Jane B..Hello
I was going to stay out of this thread, but, congrats on summing up the "Then and now" of the BBC.
I would say that the situation is vastly improved at one level, although I too, mourn the lost of the Radio Theatre In Concert series.
And the fact that Broadcasting House is a building site for the next 5 years doesn't help!!
There are many, many producers and presenters in Radio who are sympathetic to what I'll loosely call the tradition. The problem is finding a hook to hang it on when putting programme ideas to their relative Network Controllers, who, not unsurprisingly, have one eye on the ratings.
The success of Late Junction, Andy Kershaw, and the two F on 2 award ceremonies, prove that the Music IS taken seriously.
I don't work in TV, but the programmes on BBC4 are a giant leap in intelligent programming. Yes, Very frustrating for those who can't get it yet, maybe the Beeb should have thought about the Transmitter infrastructure first, but, in their defence, they had the chance with Freeview, to pick up the failed On Digital system, and had to run with it, as it stood. otherwise Mr Murdoch might have jumped in.
Digi TV will happen, It's got to. when the Analogue Transmitters are switched off in 10 years or so..we'll all be there.
I am therefore cautiously optimistic about the future...Hang it all..I'm doing my bit!
Regards to all
Ralphie