[Stooky Bill]

I find it interesting that BBC Choice and Knowledge seemed to put more effort into their programming in 1998/99 when barely anyone could get it than BBC 3 and 4 15-25+/ years later when everyone could get them.

Two reasons.... firstly there was more money then. There was a lot of funding for digital, the content on the channels was probably the cheapest part compared with the new distribution networks, satellite uplinks, studio refits, playout areas, infrastructure upgrades etc

And of you saw some of the early programmes they weren't that expensive to make. BBC3 and 4 a few years later launched with content that was a lot better funded and better quality.


Secondly.... They were new TV channels using new technology so what else could they do but fill them with new content? Digital was all about the new and modern it was wide-screen, it was all digital. Filling them with old 4:3 PAL content wasn't going to be much of a draw.

It was the same with BBC2 of course, their early schedules were full of new ideas and new programmes and were made for new TV technology and later colour. Barely anyone could watch it. But you have to have the carrot on a stick