Please help to save BBC4

Subject: Please help to save BBC4
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 08:29 AM

Dear all,

Please excuse me if there is already a thread on this - I did a quick search and could not find one. There are major cuts planned for the BBC4 television channel, the home of many intelligent, interesting programmes. Personally a great proportion of my TV viewing is from this channel, including fascinating documentaries, history, art, music and foreign films and series. Please consider signing the petition at the link below. It is quick and easy.

Save BBC4 petition site

Excerpt from the Save BBC4 website:

Major changes are being considered for BBC Four to turn it into a so-called "arts and archive" channel, thereby stopping making interesting and stimulating comedy and drama.Where else are they going to produce the marvellous, award wnning Science, Arts, Drama and Comedy programming approaching BBC Four quality?

Who will promote stunning foreign language drama like Heimat, Engrenages/Spiral, The Killing and Wallander? Where will you see intelligent music and niche arts coverage? Sky Arts? No. The BBC is unhindered by advertising and sponsorship that can only corrupt the presentation of art and culture.

We need to avoid the BBC "dumbing-down" this wonderful channel that is the only place on free-to-air UK TV that offers really different programming in comedy, drama, arts, history and science.

6 was saved. BBC Four doesn't face the threat of closure but faces being turned into a shadow of its current self.

Subject: RE: Please help to save BBC4
From: GUEST,Jim Clark poetryreincarnation youtube channe
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 08:40 AM

Can you not just give a link for the petition the link you give is somewhat confusing I totaly support what you say and cant imagine life without bbc4 in its current form so i would very much liketo sign the petition

Subject: RE: Please help to save BBC4
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 08:49 AM

Er, the link ("blue clicky") in my first post above IS a link to the petition. I thought I would add some background info which might be of interest to people.

Maria

Subject: RE: Please help to save BBC4
From: GUEST,davemc
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 11:37 AM

I don't care which BBC channel the good programmes are on. BBC4 was only necessary at all because they'd allowed BBC2 to chase ratings and become a more stupid channel. It was the original channel for the kind of mid-brow stuff that has been cropping up on BBC4.

It's interesting that there's nothing in the BBC's drama output that can match the quality of the foreign material that you mention they have shown recently (like Spiral, the original Danish version of The Killing, etc.). They seem to have forgotten how to make serious, credible, drama. Even the American networks and HBO do better.

Most of the output on any BBC TV channel is schlock paid for by a regressive modern version of the window tax. It has had its day and needs throwing to the market.

Subject: RE: Please help to save BBC4
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 11:20 AM

It doesn't surprise me that they would plan to do that. BB4 is an excellent informative channel which I love to tune into after a long day and it seems typical to me that someone in their wisdom would try to change and ruin it.

Subject: RE: Please help to save BBC4
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 11:38 AM

Topcat. Thanks for pointing that out. I've signed naturally, and urge everybody to do the same.

Over the years BBC 4 has become an incredible resource for intelligent well presented documentaries on a vast range of subjects, most of which the other channels wouldn't even consider.

Subject: RE: Please help to save BBC4
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 06:56 AM

The recent 'The Story of British Pathé'is a good case in point:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013pyfx

Subject: RE: Please help to save BBC4
From: GUEST,BBP at work
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 08:20 AM

Signed!