops in viewership, these programmes are usually very cost effective so can don't needs loads of viewers to be considered a hit. 

Fewer, bigger, better can be a good thing because you can stand out from the crowd.

Having fewer new programmes means people will grow tireless waiting around for content, and like other services they will question what they are paying for. Upping a budget doesn't necessarily mean something will be more appealing. I know I couldn't care less about a programme about cooking or antiques however much it costs.

[telebox2001]

Does it really matter if cheap factual drops in viewership, these programmes are usually very cost effective so can don't needs loads of viewers to be considered a hit. 

Fewer, bigger, better can be a good thing because you can stand out from the crowd.

Having fewer new programmes means people will grow tireless waiting around for content, and like other services they will question what they are paying for. Upping a budget doesn't necessarily mean something will be more appealing. I know I couldn't care less about a programme about cooking or antiques however much it costs.

This 100%.  How many "xxx Original" shows basically use a 2:1 aspect ratio, some grading and OTT production values to cover up a poor script, poor acting or both?

We all love an expensive costume drama but if you don't have the performance or script quality there sooner or later people will see through it.

[Humphrey Hacker]

I’m not surprised that BBC 4 is to be scrapped but saddened. To me BBC 4 is one of the best channels on TV with some superb history output. But I am surprised that CBBC is going. Cant see how 1 children’s channel will cater for toddlers and teens.

[Roger Darthwell]

Ministers have apparently ''raised eyebrows'' at the BBC's plans to axe CBBC
https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/m...ns-1654539

[Humphrey Hacker]

Ministers have apparently ''raised eyebrows'' at the BBC's plans to axe CBBC
https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/m...ns-1654539

Probably the only channel they watch

[Brekkie]

Ministers have apparently ''raised eyebrows'' at the BBC's plans to axe CBBC

https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/m...ns-1654539

Good.  I suspect that was exactly the intention.   The trouble is will they even join the dots and realise it's their own decisions which has led to this decision.

[telebox2001]

I thought expression of political opinion was banned?

There is a major elephant in the room. If you're a kid, the Internet is just as much the wild west as it was in the 90's. Are parents really going to happy letting their children go on the Internet to watch CBBC when they could accidentally stumble across porn?

[Stanley Matravers]

Are parents really going to happy letting their children go on the Internet to watch CBBC when they could accidentally stumble across porn?

This just made me think of a Hugh Dennis joke from a long-ago episode of Mock The Week, about the BBC launching a new porn channel called CBoobies.

[CantGetIn]

Ministers have apparently ''raised eyebrows'' at the BBC's plans to axe CBBC
https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/m...ns-1654539

One would suspect if they end up with only CBeebies channel remaining, then they will change it to include content from both channels to meet their requirements. Yes, a merger (only in terms of the linear channel). he we go again....

I know it has been highlighted why "it won't happen". But all the things that happened last week were "not going to happen".

[Brekkie]

There is a major elephant in the room.  If you're a kid, the Internet is just as much the wild west as it was in the 90's.  Are parents really going to happy letting their children go on the Internet to watch CBBC when they could accidentally stumble across porn?

As long as CBBC don't have any shows about tractors they should be fine.

[all new Phil]

I thought expression of political opinion was banned?

There is a major elephant in the room.  If you're a kid, the Internet is just as much the wild west as it was in the 90's.  Are parents really going to happy letting their children go on the Internet to watch CBBC when they could accidentally stumble across porn?

I think your point is a bit clumsy. The existence of CBBC doesn’t mean its potential viewers will never otherwise go online. 

Likewise, I don’t know the stats myself but I’d be interested to see numbers of people “going online” (I assume by this you mean via a computer or web browser) vs using a smart tv app or streaming device to watch CBBC.