‘We shouldn't let great art disappear into BBC Four's cultural ghetto’: The impact of BBC Four on mainstream arts provision

Genders, Amy

Abstract

Although BBC Four has been lauded for its dedication to more esoteric content and artforms, since the channel was introduced there has concern for the range and depth of arts content on the BBC’s terrestrial services – BBC One and BBC Two. As journalist Stuart Jeffries warned at the launch of the new channel: ‘We shouldn’t let great art disappear into BBC Four’s cultural ghetto and let the mainstream be dominated by Carol Smillie’s mirthless smile’ (2002). This paper examines the impact BBC Four has had on the BBC’s mainstream arts provision as part of a broader shift in the BBC’s provision from a Reithian mixed schedule of programming to specialist digital services for niche audiences.

Citation

Genders, A. (2022). ‘We shouldn't let great art disappear into BBC Four's cultural ghetto’: The impact of BBC Four on mainstream arts provision. Critical Studies in Television, 17(2), 187-193. https://doi.org/10.1177/17496020221078502

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 23, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Apr 19, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Apr 25, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 26, 2022
• Journal: Critical Studies in Television: The International Journal of Television Studies
• Print ISSN: 1749-6020
• Electronic ISSN: 1749-6039
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 187-193
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17496020221078502
• Keywords: British, bold, creative, BBC Four, arts television, arts programming, factual television
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9394966
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17496020221078502