Should the BBC axe 6 Music?

 

bbcAs we reported earlier an article in The Times newspaper claims that the BBC is preparing to axe two radio stations; Asian Network and 6 Music and will spend less on acquiring American imports such as Mad Men and Heroes – the big question now is, should it? Should the corporation cut back on its digital output, website and imports or should it ignore criticisms and drive on ahead?

 

 

 

bbcThe Times newspaper has claimed that the BBC is planning to axe 6 Music, Asian Network, spend less on its websites and also acquire less programming from overseas; imports such as All Saints, Mad Men and Heroes. Perhaps not surprising the fight-back against these proposals has already begun even though they have not been confirmed by the corporation it self – the BBC has merely stated it will not comment on “speculation”.

 

The campaign to save 6 Music has already begun on Twitter and before long Facebook groups and online petitions will spring up and various personalities within the music industry will leap to its defence. The same can probably be said for the Asian Network and UK fans of Heroes, few though they may be, will probably leap into action to try and make sure the BBC keeps Heroes on BBC Two and Sky doesn’t sneak in and steal it.

 

However, the big question now is if the Times article is right should the BBC be cutting back on its services? Is the BBC right to do so? Or is it preparing for a possible Tory government which would probably seek to cut costs at the BBC and even lower the licence fee? Is the BBC planning ahead for a possible Tory bloodbath of the BBC’s services and showing ahead of time it is prepared to cut back and reign in costs? The BBC will probably be accused of this by some while others will argue that the BBC has other stretched itself and needs to trim itself a little.

 

It’s no secret that the BBC has often been criticised for its extra digital stations such as 1xtra, BBC Radio 7 and even BBC Three which is a favourite target of some. BBC Three is targeted at the bbc“younger” audience – the kind of audience E4 appeals too – and for this often is blasted by campaigners and those opposed to the BBC as evidence the corporation is wasting the licence fee on “trashy” programmes that few over the age of 30 would want to watch. BBC Four has sometimes come under fire for having a similar remit as BBC Two – original, intelligent factual and drama. Some critics have argued that BBC Two and BBC Four should merge in a bid to cut costs but this is unlikely to happen as although BBC Four appeals to a niche audience the dramas it does produce are often critically acclaimed, award-winning and continual break ratings records for the digital channel.

 

In the past we ourselves have argued that if the BBC wishes to cut costs rather than axe programming or cut back programme budgets it should instead look at its other services that don’t have a wide appeal. Several years ago we argued that the corporation should axe 1xtra and the BBC Asian Network as they had too small appeal and that the money saved from them could be diverted elsewhere. We also argued that BBC channels, bar the News Channel, did not need to be on 24 hours and the corporation should be afraid to return of the days of “close-down”…when a channel would stop broadcasting at a certain time for a period of time – but this is unlikely unless its commercial rivals would do the same.

 

As for spending money on acquiring programmes from aboard, why shouldn’t the BBC do this? Why shouldn’t it showcase not only the best of British drama but also America, Australian or Canadian? Why should imports from other countries by the sole province of commercial broadcasters which would Mad Menhack the programmes to death to insert commercial breaks in order to regain some of the money spend acquiring the programme. Mad Men and Damages do not attract huge audiences for the BBC but they are critically acclaimed and enjoyed by those who tune in. Would ITV, Five or Sky even keep such drama’s that attract under 1 million viewers an episode? No. Even Channel Four, which could quite possibly broadcast Mad Men, wouldn’t tolerate such a low rated drama for long. Mad Men is currently in its third season on BBC Four, repeated on BBC Two, and it’s hard to imagine it would have survived elsewhere on another UK broadcaster. In the case of Heroes declining ratings on both sides of the pond could see it cancelled in America by NBC – meaning the BBC wouldn’t have to decide not to pursue another season.

 

At the moment all the things stated in The Times article are pure speculation until the BBC confirms or denies them. However, they certainly have a ring of truth about them as 6 Music has long since been rumoured to be axed by the corporation. Whether or not the corporation is right to wield the axe on 6 Music or any other area stated in the report is up to the public, the licence fee payers, to decide.

 

What do you think of the proposals? Is the BBC right to axe some of its digital services such as 6 Music and the BBC Asian Network? Should the BBC spend less – or nothing at all – on acquiring programmes from overseas’ broadcasters?

 

Post your comments below but please remember anything deemed offensive will be removed and please refrain from using swear words in your posts. All comments post below are NOT those of ATV News or ATV Network Limited and nor are they endorsed by us.