Rejoice – Freeview HD Is not closing anytime soon.
Ofcom confirmed last week that the Freeview HD multiplex would remain open until 2030.
Before anyone interprets that as meaning it will shut in 2030, I would suggest extreme caution.
By 2030, it is theoretically possible that the BBC itself may not exist if it is not granted another Royal Charter. Of course, that is not going to happen.
The caution over the closure of Radio 4 LW should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone presenting a possibility as an inevitability – from a futurologist excited by the genuine possibilities of technology to an irresponsible journalist writing scare stories aimed at those who always fear change.
It is anticipated that Radio 4 LW will finally shut in the not too distant future but no date has been announced.
I cannot help but wonder about the motivation of those who predict the death of major linear TV services.
It would seem inevitable that the number of channels will continue to thin out. But do not confuse the end of a music channel or specific service with a juggernaut like BBC One.
The overnight ratings for the last episode of Celebrity Traitors should have been a reality check for the siren voices.
This year’s Christmas Day schedule lacks the attraction of a show like Gavin and Stacey with the potential for huge ratings.
But New Year’s Day looks like a banger – the new series of The Traitors followed by The Night Manager. Place your bets on the ratings now.
I have questioned before whether the balance is quite right between dropping programmes early on the iPlayer and allowing them to premiere as a shared national experience on BBC One.
There is no doubt some people enjoy binging on a drama box set. But binge watching means you miss out on so much: anticipation and chatting about the programme with your friends.
There is a compromise.
Strip shows across the week. Or show more than one episode at a time.
I am looking forward to parts one and two of The War Between the Land and the Sea on BBC One at 8.30pm.
I can’t help but fear terrestrial TV suffered a degree of harm during the pandemic which pushed people online.
We all remember those awful times when original productions of quality were, inevitably, rare. Durations and episode counts were restricted.
The visible signs of social distancing – from awkward gaps between presenters to plastic screens on quiz shows – were a horrible reminder of the dreadful times we were experiencing.
Even news junkies might have become news avoiders.
The catalogues of previously recorded material available on demand could serve as an escape into a happier world.
Now – despite funding challenges – the main TV channels can all offer the sort of material we all expect.
They should market this fact until it sinks in. TV is not dead.
The iPlayer is a brilliant catch-up service and provides a wealth of wonderful repeats and archive material. But should new programmes of mainstream appeal drop there first?
The pandemic is over. Part of the fun of watching mainstream TV is its ability to bring disparate groups of people together in a shared collective experience. That is precious to society.
I have questioned the strategic importance of EastEnders to the BBC a number of times over the years but here’s a thought.
ITV 1’s new soap hour from January means soap fans will no longer need to choose between Emmerdale and EastEnders at 7.30pm.
I’d challenge the BBC to stop dropping episodes of EE in the morning. Drop them at 7.30pm instead – on BBC One and iPlayer.
It’s a risk worth taking.
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PICTURED: generic TV set/remote control image. COPYRIGHT: Radio Times.
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