Possibility the BBC4 may close

How sad if it happens - lots of interesting programmes each week when there’s not a lot to choose from on t’other five.

Me too WWM. I've always understood BBC3 to be for yoof, so is this more pandering to the younger generation at the expense of programming for, erm, older generations?

It's the "go-to" channel for documentaries for me, so I'll really miss it.

I can't imagine it's popular though.

Shame - imho there's plenty of stuff for younguns already.

Oh dear! does that mean no more Scandi noir, or far worse, the wonderful French "Spiral" now that I would miss I believe they are making at least one more series of that.

BBC 4 is an automatic choice for me too. I love the art and the history programmes there. Dumbing down for the benefit of 'da yoof' on BBC 3?

It’s the least dumbed-down channel, which I suppose means, sadly, that it has only a minority of viewers. I value especially its coverage of classical music.

BBC 3 is only available online or via streaming services isn't it? Why favour it over BBC 4?
I too would miss all the wonderful historical documentaries and the likes of Inspector Montalbano.
Let's hope it is only a rumour.

We really enjoy BBC4

Sometimes BBC3 programmes are broadcast after the 10pm news minimoon, which means reaching for the off switch in this house.

Not only do they reinstate the TV licence for over 75s but then decide to cease broadcasting the programmes which that age group tends to watch!

Dumbing down and rubbing our noses in it at the same time. That is quite an achievement.

Oh no! I would really miss it.

I have signed this.

www.change.org/p/british-broadcasting-corporation-save-bbc-four-from-closure/psf/

Sorry, the link has gone wrong. I'll check it out.

www.change.org/p/british-broadcasting-corporation-save-bbc-four-from-closure?recruiter=606868667&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_abi&utm_term=13f0d4b7653b4172812403e5b3493778&recruited_by_id=f6afa330-8bc6-11e6-80e3-eb921b5fed5a&utm_content=fht-22164276-en-gb%3Av2

Totally agree with you Callistemon. I had a quick look at my planner just now and over 1/3 of programmes I have recorded are BBC4. I enjoy the arts and music. Some of the music ones have been watched many times so I will certainly miss it. I also enjoy Sky Arts which I pay for but as I also pay for a TV licence I will not be happy if the BBC continues to axe things the way they are doing.

There will be no reason for me to pay the licence fee if BBC4 is removed. Can I opt out? I don't see why I should pay for programmes I don't watch.

I'm a BBC4 watcher too. Maybe they will banish it to online like BBC3. Hopefully we won't lose it entirely. Surely they won't ditch Inspector Montalbano?

I know a few people who manage without a licence, preferring Netflix or Prime or similar.

I don't think I could, though. I don't watch much in real time any more but I still think that the Beeb is worth paying for overall. There's always something and if you like Blue Planet and the like the Beeb is incomparable.

I agree it's dumbed down but that's been slowly happening for years. Look at Panorama! used to be so hard - hitting but now.....Newsround has more depth. .

We watch an awful lot of the music on BBC4, record and watch again lots of times.

Sparklefizz Thanks for the link, your second version worked and I signed.

Oh no !
Hope it doesn’t happen.
I watch BBC4 quite a bit since they dumbed down BBC2 .

Glad it worked Gaunt47

If it does go I wonder if they will make BBC2 the sort of channel it was when it started. It used to be full of interesting programmes and now it's almost as bad as BBC1 and ITV.

It seems the BBC don't understand that most young people don't watch it - so aiming programmes at them is a waste of time and money.

The majority of those watching BBC channels are older yet our needs are dismissed

We watch BBC 4 a lot and were dismayed to read this. I'm going to email Head of Content as are our DDs
They are in their 30s but often watch dramas and documentaries on 4 too and don't think the BBC are thinking straight. The younger ones are too busy with Netflix, Sky Youtube Insta etc but they seem obsessed with chasing the Yoof rather than realising it's us older ones watching the most mainstream TV. For now.