Goodbye Channel 4?

[Bob The Skutter]

Does the money from BBC Worldwide at the moment go to the BBC?
and if so by giving it to ch4 does this mean the BBC will have to make even more cuts?

Yeah, BBC Worldwide's profits go back to BBC, I'd think if they were to partner up they would share resources, BBC Worldwide would help Channel 4 sell their rights internationally/buy the rights and funnel the profits back to Channel 4 in the same way they do to the BBC.

 

[Jadzia]

They don't make tv like they used to.

I used to enjoy tv, but in the past 10 years, particularly the past 5, not so much. I rarely watch it now.

bbc 2 and channel 4 were at one time were my favourites, then sky one when I had sky. But none of the schedules I enjoy much anymore. And it's not because I've aged, it's because the tv people make so much rubbish nowadays.

It's the same with the children's programmes. When I was little, each day had it's own schedule, and there were some really great fun programmes, like Maid Marian and Babar, and there were some really good cartoons too. I'd look forward to each of them coming around throughout the week. But nowadays, practically everyday is the same lineup of 3 or 4 incredibly dull programmes.

Let's not forget the saturday morning programme for the younger generation. It was all light hearted entertainment by genuinely likeable presenters. Humour often came from the informal non-scripted error-prone nature of it being a live show. Then we got lumbered with dick and dom, whose programmes shout out "look at us, look at us. We're the funniest people you'll ever see."

I'm sure it's not just me who feels this way. But I just don't understand why the tv directors make this rubbish.

 

[Jim Steele]

They don't make tv like they used to.

No. Times change.

But there are many brilliant tv shows being made nowadays, sharing the schedule with a whole lot of shitty ones. The situation hasn't really changed since the 60s, you just have more of everything now.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Interesting, appearently Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide may be buying Virgin's 50% stake in UKTV.

From Digital Spy
Virgin Media's 50% stake in UKTV may be purchased by BBC Worldwide and Channel 4 as part of plans for the two companies to develop partnerships.
On Wednesday, media regulator Ofcom said that Channel 4 needed to embark on "a structural relationship with another organisation" and look into partnerships, possibly with BBC Worldwide, for it to survive as a public service broadcaster in competition with the licence fee funded BBC. There have also been suggestions that it merge with Five, an idea dismissed by Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan.
It is understood that Channel 4 would enter into a partnership with BBC Worldwide with a "dowry" consisting of Virgin Media's 50% stake in UKTV. According to The Guardian, Virgin Media may prepare the necessary documents within the coming fortnight.

 

[Servo]

They don't make tv like they used to.

No. Times change.

But there are many brilliant tv shows being made nowadays, sharing the schedule with a whole lot of shitty ones. The situation hasn't really changed since the 60s, you just have more of everything now.

Sure, times change, but that doesn't mean the quality should drop - either with particular shows, or a channel as a whole. There isn't a lot of substance on TV nowadays, and channels are less inclined to take risks - even the pioneer of risky TV, and subject of this thread, Channel 4 has seemingly had its balls cut off in the last 6-7 years.

The Channel 4 of old - pretty much covering the entire decade of the 90's - was amazing. The shows they used to bring us, the event weeks (or nights) they used to hold - the vast majority of it was quality. In fact, I'd wager that I'm into a lot of the things I am today because of it. It introduced me to so many different things through the stuff it broadcast late at night, and opened my eyes to many things through the documentaries it aired. Now, it's all just essentially guff to fill the gaps between each series of Big Brother.

BBC2 went the same way - especially after they dropped all their sci-fi content. I was turned on to Star Trek, Sliders, Space: Above and Beyond, Quantum Leap, The Outer Limits, Red Dwarf, Buffy, Farscape... all because of BBC2. There's nothing like that on BBC2 anymore, and they don't even show repeats of those shows - well, not unless they can't find anything to do with a few hours on a friday night/saturday morning, so they bung on a couple of TNG episodes at 2am. Sure, they show Heroes, but that's only one show, compared to the countless ones they used to air.

You are right, there are still some great shows out there, but compared to what there used to be, it's pretty slim pickings. This is why I don't really bother to watch TV anymore. I just watch everything I'm interested in online at my own convenience. I honestly can't see that changing.

 

[Captain Shaw]

I think one of the reasons why the BBC does not show has much sci-fi has they use to is apart from red dwarf they are all shows which where imported and when i started watching them most people i knew only had 4 channels and no internet so we had to wait for sky to finish showing them then the bbc brought them off sky.
These days a lot of people have sky and we know a lot of sci-fi fans will not wait and will D/L there favorite shows. So its not worth the money for the BBC to buy the rights off sky.
And they will not really try to take on sky for the rights because BBC does not do bidding wars. we have seen this with enterprise and the simpsons which where lost to channel 4 and 24 which was lost to sky 1.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I think one of the reasons why the BBC does not show has much sci-fi has they use to is apart from red dwarf they are all shows which where imported and when i started watching them most people i knew only had 4 channels and no internet so we had to wait for sky to finish showing them then the bbc brought them off sky.
These days a lot of people have sky and we know a lot of sci-fi fans will not wait and will D/L there favorite shows. So its not worth the money for the BBC to buy the rights off sky.
And they will not really try to take on sky for the rights because BBC does not do bidding wars. we have seen this with enterprise and the simpsons which where lost to channel 4 and 24 which was lost to sky 1.

And the Trust have told them to limit the amount of imports and to only get things others are unlikely to get, or they believe to be important and deserving of a larger audience. Or something to that effect.

 

[Deckerd]

BBC2 went the same way - especially after they dropped all their sci-fi content. I was turned on to Star Trek, Sliders, Space: Above and Beyond, Quantum Leap, The Outer Limits, Red Dwarf, Buffy, Farscape... all because of BBC2. There's nothing like that on BBC2 anymore,

Heroes?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

BBC2 went the same way - especially after they dropped all their sci-fi content. I was turned on to Star Trek, Sliders, Space: Above and Beyond, Quantum Leap, The Outer Limits, Red Dwarf, Buffy, Farscape... all because of BBC2. There's nothing like that on BBC2 anymore,

Heroes?

He did mention Heroes... to be honest, I think they blew their budget on that. Especially since they got lifetime rights to the series.

 

[Hermiod]

^And there's the fact that they don't have to wait forever for new episodes, they air a few days after the US. Plus, on top of that, there's the rights to put episodes on iPlayer and iTunes.

One show, however, is the exception that proves the rule. I think there's a perception at the BBC that anyone likely to watch the kind of Sci-Fi shows mentioned will have already found a way to do so before they get to the BBC.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^And there's the fact that they don't have to wait forever for new episodes, they air a few days after the US. Plus, on top of that, there's the rights to put episodes on iPlayer and iTunes.

One show, however, is the exception that proves the rule. I think there's a perception at the BBC that anyone likely to watch the kind of Sci-Fi shows mentioned will have already found a way to do so before they get to the BBC.

Well to be fair, it's pretty accurate, a large share of the target audience would have. Which is apparently why they're eager to make partnerships to do co-pros that can be aired more or less in sync.

 

[Deckerd]

The Beeb have done co-productions over the decades but they tend to be sure-fire commercial successes like blockbuster natural history series and period dramas. I'm not convinced, for the reasons Hermiod gives, that a sci fi venture would guarantee them that kind of success. The Sky /Sci Fi co-pro of BSG must surely have been a commercial success but could it be done again?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

The Beeb have done co-productions over the decades but they tend to be sure-fire commercial successes like blockbuster natural history series and period dramas. I'm not convinced, for the reasons Hermiod gives, that a sci fi venture would guarantee them that kind of success. The Sky /Sci Fi co-pro of BSG must surely have been a commercial success but could it be done again?

Well the BBC are currently working on a co-pro with Fox, Pro-Sieben, and a couple of others, called Defying Gravity, supposedly "Lost meets Grey's Anatomy in Space" about a future international space mission to explore the solar system.

 

[Deckerd]

Sounds good!

 

[Servo]

BBC2 went the same way - especially after they dropped all their sci-fi content. I was turned on to Star Trek, Sliders, Space: Above and Beyond, Quantum Leap, The Outer Limits, Red Dwarf, Buffy, Farscape... all because of BBC2. There's nothing like that on BBC2 anymore,

Heroes?

So, you got to that point in my post and stopped reading?

 

[Roshi]

So no more IT Crowd and Sugar Rush...

 

[Bob The Skutter]

So no more IT Crowd and Sugar Rush...

No chance on the Sugar Rush. they never commisioned a third series, saying the story was over.
I don't know about IT Crowd, I seem to remember they commisioned 3 and 4 together, but I'm not sure.
Channel 4 as a brand isn't going anywhere, but as a corporation it may be merged in to a larger public service body "with Channel 4 at it's centre", or have to make partnerships with other broadcasters.

 

[Deckerd]

BBC2 went the same way - especially after they dropped all their sci-fi content. I was turned on to Star Trek, Sliders, Space: Above and Beyond, Quantum Leap, The Outer Limits, Red Dwarf, Buffy, Farscape... all because of BBC2. There's nothing like that on BBC2 anymore,

Heroes?

So, you got to that point in my post and stopped reading?

I never read more than one para.

 

[Count Zero]

Well the BBC are currently working on a co-pro with Fox, Pro-Sieben, and a couple of others, called Defying Gravity, supposedly "Lost meets Grey's Anatomy in Space" about a future international space mission to explore the solar system.

Sounds good!

At first sight it does but then I saw Pro Sieben is involved and that doesn't bode well. Isn't it enough that they butchered Doctor Who?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Looks like it's confirmed BBC Worldwide and Channel 4 are looking at partnering on C4's digital only channels, and UKTV.

From Digital Spy

The television channels of BBC Worldwide and Channel 4 are at the centre of the two companies' talks over potential partnerships, it has emerged.
According to Broadcast, discussions are focusing on the benefits of bringing together Channel 4's multichannel bouquet of E4, More4 and Film4 and the UKTV network of stations. BBC Worldwide owns 50% of UKTV, with the other half owned by Virgin Media Television.
"We are looking into a proposition that would be a commercial relationship that would be based around both parties' TV businesses," a BBC spokesperson confirmed, noting that a full merger of BBC Worldwide with Channel 4 was not on the table.
Further details on the partnership possibilities are expected to be released in time for the deadline of March 12 imposed by communications minister Lord Carter; however, a full joint venture agreement is not expected to be available by that date.