Alfred, obviously.
BBCAmerica - too american now?
- Thread starter sojourner
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Alfred, obviously.
I've thought about this, and I think it's because they are all appeasing the last niche that actually watches tv with any frequency, and why more and more viewers are abandoning tv in favor of streaming services like netflix, Hulu, Crackle, and Youtube & Vimeo.
Regular TV watcher is becoming a niche audience which favors repeated old crap, reality crap, and anything totally devoid of originality and requiring an elevated intelligence factor to enjoy.
I wasn't going to say they're getting too American, but they do seem to be getting too sci fi. They're almost as Sci Fi as SyFy. It seems they realize that their biggest audience group are Doctor Who fans, who, while a niche, are at least an easier to market group than "people who happen to like British shows," which could be any group (why would the same people who like Coupling necessary like Torchwood?). Plus, if they attract a wider sci fi audience, they might be able to get those people to watch the British sci fi/fantasy shows they do air.
Yes, there's a fear that they'll go the route of the history channel and essentially kill off all their quality programming. But it might be a sensible strategy right now almost as a hook to get people to watch what British shows they do air.
Yes, there's a fear that they'll go the route of the history channel and essentially kill off all their quality programming. But it might be a sensible strategy right now almost as a hook to get people to watch what British shows they do air.
Michael Gough.
Sir Patrick Stewart.
Jamie Bamber and James Callis.
What's their reasoning, that one or two of the actors are British?
Yep.
Well. Gillian Anderson lives in Britain now.
That's all I've got.
Yet another reason I just torrent the shows I want to watch these days.
Honestly, I don't understand why they even bother with names anymore. Drop the Food, Cartoon, SyFy, History, etc from their titles and just give themselves three-letter call signs. Apart from the fact that we have to pay for the privilage, most of them are no different from the big three networks.
Honestly, I don't understand why they even bother with names anymore. Drop the Food, Cartoon, SyFy, History, etc from their titles and just give themselves three-letter call signs. Apart from the fact that we have to pay for the privilage, most of them are no different from the big three networks.
Niche programming on television is dead, IMO. When a lot of the early cable networks first started, targeting niche audiences was the business model at the time for many of them. Now it's about trying to get as many people as possible to watch their channel, and if it means reaching beyond the niche audience, then that's what has to be done.
I thought I heard somewhere that there are more people watching BBC America now than ever before (up an insane percentage from before) and that it's the fastest-growing cable network out there right now...
I thought I heard somewhere that there are more people watching BBC America now than ever before (up an insane percentage from before) and that it's the fastest-growing cable network out there right now...
This doesn't necessarily seem to be a new conversation about BBC America. I remember in 2003 when BBC America dropped "EastEnders" — there was a tremendous hew and cry over that (even though the American run was weeks behind the UK airings). At that time, BBC America seemed to find it to be better to air non-stop gardening and lifestyle shows instead of what might be considered to be more original fare.
Many of BBC America's programming choices seem to be unfortunate because it can be hard to get a sense of what really good about UK TV shows these days (although I do like "Top Gear" and "Doctor Who"). Someone earlier in the thread mentioned getting turned on to "Coupling" via BBCA. I did too, and I also loved the original run of "The Office." I was such a fan of those shows that I would encourage my friends to tune in as well.
Is BBCA doing anything like this today for great drama and comedy? I can't really think of any examples.
I was almost more annoyed when they dropped BBC News coverage from BBCA. The stated reason is that the BBC World News network is finally being distributed in the United States, and they can distribute the main "BBC World News America" program on public TV stations. The only problem — very few providers currently offer BBC World News.
Ultimately, I don't know if BBCA has become too American, but I think it is fairly bland — with most of the fare being mostly hashed-over repeats that people can get almost anywhere else.
Many of BBC America's programming choices seem to be unfortunate because it can be hard to get a sense of what really good about UK TV shows these days (although I do like "Top Gear" and "Doctor Who"). Someone earlier in the thread mentioned getting turned on to "Coupling" via BBCA. I did too, and I also loved the original run of "The Office." I was such a fan of those shows that I would encourage my friends to tune in as well.
Is BBCA doing anything like this today for great drama and comedy? I can't really think of any examples.
I was almost more annoyed when they dropped BBC News coverage from BBCA. The stated reason is that the BBC World News network is finally being distributed in the United States, and they can distribute the main "BBC World News America" program on public TV stations. The only problem — very few providers currently offer BBC World News.
Ultimately, I don't know if BBCA has become too American, but I think it is fairly bland — with most of the fare being mostly hashed-over repeats that people can get almost anywhere else.
I remember watching Luther on BBC America not that long ago...
The irony about people going to streaming and other services and whatnot is to find what the cable channels aren't showing. IF BBCA showed half of what I get from Netflix, I'd watch BBCA. If TVland did show the old shows I like to see reruns of, I wouldn't need Hulu. This was my estimation about the new Wonder Woman. Would NBC get just as good ratings numbers if they showed the original WW? Universal HD is supposed to be the HD NBC library flagship channel- and what do they show? Charlie's Angels and TJ Hooker. And you know what? I watch that instead of when they show a 2 hour movie in a 3 and a half hour block so they can add meaningless infomercials in between.
I just think if a channel did what it was supposed to, people might keep it. Now television and cable are topping lists of things people don't need and are cutting off, like landlines and desktops. You would think it would be the opposite, the HD television bands can show the old library stuff and new shows can premiere on the fancy streaming and stuff.
I'm ranting! BBCA is more sci fi, yeah, and I wouldn't care if it was British Sci Fi. The writing on the wall was there when they started showing TNG. That was a jump the shark. Yeah, let's list when the networks began to jump the shark by showing aimless and stupid shows!
I just think if a channel did what it was supposed to, people might keep it. Now television and cable are topping lists of things people don't need and are cutting off, like landlines and desktops. You would think it would be the opposite, the HD television bands can show the old library stuff and new shows can premiere on the fancy streaming and stuff.
I'm ranting! BBCA is more sci fi, yeah, and I wouldn't care if it was British Sci Fi. The writing on the wall was there when they started showing TNG. That was a jump the shark. Yeah, let's list when the networks began to jump the shark by showing aimless and stupid shows!
I know I say this every time this subject comes up, but i hope in the end we get the last laugh. A lot of these channels might have a hit with one show. But I wonder if they can sustain the ratings when they're having to compete with two dozen other channels all showing the same generic reality shows?
In any case, they've lost me as a viewer.
In any case, they've lost me as a viewer.
That's true. BBC America's not a total wasteland. There are still some series that highlight quality British TV, but they seem to get lost in the noise.
Agreed, these last grasps at rating attempts are like putting one sandbag out in front of the tsunami. I too, was really disappointed when I went to BBCAmerica during the bin Laden death drama to get the international perspective- and they never interrupted Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Yeah, Kevin Costner as Robin Hood just about sums up the current BBCA perfectly!
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