3 and 4 - too much ?

The mixed messaging from the BBC on the future of tv services number 3 and 4 is symptomatic of a corporation awaiting a new leader. Ducking decisions was a feature of the final eighteen months of Mark Thompson's tenure as Director General, as he sought to move on with an unblemished CV.

The internal financial advice is very likely clear - the BBC has to stop doing things, in order to spend in line with a rapidly-reducing income. Charlotte Moore would have looked tougher as a DG candidate if she'd closed BBC4 at least temporarily - unless, of course, the real savings are marginal (not what we're told in the Annual Report). It may be that the viewing public is now being softened up for a change in September - when perhaps a rebalanced BBC1, BBC2 and BBC3 can be offered, with old BBC4 favourites found little slots and an iPlayer 'portal'. Much will depend on how the books are balancing after the first quarter of 2020/21.

At BBC3, Fiona Campbell needs to invent some cheap regular shows to make a daily schedule look worthwhile. Drama and written comedy are expensive. Would it be wrong for a linear BBC3 to include old editions of Top of The Pops ? Watch out also for a return of "Liquid News" or some new attempt at Newsbeat for Telly. Plus a hunt, once again, for a nightly chat show. 

Then she needs to get approval of a new DG.