The Future

Compared to HBO, AMC and other US stations, the BBC is being hit with cuts to a greater degree, now more than ever. Radio stations’ output merging, more repeats for BBC 2 instead of original programming, BBC 3 and 4 will have less entertainment and original drama…the list goes on. Armando Iannucci , writer of news satire ‘Day to Day’ and the hit BBC comedy series‘I’m Alan Partridge’ believes that a subscription based channel would save the BBC from its economic downturn.

“Let it hold on to all of its free channels and radio stations, but let it also build a new subscription service that will provide the very best in what the British television industry, the best in the world, can do.” Armando Iannucci

The BBC should select its best work and screen it on a separate digital channel and charge a small subscription, less that of the licence fee. The public would understand given that if there is no alternative — the BBC may shrink more and more. Failing that the partnership between HBO and the BBC is essential because together they can help each other to make more and more groundbreaking series for the world.

But with Only Fools and Horses due a remake on the ABC network, not to mention the American Office, it seems the BBC still very much packs a punch with original programing worth remaking. This – coupled with the renewed production of shows such as The Hour – reveals a promising future for the BBC, even if it is unlikely that it will ever be able to compete with HBO.