BBC comedy strategy changes announced
As part of a larger drive to cut spending and realign priorities at the corporation, the BBC has announced details of how comedy will fare over the next 6 years.
Under the Delivering Quality First strategy, the broadcaster is aiming to cut 20% of spending in the four financial years from April 2013. After consulting with staff since the beginning of the year, Director General Mark Thompson has today been outlining how some of the savings will be made and what changes will be involved.
Notably for comedy fans, Thompson committed the organisation to cutting 3% from BBC One's budget, but reinvesting "substantial" savings in more, higher quality drama and comedy programming for the channel as a "high priority". He also outlined an intention to remove afternoon CBBC programming from the flagship station.
Other BBC One programming to take a hit includes entertainment shows with a "lower impact", although it is unclear at present what titles may fall under this umbrella. Meanwhile, BBC Two will cut back on chat and panel show formats, with a renewed focus on "serious science, history, business, arts and natural history" programming.
BBC Three and BBC Four will also continue to produce comedy, but with a renewed focus on the channels working to "support" the two main stations. Commissioning will be co-ordinated, with the explicit intention that BBC Three in particular should be used to develop talent and programming for BBC One. Programmes to have graduated from digital to core BBC TV channels in the past include Little Britain and QI. BBC Four will play a similarly "complementary" role for BBC Two.
Fans of older programming also have cause to pay attention to the news, with a renewed "high priority" commitment to making as much of the corporation's programme archive available to watch online as possible. BBC Four's role in showcasing archive comedy and drama programming will also be maintained.
On radio, comedy will be cut back on Radio 2 and Radio 5 live, with Radio 4 Extra's commissioning budget also reduced. Radio 4, however, will remain unaffected.
Recognising the importance of comedy and drama to the public and the public's view of the BBC, whilst programming will change focus and channel, overall comedy output is not expected to change in volume.
Elsewhere, the BBC will cut back on broadcast costs with measures such as closing the Radio 4 long wave service, and will also vacate the White City complex in Shepherd's Bush, a few hundred feet north of Television Centre, which is already up for sale. As widely expected, the BBC HD channel will be replaced by BBC Two HD. There have been no announcements as to the HD future of Three or Four.