BBC cancels Autumn Watch after 17 Years!!

Hi

I see a spokesman said

( paraphrased)

AW had been too anthropomorphic and would not be missed in the countryside

S

For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides,  binoculars, scopes, tripods,  etc - put 'Birding Tips'   into the search box

I never watched it- It didn't reflect autumn birding for me at all

S

For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides,  binoculars, scopes, tripods,  etc - put 'Birding Tips'   into the search box

I’m not surprised The live wildlife webcams were at one time broadcast 24 hours a day. Slowly but surely in recent years the wildlife webcams on BBC Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch have been slowly being cut back with  less hours gradually every year. Until this last 12 months very few hours every day from only 1.00pm-10.00 pm! Also the number of individual number of webcams has been reduced from around 5-8 individual live webcams at the same time broadcast online to just two live webcam. The extra evening programme via the red button that was broadcast after the main programme with with an audience from that Wildlife reserve that the 1 hour Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch BBC 2 epidodes was cancelled and discontinued around 4 years ago. All these extras being slowly cut back. The reason the general cuts at the BBC over the last 10-12 years. The BBC TV Licence frozen for 5 years and then the yearly increase since then of the TV Licence well below the inflation rate. The TV Licence would need a huge increase to catch up after 10 years snd more after been frozen with no rise for 5 years and then every rise of the TV Licence being well below the inflation rate. Not many would accept a big increase of the TV Licence at the present time with everyone struggling financially. Sadly like every other type of subject broadcast on BBC TV and Radio and every channel affected. Wildlife programmes whether live or recorded are sadly not immune from all these cuts. At the present time, lots of individuals are struggling financially. I don’t think the TV Licence will get a huge increase I’m afraid. The BBC have done well to keep the main 1 hour episodes of Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch from 8.00pm-9.00pm on BBC 2 four times a week over recent years from not being cut back going more or less the same way until now. But sadly something had to give and this now sadly happening is not unexpected to me I'm afraid!

Regards,

Ian.

Oh, how disappointing to have all of the major wildlife programmes like  AW  taken off why? taken from the BBC -why is it a shortage of funds, because to many BBC chiefs want a pay rise. grrr.

It has taken years to get the programme into a state where it was harmonious, dealing with subjects to their true interest for audiences if that is a way of describing it.. Loved every moment of the programmes and they are valuable to all ages of audiences.

IMHO, too may extra bonus's to TV bosses have been given out who suck all the funds out of the BBC. ie our licence fees.

Years ago when I worked I had the piraymid set up when the workers worked. and the major senior staff where few and far between.
Now it is the other way around and the piraymid is now the other way around too many chiefs, and not enough workers are employed at all. Employees are swamped with top end senior members of staff strutting about the offices overpaid as they are.
The BBC TV need to get rid of the excess top paid staff to put out more money towards decent programmes like AW, SW and WW and remove the fat cats of society end of as with so many places of employment now.

Makes me despair of what is going on in this day and age. - greedy fat cats that is all I think in all areas of employment now. So wrong in all departments.
So political but true - just brings out the work ethics in me.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

It’s not just the wildlife programmes. Every BBC TV and BBC Radio Channel have had to make cuts in the in the10-13 years. There is nothing else the BBC could have done. I’m afraid there will be more cuts to come as well at the BBC! The Government of the day decides how much to put up the TV Licence up in price year. 10-13 years ago the decision was made by the Government to freeze the annual increase of the TV Licence for 5 years. Whether that was right or wrong i wont say. Since then  when the annual cost of the TV Licence was frozen, the annual increase of the TV Licence has been below the annual inflation rate. So for 10-13 years the BBC have had to make cuts on the number of new TV and Radio programmes   And that is why BBC 4 is going to close within the next 12 months as well and also BBC 2 has simultaneously every day until around 12.00pm Monday-Friday the BBC News channel. Before those cuts happened BBC 2 broadcast seperate programmes every day. But sadly not any more at those times Monday-Friday. So that is why Autumwatch has been discontinued. BBC Springwatch, Autumwatch and Winterwatch will cost money with all the live camera’s around the wildlife reserve’s along with the production team. So that will cost money. So that is why I'm surprised this didn't happen  much earlier!. Less money to spread around for less programmes. So there will be even more repeats on BBC TV and BBC Radio channels

Regards,

Ian.

It’s not just the wildlife programmes. Every BBC TV and BBC Radio Channel have had to make cuts in the in the last 10-13 years. There is nothing else the BBC could have done. I’m afraid there will be more cut’s to come as well at the BBC! Unless the TV Licence gets a huge increase the cuts at every BBC TV and Radio channel will continue. And a big increase in the TV Licence with the present cost of living crisis at the present time, won't happen!

Regards,

Ian.

In reply to THOMO:

Yes, I think that too

The thing about WW, SW, AW is they are current wildlife programmes for wildlife lovers and are the best shows around. Why ruin peoples enjoyment. Keep the rare programmes on that are educational for all ages, and all levels from children to adults.

I feel that the main 5 channels have gone down the pan in a sense that there is endless, cheap talk shows on, bad comedy, and endless repeated programmes that are on over and over again to the point I know what they are before they come on. That includes all wildlife programmes.and as much as I love them all there is only so.much I can see over again.

There has been a threat to remove BBC4 in the past and it is one of the more educational channels. There was talk about ITV3 again like BBC4 to dispose it over the years. Simple view of it is if it is ain't broke there is no reason to fix it.
Again another one is for pensioners to pay for their TV Licences, so heartless, all so unnecessary..

Why is auntie beeb trying to save money, why is the spending so out if hand. What are they spending all the money on and as my last post has said that is where all the money is going high wage earners.

I have Sky here, and not many people will have the luxury of that because it can be quite expensive.Sky and its alternative channels to do well with nature and environmental issues are excellent to watch, and that is why I rarely watch the main 5 channels. Well worth it for a few pence more and to carry on enjoying wildlife programmes.that is if it is affordable for many people.

Just my thoughts here and I hope that the BBC has a change of heart if enough people and bodies complain about the handling of our well loved shows. A riot is needed now with billboards and people outside the BBC building to show our disapproval and we all pay a licence fee for a reason not for profit.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

In reply to Peewit:

The main reason was that the TV Licence was frozen for 5 years a few years after 2010. And after that the increase to the annual TV Licence has been well below the annual inflation rate. So if that happens and no real increase in the TV Licence for the forceable future and the Government of the day is in charge of how much the TV License goes up every year. I don’t want to talk about politics, but the Government of whichever colour decides the annual TV Licence increase and with the present financial situation if the Government of another wins the next election and if the financial situation for most is still the same, I can’t see the next Government of whichever colour raising the TV License by a huge amount and I’m afraid the BBC will have to make more cuts for at least for some years!

Regards,

Ian.

No great loss to me - I've never watched since the disgraceful and enthusiastic use of baited Sparrowhawk hides. It was always too much about the presenters as well.

In reply to Bobs_Retired:

I do not remember the incident with the Sparrowhawks.

However, I felt sorry for Hugh Martin-Games as a presenter when he was placed in every waterway they could stick him in, and laugh at him. I felt that Hugh was being made a fool of.

Simon King always had to present the Deer area of the programme all of the time

So both Martin and Simon where underused to show their true talents and interests as presenters

Regards

Kathy and Dave