Reading between the lines, you can feel an orchestra closing unless it finds a sponsor; you can hear much more regional programming on local radio, with that extending to evening news bulletins; there'll be an 8% cut in World Service annual budgets; a slow death for both BBC World and BBC News as one channel satisfying neither's core audience, whilst pouring Studios' millions into a vain quest to conquer America; and continuing audience anger at shifting BBC4 and CBBC online only.
Is linear a basket case ? No. Only last year UKTV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BBC Studios, bought extra bandwidth for new channels, making more money through ads out of programmes we the licence-fee payers have already paid for. (I have also argued, unheard, that sustaining a core linear service of radio and tv, should be regarded as a strategic asset for this country. We need to broadcast BBC1, BBC2, ITV, C4 and C5, all as mixed services, with news commitments, for at least the next 50 years)
What is different about 'digital' content ? Not much. It took off in this country because of the energy and invention of some people around 5Live, with Brexitcast. No need to argue with commissioners about bidding for a long-term linear slot; just do it, with some rough edges and real immediacy.
Sadly, the commissioners woke up, and have imposed a massive superstructure on Sounds, in which success is simply MORE PODCASTS and MORE MUSIC. Despite their groovy ambitions, top shows are In Our Time, The Archers and The Global News Podcasts. If Tim's serious about dropping stuff that doesn't deliver, watch out Gemma Collins and Scarlett Moffatt.
On iPlayer, 'successful' digital content is mainly expensive drama, with a bit of Strictly, some Apprentice, and what remains of Attenborough. I can't find a parallel to the early podcasts. The only bonus of Tim's promise to drop shows that don't work on iPlayer might be a re-evaluation of the endless middle-weight cooking, antique and home-improvement shows.
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