[Michael Kenchington]

BBC axes iconic Top of the Pops Christmas Day special after 57 years: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11496781/Its-sad-end-era-BBC-axes-iconic-Christmas-Day-Pops-57-years.html

BBC 'axes its iconic Christmas Day show Top of the Pops after 57 years' | Daily …
The BBC has reportedly 'axed' its iconic Christmas Day show, Top of the Pops. 
  Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

What are your thoughts about it anyway?

[Happy2001]

There still be a Christmas Special this year but it's been moved to BBC Two and is provisionally scheduled for 10:40pm.

[JHarper_2022]

According to the BBC Media Centre, TOTP is returning for Christmas just as a "Review of 2022" on BBC TWO and iPlayer. Interesting how it has been the tabloids reporting this when the BBC begs to differ.

www.bbc.co.uk 

BBC’s 2022 Christmas line up across TV Channels and BBC iPlayer announced - Medi…
The BBC brings viewers a December to remember with plenty of programmes and box …
  Source: www.bbc.co.uk

[Robert Williams]

By the sounds of it, the Christmas Eve programme will be a clip show of performances recorded throughout the year, mixed with a few interviews.  Essentially, 'Top of the Pops' in name only - just something to keep the name alive.

[Michael Kenchington]

BTW, have episodes of Top of the Pops on BBC Four reached 1994 yet?

[Happy2001]

BTW, have episodes of Top of the Pops on BBC Four reached 1994 yet?

Not yet.just finishing off 1993 at the moment.

[tellyblues]

The absence of a regular TOTP made the Christmas edition seem unnecessary and done out of habit really so no surprise that viewers no longer go out of their way to watch it.

A chart based music show could still work but the issue with TOTP in the latter years of its series format is that it wasn't entirely chart based, too many repeat performances and the album charts virtually ignored. So much popular music missed out.

[JAS84]

The charts themselves are flawed nowadays due to streaming. Any song from an album can now chart in the singles chart, and a song could be out of print in physical media but still top the charts thanks to downloads - often happens when someone dies and everyone decides to listen to their back catalogue at the same time. The chart company had to implement rules to stop one act having too many entries in the chart at once, and to weight it so that new releases rank higher than old ones.

[James2001]

There's so many rules around streaming and how they contribute to the charts that the charts are barely a measure of what people are actually listening to any more.

[JAS84]

Exactly. Which kind of breaks TOTP's premise. Shows like that and CD:UK have had their day.