Look away now

Media Monkey drew my attention to the editorial line from the Daily Express this morning. It was in response to the revelation from Mark Thompson that the BBC spends £150m on television broadcasting between 10.35pm and 6.00am - and reducing that output was under consideration to save money.

The Express (prop Richard Desmond, Northern & Shell) noted "At a time of day when few people are watching and there is alternative programming available on commercial networks there is no good reason for the BBC to be spending £150million of licence-payers’ money. Traditionalists would be even more delighted were Mr Thompson to announce a midnight shutdown to be marked by the playing of the national anthem".

Traditionalists might also note that, at present, Northern & Shell run Television X and a channel called Filth overnight on Freeview - they use space occupied by various "5" channels.  Extra bandwith would flow from removing BBC1, 2, 3 and 4 broadcasts after midnight, and that could give Mr Desmond an opportunity to expose some more of his satellite and cable output  - Red Hot TV, Blue Tube, UK Swingers, Xplicit Nightly, etc  - to digital terrestrial viewers who find themselves at a loose end after the national anthem.