It was just plan weird. Was it meant to be funny? I found it more disturbing.

Agree with all of this, the BBC4 docs would fit nicely on BBC2, thus providing the BBC with the best channel on TV, full of quality programming..

Btw What will lead into The Musketeers when CTM ends? Will it be Antiques Roadshow?

I'm really quite shocked at how low both 9pm Sunday dramas have dropped, particularly The Musketeers which started with 7.4m and is now down to 4.5m - quite a steep decline.

Thought "Inside No.9" was really good tonight. Was a bit Mike Leigh-ish. Very observational comedy they produce.

Another superb episode of Line of Duty - it deserves better ratings than it's getting at the moment. It should be an 8m sized hit. I'll be really interested to see its consolidated rating for Episode 2 tomorrow.

Death in Paradise has performed brilliantly this series - I can't believe it's going to outrate the New Tricks series average!

Really can't wait for Jonathan Creek to return on Friday - hoping it does well, my prediction is 6 million.

Surely BBC Three would go before BBC Four. Repeats of EastEnders, American imports and documentaries about sex mad teeenagers is a typical evening's output. It might be crowd pleasing but it's not really doing anything that the commercial equivalents aren't already doing, and the scripted stuff would stand more of a chance on BBC One post-news or even BBC Two.

Sorry but I dont agree at all. BBC4 is an alternative to BBC2. More often than not I watch 4 because the stuff on 2 does not interest me at all. Also to suggest everything thats on 4 would easily be accomodated on 2 is also wrong. BBC2 is hamstrung every night with Newsnight so you cant start a program at 10 and are left having to start one at 11:15. And do you think 2 will extend its broadcasting hours?
Would 2 ever have started to broadcast foriegn language dramas at 9pm on Saturday nights - not a chance in hell. They would never have commissioned Only Connect either.
While it might be a nice idea that BBC should just forget ratings its completely impractical when the government of the day is looking for excuses to attack them.
Also has to be said that by most peoples opinion BBC2 is doing well not only in terms of ratings but also critically - and does not need to be messed with.

Not really sure what purpose C5 would serve for Sky? If they structure it right then, like Desmond, they can probably make money out of it. But I suspect relatively little money for them and I'm not sure it has any great strategic value beyond not wanting BT to get it. Again I'm not sure what use it would be to BT (aside from showing one or two FTA football matches) beyond making sure that Sky don't get it.

Actually BBC3 is not that crowd pleasing looking at its share. Without EE repeats and American cartoons and film repeats would be at BBC4 levels.

I really do agree on "Line Of Duty" and the critics are raving about the series. Reading some comment on the episodes Mark Jeffries from the Mirror was questioning why it was only on BBC TWO this year and calling for it to be promoted to BBC one. I agree and think it could do with a bigger audience to appreciate it. Its one of the best dramas they have created in years. I agree with Mark Jeffries when he says the ratings dont match the show. Yet critic Michael Hogan also says that its dark nature maybe deprived it of its BBC one position. But it used to be braver with drama like Dennis Potter etc. Dont see why it cant again. Simon Heath said it would never had been made if BBC TWO had not invested time and money into drama again. So well done Janice Hadlow!

I think I killed it by mentioning not allowing my family to switch to ITV.
I think BBC Red Button 301 will go, and BBC One+1 will use that space. I expect they'll use temporarily rented space on a commercial multiplex to briefly restore Red Button services for things like Wimbledon and Olympics.

It would take BT into the big league of broadcasting and give them the same sort of cross promotion so beloved by Sky/BBC and increasingly ITV. Also 1 game in most rounds of the champions league + semis and final are a lot more than 1 or 2 games. They could also show highlights of other sports to enhance the channel. Sport was one of 5s big ratings winners in the past.

From Broadcast...

Yeah Saturday nights for ripper street sounds great to me

That part about scripted reality makes me want to cry.

Given Tony Hall is/was big in the Arts would definitely have thought BBC3 would go before BBC4.

Does anyone have any figures for Operation: Hospital Food at 9.15am on BBC1, quite an enjoyable series really. Thanks.

You're both right.

How could I forget Scandal? Another bright spot for ABC. Is Once Upon A Time getting increased competition on Sundays now? It started brightly but ratings have dipped and the spin off Wonderland never took off.

ABC really need Rising Star to take off so they can use it to launch some shows after it like NBC has done with The Voice/The Blacklist.

NBC really seem to be getting out of their bad patch thanks to The Voice. Repeats of their new comedies got a 2.4 and 2.0 on Tuesday and Chicago Fire held at a 1.8. They used to be the worst performing network but FOX easily takes that title now I'd say.

Line of Duty is incredible. I only found out about it because of a work mate so had to watch the first two episodes on iplayer.

I think the BBC really missed a trick not having it on BBC One. It could be getting 7 million viewers if they had it in a Monday 9pm slot. imho

I would not disagree with that although somehow I always think it has a BBC2 feel. Also BBC2 need to keep their own dramas. Cant wait for The Fall to return either.

I think NBC is showing signs of recovery while Fox is going into the tailspin NBC did when Friends and Frasier ended. ABC is close to Fox's problems but does have a few hits, Fox seems to have nothing.

Outnumbered 4.3m
Mrs Brown (rpt) 4.1m
Midsomer (rpt) 4.0m (inc +1)

Not bad for the Midsomer repeat, nice rise for Outnumbered. Poor raw figures for the soaps again.

Stella has been renewed for a 4th series by Sky1.

BBC4 is a bit lost, perhaps the victim of cuts.

Whilst one doesn't associate Sky too much with culture, the 2 Sky Arts channels output is better than the BBC's but probably on a stronger budget but even they are looking to axe one of the Arts channels and consolidate it all into one with the rest going OnDemand.

Re - LIne of Duty. Simply excellent. I don't think its one for the BBC One. Almost a dark feel/mood to it