"Network Decay": Is BBC America Next?

[Mandouga]

First MTV, then G4, then the Cartoon Network, and now BBC America?

I just discovered on my digital cable's program listings that they're showing Star Trek: The Next Generation, an American, non-British series that just happens to have a British actor (Patrick Stewart) in the lead role. What's next, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (as a hypothetical example)? It has two British actors (Bob Hoskins, and Alan Tilvern), but it's still an American production. Jane Seymour is British, but her series Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman, isn't. Is that show next?

I don't agree with this. BBC America is supposed to be an American destination for British programs (i.e., foreign-produced shows that were made in the U.K.). They don't have to come from the actual BBC as long as they're British. Showing a non-British program that "techincally" meets the theme is not really meeting the theme at all.

So, I have to ask, is this yet another channel on the road towards "network decay"? If so, is this just the start, or has it been going on for a while now (I know it has a U.S. targeted newscast, but still)?

Also, and I don't mean any disrespect, but before anyone gives that tired explanation about trying to achieve some kind of ethereal "mainstream" appeal (or expansing beyond the "niche", or whatever it is you call it), viewers are not morons. They understand what "specialty network" means. In the case of BBC America, not everything has to be "American". Viewers are open-minded, and are willing to expand their horizons. For these reasons among others, showing any series that isn't British, but just happens to have someone British in it is (at least IMHO) an insult to anyone's intelligence. If BBC America is in some kind of trouble, isn't there a way to stay on the air and continue to remain a "specialty" network dedicated to British shows in America?

Meanwhile, I'll understand if anyone disagrees, but IMHO, if we, as viewers allow this to continue, it will pave the way for more "technicalities", until eventually, it won't even be "BBC" America anymore. In short, just as they need to keep cartoons an the Cartoon Network, they need to keep British shows on BBC America.

[Temple Fugate]

I'll start by saying STTNG is my second-favorite television series of all time.

BBC America should never allow itself to play American television. I will admit, I watched a lot of their STTNG/Doctor Who marathon this weekend. It was really cool to see the two shows tag-teaming on the schedule. But I believe in network identity. I don't want live action on Cartoon Network, I don't want original series on TV Land, and I don't want non-British-produced series on BBC America. "America" is only in the name because it's an American-broadcast network. STTNG is extremely accessible to Americans, while there are tons of BBC-produced series out there that we've never seen. Show them to us.

[stephane dumas]

I'll start by saying STTNG is my second-favorite television series of all time.

BBC America should never allow itself to play American television. I will admit, I watched a lot of their STTNG/Doctor Who marathon this weekend. It was really cool to see the two shows tag-teaming on the schedule. But I believe in network identity. I don't want live action on Cartoon Network, I don't want original series on TV Land, and I don't want non-British-produced series on BBC America. "America" is only in the name because it's an American-broadcast network. STTNG is extremely accessible to Americans, while there are tons of BBC-produced series out there that we've never seen. Show them to us.

Not only the BBC-produced series but also other British series who was produced by Granada Television and ITC/ITV like "The Professionals" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Professionals_(TV_series) a UK counterpart of Starsky & Hutch, who to my knowledge, wasn't aired in North America. And there some miscealanous series who wasn't aired in North America since a long while ago like "Man in a suitcase", "The Adventurer", "The Champions", "The Persuaders", "Randall & Hopkirk, Deceased" who was renamed "My partner the ghost" who could fit a void on BBC America.

[Aquadementia]

Space 1999 would have been a better choice.

Come on, now!



Yeah, it's like networks think their schedule is a plate that needs to be loaded with all kinds of junk mixing together, so you don't know if you're eating dessert or entrée.(or what channel you're watching)

[launchpad20]

And people wonder why I prefer the web, and game consoles over television these days. :rolleyes:

[EinBebop]

They're just doing it for Memorial Day. Someone has to think of Starfleet.

[Mala Loba]

In my opinion it started a long long time ago before Star Trek got added to the schedule. I think BBC America is forgetting or has forgotten the major reason people watch them: the news programming!

(Oh, and Doctor Who)

[Mandouga]

They're just doing it for Memorial Day. Someone has to think of Starfleet.

Nope. It's going to air regularly on weeknights afterwards.

@stephane dumas:

Yes, well as I said before, a show doesn't have to come from the actual BBC as long as it's British in origin.

[The Nameless]

I don't watch much BBC America (sometimes I watch their newscast and I wish they would show Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe), but I hate to hear about network decay happening to any channel. They simply shouldn't air anything that's not British (logically they wouldn't air anything not from the Beeb either, as some of their programs are from ITV1 or Channel 4, but most Americans don't know about them, so it's not much of a problem).

[Rick Jones]

What would irk me more than seeing an american produced series on the channel is the fact that it's already airing on other channels. It's like when I flick through the guide and I see shows like Fresh Prince, Family Guy and Full House on every channel.

Since the debut of the new Doctor, I've been watching BBCA a little regularly (Dr Who, Ashes To Ashes, Peep Show, Inbetweeners) like I used to some years ago. I'm sure they have enough BBC original material that they wouldn't need to air STTNG. I don't believe the station will fall to decay though. I can remember instances years ago when I'd see stuff like Full Metal Jacket or Trailer Park Boys on the channel but it's programming has always stayed predominantly BBC.

[Kitschensyngk]

How many channels has ST:TNG been on already? Sci Fi Channel, TV Land, G4, Spike...am I missing any?

[Mandouga]

Only the original Star Trek has ever been on TV Land, but it did/does air on the other three you mentioned.

[AnimatedSnow47]

How many channels has ST:TNG been on already? Sci Fi Channel, TV Land, G4, Spike...am I missing any?

Don't forget WGN America.

Too bad that Voyager is buried at early AM on Spike, DS9 is nowhere, and Enterprise is limited to Sci-Fi--oh, I'm sorry, Syfy.

[hobbyfan]

BBC America shares the cable rights to Next Generation with SyFy, much like other shows (i.e. Fresh Prince) are shared between networks. There's no such thing as cable exclusitivity for certain shows anymore.

BBC America's had STTNG for a while now, that I know of, but I fall on the side of wanting to see older British shows, and not just the ones I remember from my childhood. Seeing Man in a Suitcase again would absolutely rule!

[Pepperidge]

Didn't BBC America used to run a censored version of Trailer Park Boys?

I never really liked the idea of BBC holding so many of their properties hostage for a digital cable station. I'd really prefer to see their newer stuff hitting more general interest stations rather than perpetuating British television as a niche. Then again, I guess most American cable stations aren't very interested in showing first run British programming anyway.

[Angilasman]

I just assumed that BBCA has had such success with Doctor Who that they decided to add Trek.

[Master Toon]

Is this really considered decay? I mean the word "America" does appear in the network's name after all. Kitchen Nightmares takes place in America. BBC World News America reports news from America and other non-UK countries. I don't see one show being much of a problem.

[Mandouga]

On the other hand, before long, one will become two, then three, etc, etc, etc, until it's not even BBC America anymore, instead becoming another generic "general entertainment" channel with original American programming made just for Americans (and other "American" shows) which are all only loosely tied to what the channel is all about, with few or even no actual British shows (that is, imported shows that actually from the U.K.) left. I think the expression goes "give an inch, they take a mile", and as viewers, we can't allow that happen. That said of course, all we can really do is tell BBC America that this isn't what we want to see; that we want to watch shows that are actually British in origin (regardless of whether they were on the actual BBC or not; Grenada Television and ITV were mentioned).

[Temple Fugate]

I just assumed that BBCA has had such success with Doctor Who that they decided to add Trek.
They could air other British sci-fi series, such as Red Dwarf. Spaced could even work if they were trying to attract a sci-fi crowd, since it's widely praised among that demographic.

[TMC1982]

First MTV, then G4, then the Cartoon Network, and now BBC America?

I just discovered on my digital cable's program listings that they're showing Star Trek: The Next Generation, an American, non-British series that just happens to have a British actor (Patrick Stewart) in the lead role. What's next, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (as a hypothetical example)? It has two British actors (Bob Hoskins, and Alan Tilvern), but it's still an American production. Jane Seymour is British, but her series Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman, isn't. Is that show next?

I don't agree with this. BBC America is supposed to be an American destination for British programs (i.e., foreign-produced shows that were made in the U.K.). They don't have to come from the actual BBC as long as they're British. Showing a non-British program that "techincally" meets the theme is not really meeting the theme at all.

So, I have to ask, is this yet another channel on the road towards "network decay"? If so, is this just the start, or has it been going on for a while now (I know it has a U.S. targeted newscast, but still)?

Also, and I don't mean any disrespect, but before anyone gives that tired explanation about trying to achieve some kind of ethereal "mainstream" appeal (or expansing beyond the "niche", or whatever it is you call it), viewers are not morons. They understand what "specialty network" means. In the case of BBC America, not everything has to be "American". Viewers are open-minded, and are willing to expand their horizons. For these reasons among others, showing any series that isn't British, but just happens to have someone British in it is (at least IMHO) an insult to anyone's intelligence. If BBC America is in some kind of trouble, isn't there a way to stay on the air and continue to remain a "specialty" network dedicated to British shows in America?

Meanwhile, I'll understand if anyone disagrees, but IMHO, if we, as viewers allow this to continue, it will pave the way for more "technicalities", until eventually, it won't even be "BBC" America anymore. In short, just as they need to keep cartoons an the Cartoon Network, they need to keep British shows on BBC America.

Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi) is British too!

[Mandouga]

Okay, I didn't know that, but that doesn't change anything. My previous point still stands. ST:TNG, while having one or more British actors/actresses is still an American production that doesn't belong on a channel dedicated to British shows.

[Temple Fugate]

Okay, I didn't know that, but that doesn't change anything. My previous point still stands. ST:TNG, while having one or more British actors/actresses is still an American production that doesn't belong on a channel dedicated to British shows.
Yes. I believe that STTNG's status as an American production disqualifies it from BBC America regardless of how many British actors it features. It's a real shame that the show is getting so much airtime, which could instead be used spotlighting obscure BBC programming you can't find on any other station in this country.