BBC Four & CBBC to close

[JetixFann450]

Isn't that the plan anyhow?

Well, when they said BBC Three was "moving online" all that really happened was that the "linear feed" closed and new programming was uploaded to the pre-existing section on iPlayer.

I doubt this is what they plan on doing, despite them saying they want to move Radio 4 Extra primarily to Sounds.

[Spencer]

I’m guessing that the vast, vast majority of iPlayer viewing is for on-demand programming, rather than for live-streaming linear channels, so I’d be sceptical about the viability of online only linear channels on the platform.

I think it’s very different from BBC Sounds which almost certainly is used more, proportionately, as a way of listening live, via phones on the move, on a computer at work, or on smart speakers around the house. So it makes more sense to provide extra live streams on it.

[Rex]

It does surprise me we haven’t seen more pop-up or online-only channels on iPlayer like we’ve seen on Sounds. I think the BBC would do pretty well following the Pluto / Freevee model given the breadth of content they have for I would guess a pretty low cost.

If that does happen I'd be satisfied. Those channels are low cost and carry a good range of content, it's the best case scenario if the linear closures go ahead. By that time the market for the channels would increase given how streaming services are increasingly turning to introducing FAST channels now.

I'd imagine they'll be borrowing everything on the iPlayer whilst axing any distribution cost on traditional TV platforms and also getting rid of the live links on CBBC (presumably keeping them on Two if that gets a linear slot?).