Originally Posted by GeorgeS:
“BBC2 is really just an overflow channel. Probably they dont want protests when kids shows are taken off BBC2 for sports events. They figure nobody will complain if the news is taken off BBC2”
“BBC2 is really just an overflow channel. Probably they dont want protests when kids shows are taken off BBC2 for sports events. They figure nobody will complain if the news is taken off BBC2”
So rather than losing kids shows for 2-3 weeks a year they drop them for 52 weeks.
I've long thought it made scheduling sense to shift it to BBC2 and keep the daytime shows on BBC1, allowing CBBC a better slot now The Weakest Link has cut it short.
However, I believe the CBBC Channel actually rates better than BBC1 when both air shows, so if they were to go that isn't as big a problem as it once was. I do think though CBBC should still get a regular slot on BBC1/2 to showcase it's flagship content - even if that is just dropping shows like The Sarah Jane Adventures into the schedule. The Saturday morning shows should definately return to BBC1 too - television absolutely needs them to provide a platform for the TV stars of tomorrow.
I think in terms of cost cutting in regards to kids shows surely the most obvious option is any slots on BBC1/2 are simply a simulcast of CBBC/CBeebies, rather than separate output as they are now. As for BBC2, between the News channel and childrens shows they could run a simulcast service on weekdays which wouldn't appear too cheap if it's done correctly:
6.00-11.30am CBeebies/CBBC - as now, though perhaps simulcast rather than separate output to save cash
11.30 The Daily Politics - an earlier slot, perhaps simulcast on BBC News
12.00 GMT - a simulcast of the full hour from BBC World (except Wed, when PMQs airs)
1.00-3.00 Repeats and filler - preferbly not "daytime" material
3.00 BBC News - a simulcast with the News Channel for an hour, but a new show is created on the News Channel for the slot so it doesn't appear to be a lazy option (even though said new show would basically be the same as they offer now under a different name!). The summary and regional news update on BBC1 would probably be axed, so perhaps this hour could incorporate a link up to regional newsrooms across the country to get the top local stories from around the UK (like the ITV News Channel used to do). If necessary, Wales/Scotland/NI could opt out for a short bulletin of their own.
4.00 CBBC - a shorter but more focused slot, simulcast with the CBBC channel
5.30-7.00 BBC2 Daytime - keep Eggheads at 6pm, find a half-hour filler at 5.30pm and usual content at 6.30pm (which at some point would be repeated in the 5.30pm slot)
Not sure how much cash that would actually save - but streamlining the BBC1/2 schedules would definately benefit both.
but remembered the date. 
