Post by Teddy Bear on Nov 9, 2010 13:13:21 GMT
The BBC claims it needs to pay its hierarchy such high sums to attract the best people for the job. So one has to wonder why the quality is so demonstrably poor if that is indeed the case. Even the BBC Trust, which usually sides with the BBC, thinks the output lacks quality and has stated as much.
BBC has one year to improve 'formulaic and derivative' TV channels
The BBC has been given a one-year deadline to drastically improve BBC One and BBC Two after its "formulaic and derivative" daytime programmes were criticised in a damning report.
Daytime BBC shows such as Bargain Hunt, Escape to the Country, Cash in the Attic and Homes Under the Hammer are likely to be at risk in the wake of the report Photo: BBC
The BBC Trust, which scrutinises the corporation’s output on behalf of the licence fee payer, said daytime television on the BBC had become too dominated by shows about "collectables hunting and property".
Although it did not identify specific programmes, daytime BBC shows such as Bargain Hunt, Escape to the Country, Cash in the Attic and Homes Under the Hammer are likely to be at risk in the wake of the report.
The Trust also said that BBC One needed to show more "range, variety and surprise" in its early evening programming.
"Some viewers believe parts of the schedule on each channel lack quality and have become too weighted towards… ‘collectables hunting’ and property," said the Trust.
"Audiences have told us that their quantity makes some parts of the BBC’s daytime schedule seem too formulaic and derivative."
Instead, the Trust wants the BBC to do more current affairs and drama during daytime. The review is also likely to spell the end of American repeats such as Diagnosis Murder and Murder, She Wrote.
The report criticised the lack of "fresh and new" programmes in the early evening on BBC One, saying that the channel had broadcast only 61 different programme titles between 7pm and 9pm in 2009 - down from 115 in 2005.
Some of this drop can be attributed to the establishment of The One Show in its five-day-a-week slot at 7pm.
But the Trust said that distinctive new shows, such as science magazine Bang Goes the Theory, are too few and far between.
“We would expect to see signs of improvement in audience perceptions by the end of 2011 and will consider at that point whether we need to ask for further action from BBC management to address audience concerns,” said the Trust.
The Trust also said that it was prepared to see BBC Two’s ratings continue to fall in exchange for more original programmes on the channel, citing Rev and Grandma’s House as successful recent examples of BBC Two comedy.
BBC Four, the corporation’s most intellectual TV channel, must refocus on arts, music and culture, as well as its successful one-off dramas such as Enid and American imports such as Mad Men. “We see the main challenge for BBC Four over the coming years as being to increase the impact it delivers, particularly in its core areas of specialism,” said the Trust.
The report also said that BBC Four should show less comedy and entertainment shows, such as The Thick of It and We Need Answers.
“Our research shows that audiences demand more from the BBC, with viewers looking for ideas they can’t find anywhere else,” said Diane Coyle, a BBC trustee. “The [BBC] executive needs to be more ambitious and take more creative risks to satisfy viewers’ expectations.”
BBC management argued that progress is already being made.
“The Trust has asked us to build on the strong performances of BBC One, Two and Four to deliver even more fresh and new content to our audiences,” said Jana Bennett, the BBC’s head of television. “Programmes such as Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Inventions, Five Daughters and The Trip are clear examples of our renewed commitment to this kind of programming.”
BBC has one year to improve 'formulaic and derivative' TV channels
The BBC has been given a one-year deadline to drastically improve BBC One and BBC Two after its "formulaic and derivative" daytime programmes were criticised in a damning report.
Daytime BBC shows such as Bargain Hunt, Escape to the Country, Cash in the Attic and Homes Under the Hammer are likely to be at risk in the wake of the report Photo: BBC
The BBC Trust, which scrutinises the corporation’s output on behalf of the licence fee payer, said daytime television on the BBC had become too dominated by shows about "collectables hunting and property".
Although it did not identify specific programmes, daytime BBC shows such as Bargain Hunt, Escape to the Country, Cash in the Attic and Homes Under the Hammer are likely to be at risk in the wake of the report.
The Trust also said that BBC One needed to show more "range, variety and surprise" in its early evening programming.
"Some viewers believe parts of the schedule on each channel lack quality and have become too weighted towards… ‘collectables hunting’ and property," said the Trust.
"Audiences have told us that their quantity makes some parts of the BBC’s daytime schedule seem too formulaic and derivative."
Instead, the Trust wants the BBC to do more current affairs and drama during daytime. The review is also likely to spell the end of American repeats such as Diagnosis Murder and Murder, She Wrote.
The report criticised the lack of "fresh and new" programmes in the early evening on BBC One, saying that the channel had broadcast only 61 different programme titles between 7pm and 9pm in 2009 - down from 115 in 2005.
Some of this drop can be attributed to the establishment of The One Show in its five-day-a-week slot at 7pm.
But the Trust said that distinctive new shows, such as science magazine Bang Goes the Theory, are too few and far between.
“We would expect to see signs of improvement in audience perceptions by the end of 2011 and will consider at that point whether we need to ask for further action from BBC management to address audience concerns,” said the Trust.
The Trust also said that it was prepared to see BBC Two’s ratings continue to fall in exchange for more original programmes on the channel, citing Rev and Grandma’s House as successful recent examples of BBC Two comedy.
BBC Four, the corporation’s most intellectual TV channel, must refocus on arts, music and culture, as well as its successful one-off dramas such as Enid and American imports such as Mad Men. “We see the main challenge for BBC Four over the coming years as being to increase the impact it delivers, particularly in its core areas of specialism,” said the Trust.
The report also said that BBC Four should show less comedy and entertainment shows, such as The Thick of It and We Need Answers.
“Our research shows that audiences demand more from the BBC, with viewers looking for ideas they can’t find anywhere else,” said Diane Coyle, a BBC trustee. “The [BBC] executive needs to be more ambitious and take more creative risks to satisfy viewers’ expectations.”
BBC management argued that progress is already being made.
“The Trust has asked us to build on the strong performances of BBC One, Two and Four to deliver even more fresh and new content to our audiences,” said Jana Bennett, the BBC’s head of television. “Programmes such as Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Inventions, Five Daughters and The Trip are clear examples of our renewed commitment to this kind of programming.”