[DTV]

Just for some context, here are the 2021/22 content budgets for BBC services as a proportion of their (inflation adjusted) 2011/12 budgets.


Obviously these figures are all proportional. In actual terms, BBC One accounts for 18% of the content-based cuts and BBC Two for 38%.

The problem, though, with looking at things station-by-station is that everybody's view of what is deserving is coloured by which services they use. But, given the sheer scale of the current round of cuts, I find it hard to argue that anything but the uncuttable services should be exempted - every station that can reasonably make cuts should take some of the burden or be prepared to be consolidated - BBC Four being possibly the easiest to fit into the latter category.

Though BBC Four did used to do unique things, it's hard to see what it does today that could not be easily done by other channels/services. Top of the Pops repeats, which seem to be the main selling point of the channel at this point, could easily fit on BBC Two Friday/Saturday evenings. Some other archive programming could be slotted into BBC Two daytime and weekend schedules, and wider archive programming and live music events would find a natural home on iPlayer.

CBBC, similarly, doesn't really need a full-time channel (which is currently by far the most expensive BBC service per user hour). A 'shop window' on weekday afternoons and weekend mornings on BBC Two would allow most original programming to be broadcast linearly, while saving money associated with an all-day channel.

Ultimately, consolidating CBBC and BBC Four into BBC Two and iPlayer would be a sensible decision and the BBC shouldn't reverse the closures. Not only are there clear savings, but BBC Two at present is a part-time husk that could do with some purpose outside evenings and the lunchtime politics hour. While I appreciate there is some sentiment in closing channels outright, I'd say that one stronger channel is better than three weaker ones.