[Matt]

Root: 'C4 should drop Big Brother'

Channel 4 should consider dropping Big Brother to prove that it is not afraid to take risks, according to former BBC2 controller Jane Root.

Speaking during a debate entitled Channel 4 on Trial, Root, who is now executive vice-president and general manager of Discovery Channel in the US, said: "The worst thing is a scared C4."

Root likened Big Brother's hold on the channel to her own dependence on gardening programmes during her time at BBC2.

When one programme or genre dominates the schedules, a broadcaster "has to get out of it otherwise it eats up the whole network", she said.

Root added: "C4 has to keep everyone else relevant. The most important thing is to go forward in an optimistic, innovative way. It would be really scary if C4 starts to become a mini BBC, worrying about quotas."

Head of BBC Vision Peter Salmon raised similar concerns.

In a pre-recorded interview, he said: "C4 feels like a marketing proposition rather than having a critical mass centre of gravity."

During the courtroom-style debate, chaired by Andrew Neil, C4 chief executive Andy Duncan and director of television and content Kevin Lygo defended the broadcaster's record in a troubled year in which it was rebuked by Ofcom over the Celebrity Big Brother race row and forced to refund participants in Richard & Judy's premium rate phone-in quiz You Say, We Pay.

Upholding C4's remit to challenge and innovate, Duncan declared: "The channel has been permanently on trial since its launch in November 1982."

The channel's news output and commitment to current affairs through 40 Dispatches programmes a year was "stunningly evident" of its public service ethos, he said.

Duncan said he regretted that the debate over C4's funding had overshadowed its creative contribution and that the "barrage of negative headlines" had obscured the weight of its public service commitment.

Lygo admitted that C4 had ignored the viewers' feelings over the Celebrity Big Brother affair and focused too closely on the intentions of the housemates.

Source: BroadcastNow

[SparkyX3]

Well IMO its quite stupid... why would an organisation want to take a risk?... like I'm aware of the fact that companies take risks in hope of a return... but whats to gain by removing Big Brother... & what the hell could they replace it with?

[Matt]

Jane forgets that the BBC has a steady source of income. Channel 4 relies heavily on Big Brother to bring in some dosh.

[Captain.Remy]

Sad for them, C4 has a contract with Endemol until BB 11 !

[\PJ/]

BBC two is awful for programming and entertainment i only used to watch for the simpsons and maybe fresh prince of bell air.

[MarkWaldorf]

Well it hasn't been the same. It wouldn't surprise me if they took it off air for a while - just to think of new things for it.

[Redmond]

Originally posted by Pj
BBC two is awful for programming and entertainment i only used to watch for the simpsons and maybe fresh prince of bell air.

BBC2 has Heroes.

Anyway I don't agree with this article. BB shouldn't be cancelled it just needs reformatting.

[MarkWaldorf]

That's why BBC2 are all smug about it, Heroes is bringing in them ratings.

[Wiglet]

Big Brother this year could have been fantastic. If another more irritating person won the Ł100k and that antagonized the HMs then that would have made great viewing.
If another BIG character had been placed in the house after Charley was evicted and was allowed to remain and not voted out by the public, then that would also make great TV too.
If Carole had kicked off more and the others stopped pandering to her moods we might of had less boredom.
If Lesley had stayed in, her dry sense of humour would have wound others up.
If Emily hadn't said what she did then conflict with Charley would have been fun too see.
And finally Billi and Charleygate was brilliant so why oh why did the general public wave bye bye too him to quickly? Yes we know he was irritating, nevertheless, seeing the two of them pretending they were working together yet not really because they were both two damn selfish would have been squirmingly good TV.

So on the surface it SHOULD have been a fabulous Big Brother 8, alas it has not been the best series and in my opinion one of the worst. I'm still watching it though however that's because I'm a loyal supporter and will watch it till the end! To prove my loyality I can honestly say I watched every highlight/BBLB/BBBM show of BB4, so I must be either demented or a true fan, or maybe have nothing else in my life.

So before I jump off my soapbox I need to get this off my chest. I@m not sure if there should be anymore Big Brother either?
The contestants have become to savvy and they know how to play the game and the only way BB can continue is try some dramatic changes next year..................Oh what am I saying? They did that this year and it didn't work!

I am concerned about BB's future and hope that next year I will be eating my words but right now I think it is on life support.

[Matt]

...and even if the ratings are falling, Big Brother is still one of Channel 4's highest-rating programmes.

I don't see it coming off our screens just yet.

[Stu]

Channel 4 have , many , many other great shows - and Big Brother is only on for three months - so they are hardly very reliant on Big Brother for programming to the extent that this person claims.

[AlexTheGreat]

Originally posted by wiglet
To prove my loyality I can honestly say I watched every highlight/BBLB/BBBM show of BB4, so I must be either demented or a true fan, or maybe have nothing else in my life.

Funny noting i dont believe that had BBBM back in bb4

[Matt]

Originally posted by AlexTheGreat

Funny noting i dont believe that had BBBM back in bb4

True.

[Conor]

BBC is obviously jealous of C4 having BB. Other channels have been known to also be jealous of other C4 programmes over the years.

[Retroman]

Channel 4 said that they were to replace Big Brother once something potentially as popular and profitable could be invented to take its place.

This was soon after the race row however.

So in time, when people's faith is restored in Big Brother [not only CBB, but even BB8 had a racism issue..so Big Brother needs to air a series that has no racial mishaps in order for people to fully believe it's possible for Big Brother to change.] people won't have as much of an issue with it anymore.

Which could result in it staying around for a long time to come.