[Brekkie]

Many older people (a quarter of 75+) also have no access to the internet at all, so to deprive them of BBC Four is also unfair. This will, additionally, be seen as a double-whammy hit because of the end of universal free TV licenses for the elderly.

I'd be quite confident that the majority of over 75s that don't use the internet also don't use most of the channels available to them on linear TV. Many older people find it the nature of navigating digital TV very complicated and stick to what they know (BBC1, 2, ITV1, C4, and to an extent C5). I don't think that BBC Four would be a staple for most of them. The 'traditional' channels already show content that they enjoy anyway.

Agree with that point but also think it is quite dismissive to dismiss the over 75s as not being internet savvy.   Yes, perhaps the higher end of the age scale but for most the 75-80 somethings of today the internet has been around since they were in their 50s and streaming now been around over a decade, so those that can certainly have access to it if they choose too.

That said I do still think BBC4 has a place - and perhaps could work even better as a full on archive channel than in it's traditional role.   Yes, much of the classic comedy they show is up on the iPlayer - but giving it a place in the schedules is a reminder that it is up there, and also gives an outlet to some forgotten gems too.


That said back on topic and I do think kids linear channels still have a place too as a safe option for kids but I suspect kids very much disagree, hence why it's the younger end of the market where the kids channels still perform relatively well.