BBC3 to be online Only

watty · 06-03-2014 08:53PM

Sky pays BBC same as UPC roughly for "right" to include BBC in Irish packages.

But I have no interest in Subscription TV. I think it's worse than the not very good TV Licence funding model.

Online content is complimentary to Broadcast and always will be, not a replacement.

blueser · 06-03-2014 09:15PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

No Family Guy fans here?

No; not in the chair I'm sitting in anyway.

icdg · 07-03-2014 12:00AM

Its an odd decision, the BBC have already given up on the 12-18 demographic (an easy target, since they don't pay the licence fee) but now intend on essentially giving up on 18-35s also. What this'll mean is a nearly 20 year gap between the CBBC audience and the BBC One audience during which these people will have had no service from the BBC. What this will mean, long term, is that these people will question the value of having the BBC at all. And while the younger demographic don't tend to vote in any numbers the long term this effect will have on the support for the Corporation and public service broadcasting will not be good. True, they are served well by the other UK PSB, Channel 4, but they'd also take note that Channel 4 does public service broadcasting funded solely by advertising and sponsorship. Which isn't good news for the licence fee in the long term.

Meanwhile the online-only BBC Three can be no more than a fig leaf to keep the brand alive. The big difference between programming online and programming on TV is that TV's a medium where you can stumble on programming through the EPG or good old fashioned flicking channels. With the internet, you have to go and deliberatively look for programmes.

Merged thread from Satellite here

watty · 08-03-2014 11:49AM

Also perhaps less than 1/2 of people can sensibly access BBC3 that way (maybe only a 1/3rd). It's not scalable either. Anything even faintly popular would cost a fortune in Servers and server bandwidth.

TAFKAlawhec · 11-03-2014 04:29PM

MBSnr wrote: »

/doom-mode engaged
I do fear that this is the beginning of the reduction of the BBC content we can get easily via satellite. Already the Red Button service has been reduced. Reading other forums it seems the BBC is run by 'stick in the muds' who are slower to move away from traditional broadcast mediums and they haven't embraced the concept of paid for online content for those outside the UK, as of yet. I believe it probably goes against the current ethos and mindset of those in charge - as in you pay your licence fee and it's ALL yours to view regardless of whether it's interesting to you. That's currently great for us here, but these guys will be replaced and being as it is the BBC they will, no doubt, restrict BBC Three online to UK IP addresses only. I guess they'd eventually move to charging for content online outside of the UK but don't they have a BBC trust/board where all this has to be approved - and I'd imagine it consists of a few people who still think it's 1972....

Actually the BBC did have plans for providing some on-demand programmes on the iPlayer for overseas viewers for a monthly subscription fee. At least until the Daily M**l started crying that the annual cost for such a subscription was going to be less that the UK TV licence fee (obviously they didn't account for not everything being available outside the UK e.g. many sports broadcasts, no live streaming etc.) It's gone quiet on that front since then.

A lot of future BBC plans will depend on the result of the UK General Election next year. Unless the Conservatives get in with a majority (not looking likely ATM) then I doubt either Labour or the Liberal Democrats will draw up any new charter to be significantly different than what the BBC currently runs under to satisfy News Inc; the former in particular don't want to touch Murdoch with a 40ft pole and the latter have never been keen (both ways!)

ftakeith · 12-03-2014 08:13PM

family guy and american dad are now available from the tv3 player on samsung smart tvs

its total uncut than the bbc3 version

icdg · 12-03-2014 08:22PM

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

Actually the BBC did have plans for providing some on-demand programmes on the iPlayer for overseas viewers for a monthly subscription fee. At least until the Daily M**l started crying that the annual cost for such a subscription was going to be less that the UK TV licence fee (obviously they didn't account for not everything being available outside the UK e.g. many sports broadcasts, no live streaming etc.) It's gone quiet on that front since then.

There is an international iPlayer, but it's only available in the form of an iOS app. Subscription based afaik.

Banjoxed · 12-03-2014 08:58PM

icdg wrote: »

There is an international iPlayer, but it's only available in the form of an iOS app. Subscription based afaik.

I've tried it but it is worse than awful. A waste of bandwidth. A very limited choice and no live TV.

Banjoxed · 12-03-2014 09:00PM

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

Actually the BBC did have plans for providing some on-demand programmes on the iPlayer for overseas viewers for a monthly subscription fee. At least until the Daily M**l started crying that the annual cost for such a subscription was going to be less that the UK TV licence fee (obviously they didn't account for not everything being available outside the UK e.g. many sports broadcasts, no live streaming etc.) It's gone quiet on that front since then.

A lot of future BBC plans will depend on the result of the UK General Election next year. Unless the Conservatives get in with a majority (not looking likely ATM) then I doubt either Labour or the Liberal Democrats will draw up any new charter to be significantly different than what the BBC currently runs under to satisfy News Inc; the former in particular don't want to touch Murdoch with a 40ft pole and the latter have never been keen (both ways!)

It isnt stopping the Murdoch acolytes/Kippers/other roaring right wingers from canvassing a sub only model. Never underestimate the sheer wrath of a noisy minority on the subject of the BBC and access to it.

Andy454 · 12-03-2014 09:02PM

DAMN - the best channel on the air!!!

The only one transmitting family guy & American dad when you come from the pub!!

THEY'VE SAVED MY MARRIAGE!!!

Elmo · 12-03-2014 09:33PM

Andy454 wrote: »

DAMN - the best channel on the air!!!

The only one transmitting family guy & American dad when you come from the pub!!

THEY'VE SAVED MY MARRIAGE!!!

It's on 3e at 00:20

Andy454 · 12-03-2014 09:55PM

I'm only sinking last orders at that time.... not gonna rush home for it!!!

ftakeith · 12-03-2014 09:58PM

Elmo wrote: »

It's on 3e at 00:20

and tv3 player on sky catch up

Elmo · 12-03-2014 11:27PM

Andy454 wrote: »

I'm only sinking last orders at that time.... not gonna rush home for it!!!

Looking at the schedule for the BBC they are also only finishing Family Guy and American Dad at 00:30???

I think the pub is saving your marriage :pac:

TAFKAlawhec · 13-03-2014 01:28AM

ftakeith wrote: »

family guy and american dad are now available from the tv3 player on samsung smart tvs

its total uncut than the bbc3 version

Which is of no use to either a northerner like me, or those who don't have such televisions.

Elmo · 13-03-2014 09:33AM

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

Which is of no use to either a northerner like me, or those who don't have such televisions.

BBC Player is available online. I'd say Family Guy and American Dad will move to other channels. E4 had American Dad at one stage???

Sam Russell · 14-03-2014 11:01AM

Would they not cut down on the 55 (I guess) regional versions of BBC 1, that only opt out for a few news items. If they cut down on the regions, like say Oxford, I do not think it would be noticed. A 50% reduction on the number of regions would be the size of cut I would think would be needed before it was noticed.

Save BBC 3 and BBC 4.

radiowaves · 14-03-2014 11:12AM

Sam Russell wrote: »

Would they not cut down on the 55 (I guess) regional versions of BBC 1, that only opt out for a few news items. If they cut down on the regions, like say Oxford, I do not think it would be noticed. A 50% reduction on the number of regions would be the size of cut I would think would be needed before it was noticed.

Save BBC 3 and BBC 4.

It would be noticed in regions like, say, Oxford

Considering BBC Three is to be replaced with BBC1+1, a pointless exercise if ever there was one, I don't think losing regional variations would save anything!

It is obviously the cost of running BBC Three as a whole that is the issue, it certainly isn't just the cost of transponder space as your post suggests.

Elmo · 14-03-2014 11:33AM

radiowaves wrote: »

It is obviously the cost of running BBC Three as a whole that is the issue, it certainly isn't just the cost of transponder space as your post suggests.

Will each BBC ONE get a plus 1 and is this more expensive than the current delivery of the nationwide BBC THREE. According to the BBC their are saving 50million with 30million going to Drama for BBC ONE.

I don't see where they are saving?

Sam Russell · 14-03-2014 11:38AM

radiowaves wrote: »

It would be noticed in regions like, say, Oxford

Considering BBC Three is to be replaced with BBC1+1, a pointless exercise if ever there was one, I don't think losing regional variations would save anything!

It is obviously the cost of running BBC Three as a whole that is the issue, it certainly isn't just the cost of transponder space as your post suggests.

The regions, I presume, have staff and production costs. Making those regions larger would save money, and cutting the number of transponders/Txs would also save money. I would see the new regions as being: Scotland; Wales; NW England; NE England; Midlands; SW England; SE/South England; London. Oxford would become part of SE/S England.

Given the BBC has moved outside London to Manchester, that should have had an effect on its costs.

It is easier to cut one big lump rather than 'bits and bobs' all over the place. Cutting out free tea and biscuits could save a lot but annoy a lot more staff than axing all the BBC 3 jobs, and once BBC3 is gone, it is soon forgotten.

radiowaves · 14-03-2014 11:50AM

Elmo wrote: »

Will each BBC ONE get a plus 1?

BBC One +1 will only run from 8pm.

It will directly replace BBC Three.

7pm onwards on BBC One only includes around five minutes of late night local news (with a redirect screen in place on HD)

They have pushed the +1 channel to an 8pm start thereby avoiding the longer local news bulletins.

At this point your educated guess will be as good as mine

radiowaves · 14-03-2014 12:01PM

Sam Russell wrote: »

The regions, I presume, have staff and production costs. Making those regions larger would save money, and cutting the number of transponders/Txs would also save money. I would see the new regions as being: Scotland; Wales; NW England; NE England; Midlands; SW England; SE/South England; London. Oxford would become part of SE/S England.

Given the BBC has moved outside London to Manchester, that should have had an effect on its costs.

It is easier to cut one big lump rather than 'bits and bobs' all over the place. Cutting out free tea and biscuits could save a lot but annoy a lot more staff than axing all the BBC 3 jobs, and once BBC3 is gone, it is soon forgotten.

As the BBC still has a PSB remit, and viewers in the micro-regions are as entitled to local news as much as any other licence payer, I don't see how it would be easy to axe channels carrying a reasonable amount of live programming a day.

None of BBC Three's programming is live - all of it can be accommodated on other channels.

BBC Two used to be the home of new, experimental comedy but I also feel it had a better filter. Some of the pilot or six part comedies that have appeared on BBC Three barely raised a chuckle let alone a renewal

Elmo · 14-03-2014 12:10PM

Extend CBBC if you want. Reposition BBC3 as a mixed channel for BBC1, 2 and 4 or to allow regional programming to go national. IMO a better use of BBC1 +1.

dublinman1990 · 14-03-2014 12:14PM

radiowaves wrote: »

None of BBC Three's programming is live - all of it can be accommodated on other channels.

You're wrong there my friend.

BBC 3 has shown live sports coverage like Confederations Cup and Women's Soccer and a live political debate programme amongst young people called Free Speech.

radiowaves · 14-03-2014 12:30PM

dublinman1990 wrote: »

You're wrong there my friend.

BBC 3 has shown live sports coverage like Confederations Cup and Women's Soccer and a political debate programme amongst young people called Free Speech.

Well I meant BBC produced original and regular live programming but I cede your point. Live sports event programming costs no more or less to run on the other channels, it just requires replication. It is also seasonal - how many hours per year?

Free Speech is a recent development which escaped my attention - from a quick scan of the link you posted it runs monthly or fortnightly (again easily accommodated on one of the remaining channels). In that time hours of local programming and news will have come from the regions

byte · 16-03-2014 12:58AM

Elmo wrote: »

Extend CBBC if you want. Reposition BBC3 as a mixed channel for BBC1, 2 and 4 or to allow regional programming to go national. IMO a better use of BBC1 +1.

Is that not something akin to what BBC Choice was? Though I agree that such a channel would probably be better than a +1 timeshift.

radiowaves · 16-03-2014 09:54AM

byte wrote: »

Is that not something akin to what BBC Choice was? Though I agree that such a channel would probably be better than a +1 timeshift.

Anything would be better than a timeshift - I still can't understand the need for them in this era of PVRs and dual tuners - but they are a nice, cheap option for broadcasters.

It's interesting that across Europe only Italy (also Sky dominated) have the same obsession for +1s and they even use +2s.

icdg · 16-03-2014 11:25AM

radiowaves wrote: »

BBC One +1 will only run from 8pm.

It will directly replace BBC Three.

7pm onwards on BBC One only includes around five minutes of late night local news (with a redirect screen in place on HD)

More local programming in the Nations, though I imagine they will get separate +1s.

At a time when ITV has seriously scaled back its local programming there's a lot of people turning to the Nations and Regions - at one point ITV's regional programming was more popular than the BBC's, now the BBC is ahead in every region (except, I think, UTV).

The women's football tends to get shown on BBC One or Two nowadays. The Confederations Cup will present a bigger problem because the next one is in Russia and so will be in prime time, but it isn't for another three years.

radiowaves · 16-03-2014 11:45AM

icdg wrote: »

More local programming in the Nations, though I imagine they will get separate +1s.

Again, it's a direct replacement for BBC Three which will only run from 8pm

If they had plans to fire up another three versions they would not launch one of the four on a timesharing stream with CBBC which necessitates a restriction in hours

There also wouldn't have been a need for a shift in start-time from 7pm (BBC Three) to 8pm (One +1) thereby avoiding the long local news bulletins at 6.30pm.

icdg · 16-03-2014 11:52AM

Political pressure will ensure it eventually happens once it launches. Perhaps not on day one, but eventually. Same thing happened with the HD variant of BBC One and will happen with BBC Two HD in due course.

Worth nothing that BBC Three - or rather, its predecessor, BBC Choice - was once regionalised....

BBC3 to be online Only

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