BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

Improved bitrates on remaining channels?

"BBC strategic review will mean 'reduction in some kinds of programmes and
content', director general Mark Thompson says"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/26/mark-thompson-bbc-shut-digital

BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

Hmm, well, I know a heck of a lot of elderly folk sfor whom loss of bbc 7
would be a blow. They have no computer to use the on demand system, which
is muted to replace it, and bought dab mainly for this service. It is now on
Freeview of course, which has also helped get it accepted as a very nice
trip down memory lane.
I do not think most would get a computer simply to try to get shows, they
want it served up as they do now.

Now the bbc6 and one extra are another kettle of fish. Really, I think this
content is best done by computer, as the main listenrship is younger. Maybe
1 xtra should be commercial.
I also feel that in their current guise, R2 and R1 are not as popular as
they could be, but then, should the bbc bbe doing popular at all?

They also need to put more money into local radio, and if they are serious
about dab, then get the bloody things on it.

As for tv, well, both the childrens channels may only need one output, and
why do they need bbc 4 and 3? Maybe bbc premier is a possibility for this
stuff.

I would have thought their news channel was worth keeping going though. If
they are truly behind HD, maybe they ought to make this bbc 2 after a while
instead and then peeps will buy a new box. Myself though, I reckon hd is a
bit like Quadraphonic sound. A bit of a gimmick only made saleable by the
grotty quality of digital freeview!

Brian

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"Ivan" wrote in message
...
Improved bitrates on remaining channels?

"BBC strategic review will mean 'reduction in some kinds of programmes and
content', director general Mark Thompson says"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/26/mark-thompson-bbc-shut-digital

BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

On 27/11/09 16:36, Ivan wrote:

Improved bitrates on remaining channels?

Since they're trying to temporarily sell off the bandwidth freed up by
removing the redbutton channels, they might have more of a taste for
selling off bandwidth by then :-(

BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

This can't really be a surprise to any right-thinking people. The BBC
has vastly increased it's output with new channels and services over
the last 20 years but the funding has always been a bit mysterious.

Commercial activities appear to bring in very little relative to a
fairly static (albeit massive) license fee (when inflation is
accounted for). They've been selling the family silver for years to
fund big ticket items. Now they hardly own anything (not even the
Broadcasting part of their name!) so there's little left worth
selling. IIRC, the last attempted sale was of BBC Resources in London
and this didn't even sell.

It appears that every time the BBC has made so-called cutbacks (i.e.
staff made redundant) to save money, other areas appear to have grown
to compensate or the redundant staff have returned to remarkably
similar roles in a freelance capacity. When I see spaces appearing in
BBC car parks, I'll believe staff numbers (i.e. costs) are reducing.

Meantime the sale of TVC was going to help the move to Manchester but
property prices in London aren't what they were and the License fee is
under constant pressure.

At some point, the pips must squeak, the bubble burst. Maybe this is
just the first shot across the bows..

--
Z

BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

On 2009-11-27 16:36:19 +0000, "Ivan" said:

Improved bitrates on remaining channels?

cynic

More likely currying favour with the incoming Government by a process
of pre-emptiveness.

/cynic

--

Cheers

Derryck

BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

Zathras wrote:
This can't really be a surprise to any right-thinking people. The BBC
has vastly increased it's output with new channels and services over
the last 20 years but the funding has always been a bit mysterious.

Commercial activities appear to bring in very little relative to a
fairly static (albeit massive) license fee

Consider that the licence fee tends to be less per month than just about
the cheapest subscription to Sky TV. For which you get some channels all
with adverts.

--

I'm not apathetic... I just don't give a sh** anymore

?John Wright

BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

On Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:15:19 +0000, Derryck Croker
wrote:

Improved bitrates on remaining channels?

More likely currying favour with the incoming Government by a process
of pre-emptiveness.

They tried that with the present government. They failed spectacularly.
Surely they aren't stupid enough to repeat the attempt?

BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

On Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:03:51 +0000, Zathras
wrote:

This can't really be a surprise to any right-thinking people. The BBC
has vastly increased it's output with new channels and services over
the last 20 years but the funding has always been a bit mysterious.

[...]

It appears that every time the BBC has made so-called cutbacks (i.e.
staff made redundant) to save money, other areas appear to have grown
to compensate...

Mystery solved? :)

...or the redundant staff have returned to remarkably
similar roles in a freelance capacity. When I see spaces appearing in
BBC car parks, I'll believe staff numbers (i.e. costs) are reducing.

The BBC isn't the only organisation to do this. Many companies have
also let staff go and then hired them back as freelancers, often
appearing to pay them more.

I suspect there are lots of hidden costs in employing someone, costs
which freelancers must meet themselves.
--
Martin Jay

BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

On Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:42:53 +0000, johnwright ""john\"@no spam
here.com" wrote:

Consider that the licence fee tends to be less per month than just about
the cheapest subscription to Sky TV. For which you get some channels all
with adverts.

Peoples' tastes have changed.

Many used to complain about adverts, too many US imports and repeats
on TV.

People now pay--specifically for US imports and repeats--to watch such
things.
--
Martin Jay

BBC may shut some digital services after switchover.
 

In article , Martin Jay wrote:
...or the redundant staff have returned to remarkably
similar roles in a freelance capacity. When I see spaces appearing in
BBC car parks, I'll believe staff numbers (i.e. costs) are reducing.

The BBC isn't the only organisation to do this. Many companies have
also let staff go and then hired them back as freelancers, often
appearing to pay them more.

I suspect there are lots of hidden costs in employing someone, costs
which freelancers must meet themselves.

These costs relate to various legal obligations which amount to the
employers having a long-term commitment to their staff. They still
expect loyalty *from* their staff, but don't want to offer it
themselves. That's what's gone.

Rod.
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