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BBC Loses Great British Bakeoff


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Old 12-09-2016, 21:19
Ash_M1
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Retaining The Great British Bake Off was always going to be a challenge for the BBC, indeed the same would apply to any other PBS. The commercial sector seldom takes risks with such formats, One can argue that relying on ad revenue they cannot afford to and that is the irony because if we didn’t have a licence funded broadcaster then shows such as Bake Off and Strictly would not exist. Love Productions tried in vain for 4 years to sell the format to the commercial sector with no takers, when the BBC stepped in the first season only attracted 2 million viewers. The irony once again is that had the commercial sector taken up the opportunity, it is very likely that One: it probably wouldn’t have attracted 2 million viewers and Two: If it did, it would likely have not survived. The commercial sector had more than a decade to come up with a format to replace the BBC’s long forgotten Come Dancing, they didn’t, instead, they went for the popular music format which was very successful. The BBC put on their dancing shoes and quickly clawed back the crown of Saturday Night.

The commercial sector weren’t bothered about baking or dancing, it they had, they would have taken up the option of Bake Off 4 years before it saw the light of day on the BBC and for a decade dancing was seen as a pastime for the old folks or at the other extreme rave venues for the young, certainly no place for Prime Time Saturday evenings. You can’t blame Love Productions for taking advantage, the Bake Off success attracted SKY to take a substantial share in the company and there we have another irony, the commercial sector doesn’t have to take the same risks but can take advantage of PBS successes. The licence fee allows the BBC to take on these formats but it doesn’t allow them to make the same bids to buy into these production companies with the same backing as the commercial sector.

The licence fee will always be a conundrum, It will attract support and disdain almost in equal measure but without it there would be a very unbalanced broadcasting landscape. The BBC doesn’t compete for advertising revenue allowing the commercial sector to benefit from a huge revenue stream. The PAY TV sector can bid even higher as long as they are able to retain a high subscription base with a significant advantage over both the BBC and the ad funded commercial sector, they can also use communications revenue to underpin their operations and have some of that advertising cake into the bargain. The licence payer is stuck with what in principle works for many just as tax funds other public services such as arts centres, museums, libraries, public parks, rivers, canals etc. We don’t all visit arts centres or museums, we don’t all read books, we don’t always take a walk along a river or canal or go for long walks in the countryside or even have children or grandchildren to take to a playground or recreational centre. These all exist because they provide a balance to the privately owned and run alternatives.
Here here mate. Excellent post. Certainly the BBC needs to look at all it's contracts it has with the indie sector.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:22
WillButcher
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The thing with GBBO is that it's all filmed and finished way in advance, but everyone involved (and the press) play along and keeps the secret.

I just wonder if it goes to a commercial channel for big bucks, will there be more likelihood of the rest of the media printing reveals and spoilers? There might be a feeling that it's 'fair game' on a commercial channel.
The press that would do this are linked by common ownership, they aren't going to do anything that harms the show.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:22
FinalAnswer?
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Very unlikely though Channel 4 will be happy if they can get a million or even slightly more.
Not for what they'll have paid for it
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:25
Shaun_Jameson
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I enjoy bake off, I don't care what channel it's on I will continue to enjoy it. It's time to close the BBC. A TV show is TV to show, it's not 1950 anymore.

I will watch the programmes I enjoy not matter what channel they're on, the BBC is just so old. An judging from this thread it's viewers are out of touch, 8 out of 10 xxx is funny, goggle box is funny.

Sorry BBC, you can no longer tell us what to watch, we have choice and I bet the BBC hates that!!
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:28
Shaun_Jameson
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Not for what they'll have paid for it
Yes because pressing 104 or 227hd (sky) is much harder than pressing 101 or 115hd (sky).

A lot of shows change channels as the viewing numbers fall, bake off is getting amazing figures, I'm sure many will press 104 and instead of pausing for a cuppaT or smoke, will now just do it during the add break.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:32
Andy_Smith1
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This staetment from Jay Hunt from Channel 4 about C4 losing Black Mirror to Netflix is hilarious and a bit sad now :

In an unusually strongly worded statement, Channel 4 chief creative officer Jay Hunt said: “Black Mirror couldn’t be a more Channel 4 show.“We grew it from a dangerous idea to a brand that resonated globally. Of course it’s disappointing that the first broadcast window in the UK is then sold to the highest bidder, ignoring the risk a publicly owned channel like 4 took backing it.” https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...r-black-mirror

Channel 4 must be desperate for a hit of any kind and she used to work for the BBC
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:32
FinalAnswer?
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Yes because pressing 104 or 227hd (sky) is much harder than pressing 101 or 115hd (sky).
Yes, that's why the BBC get 5 times as many viewers when the same football match is being shown on two separate channels
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:33
Thornfield
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As someone else said though it's the fault of the production company, I'm pretty confident the BBC would have offered a sizeable offer but you have to remember we pay for it, they have been critised many times for paying big bucks for shows or people.

The production company have only looked at the short term, this could have remained a hit on the BBC for the next 10 years.

I don't even watch the show but acknowledge this is pretty huge, it's like being aware of a future car crash it won't end well
Thanks for the explination, ritchie!

At times like this I feel sorry for Auntie Beeb. They should not have had to lose this show, which just "feels" so BBC in a good way and does so well for them. Shame on the production company, what idiots!
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:34
Sluger
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Never understood people that watch channels, not programmes. A very old fashioned idea.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:35
Ash_M1
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Yes because pressing 104 or 227hd (sky) is much harder than pressing 101 or 115hd (sky).

A lot of shows change channels as the viewing numbers fall, bake off is getting amazing figures, I'm sure many will press 104 and instead of pausing for a cuppaT or smoke, will now just do it during the add break.
Bake Off will lose three quarters of it's viewers. Why? Ads and Channel 4 is the fourth most popular channel.

I look forward to some positive commentary from you re: the BBC, the nation's best and most important broadcaster.

I suspect Ch4 will come in for some criticism from this poaching behaviour.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:36
Jason C
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“We don’t follow others, we believe we are a home for first transmission content,” said a station insider.
I presume said insider doesn't work for the channel anymore.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:36
Ash_M1
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Thanks for the explination, ritchie!

At times like this I feel sorry for Auntie Beeb. They should not have had to lose this show, which just "feels" so BBC in a good way and does so well for them. Shame on the production company, what idiots!
I agree. It's so BBC. Like Countryfile, it's so gentle.

Down with Love Productions. What numptees.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:41
Hamlet77
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Could the commercial side of the deal have been the stumbling block.

Will we get GBBO cookware, GBBO utensils, GBBO anything else remotely Bake off relevant. Even more GBBO books.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:43
Sluger
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Could the commercial side of the deal have been the stumbling block.

Will we get GBBO cookware, GBBO utensils, GBBO anything else remotely Bake off relevant. Even more GBBO books.
Product placement.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:46
davads
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Could the commercial side of the deal have been the stumbling block.

Will we get GBBO cookware, GBBO utensils, GBBO anything else remotely Bake off relevant. Even more GBBO books.
We already do
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/brands/great-british-bake-off
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:55
Nesta Robbins
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They won't if C4 sticks to the winning formula. I doubt either party will change much about what makes the show do successful.
Even if it's the same, the whole thing will have a completely different feel, interupted by ads every few minutes!
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:55
16caerhos
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Well that's goodbye Bake Off, then. It was nice while it lasted.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:55
Fudd
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From a report drawn up from Jake Kanter, it looks as though the BBC wanted to continue paying for Bake Off as a factual programme whilst Love wanted it to be treated as an entertainment programme - I presume the budget's tend to be higher for entertainment shows?

Both parties are entitled to their approach. In the end, the current holder didn't but a good enough offer on the table whereas another prospective buyer did. Love certainly didn't ignore the BBC; it seems that negotiations were ongoing.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:56
davads
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Even if it's the same, the whole thing will have a completely different feel, interupted by ads every few minutes!
Assuming it's still an hour slot, there'll be four breaks, and they won't be "every few minutes".
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:57
roger_50
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This might not be the end of the world; every show has a shelf life.

My mum was only telling me a few days back she wasn't as 'into it' as she was a couple of years back. She still watches it of course, but I do wonder - despite the viewing figures - whether the show's popularity is at/or just past its peak right now.

I actually wouldn't have been at all surprised if the BBC viewing figures in 2017, 18, 19, etc, had shown a constant drop from here on in anyway.

Probably a wise move from the production company to get top dollar while the going's good.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:58
Shaun_Jameson
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Bake Off will lose three quarters of it's viewers. Why? Ads and Channel 4 is the fourth most popular channel.

I look forward to some positive commentary from you re: the BBC, the nation's best and most important broadcaster.

I suspect Ch4 will come in for some criticism from this poaching behaviour.
It's a TV show, I will continue watching, I will continue enjoying it. You do not have to. Love freedom of choice.
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:59
Thornfield
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Never understood people that watch channels, not programmes. A very old fashioned idea.
Generally I agree but I've more or less boycotted C4 and C5 because of the hate campaigning they've had going against benefit claimants of any sort over the years. Even without this they have issues as channels. Jay Hunt has destroyed C4 and C5 just seems nasty in general.

If I do watch anything that airs on these channels it tends to be via downloading..
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Old 12-09-2016, 21:59
Shaun_Jameson
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This might not be the end of the world; every show has a shelf life.

My mum was only telling me a few days back she wasn't as 'into it' as she was a couple of years back. She still watches it of course, but I do wonder - despite the viewing figures - whether the show's popularity is at/or just past its peak right now.

I actually wouldn't have been at all surprised if the BBC viewing figures in 2017, 18, 19, etc, had shown a constant drop from here on in anyway.

Probably a wise move from the production company to get top dollar while the going's good.
My daughter is at uni an they literally have bake off nights/party's. Your mother may not enjoy it anymore. But it's somewhat of a youth cult hit. Not the target audience but a important audience.
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Old 12-09-2016, 22:02
fmradiotuner1
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channel 4 have loads cooking shows now could call it channel cook LOL.
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Old 12-09-2016, 22:04
Jenkins Leeroy
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whats the point in even paying the bbc license fee they cant even afford to keep their own shows anymore
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