BBC Four & CBBC to close

[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