Sky at Night

Petition signed. Not enough programmes of that type available on TV. Plenty rubbish that could be axed without loss.
Bet they would not have tried this if Patrick Moore was still around.
 
I think it's a real shame but not a great surprise. These days there is little demand for astronomy and space-related information (as borne out in this forum).

I know it's a generalisation but people are much more interested in lowest common denominator TV like x-factor, soap operas etc.

For those of use that are interested in astronomy/space/science there are a number of really good podcasts out there.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
I think it's a real shame but not a great surprise. These days there is little demand for astronomy and space-related information (as borne out in this forum).
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Over 16,000 signatures on the petition in less than 24 hours would tend to dispute that and the subject is top of the list in the astronomy forums even if it's not here.
 
Steep said:
Over 16,000 signatures on the petition in less than 24 hours would tend to dispute that and the subject is top of the list in the astronomy forums even if it's not here.
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That'll be signatures from those that are interested in it. I am referring to the situation in general.

You ask the average person in the street if they are looking forward to "Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey" and they'll not have a clue what you're on about. Public consumption of space related stuff in minimal.
 
That's a bit of a red herring Richard, ask the average person in the street a question on any number of subjects and they wouldn't have a scooby what you were talking about. Just because dumbed down mass audience programs like xface bring in large audiences doesn't mean there's no place for something better. People with half a brain also pay their television licences and have a right to their say about what is on tv. With respect to S@N the program is never going to bring in huge audiences but it does have a following who deserve their 40 minutes a month.

/edit p.s. another 2500 in the last hour :)
 
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Steep said:
That's a bit of a red herring Richard, ask the average person in the street a question on any number of subjects and they wouldn't have a scooby what you were talking about. Just because dumbed down mass audience programs like xface bring in large audiences doesn't mean there's no place for something better. People with half a brain also pay their television licences and have a right to their say about what is on tv. With respect to S@N the program is never going to bring in huge audiences but it does have a following who deserve their 40 minutes a month.

/edit p.s. another 2500 in the last hour :)
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Strange as it might seem, I am not actually disagreeing with you. I think it should have a prime time slot and not be cancelled. I find it incredibly sad that the most watched TV tends not to include quality, educational stuff like Sky at Night (forgive the huge assumption there, as I haven't had British TV in nearly 5 years).
There is ample material to make a weekly 30 minute show without doubt.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
Strange as it might seem, I am not actually disagreeing with you. I think it should have a prime time slot and not be cancelled. I find it incredibly sad that the most watched TV tends not to include quality, educational stuff like Sky at Night (forgive the huge assumption there, as I haven't had British TV in nearly 5 years).
There is ample material to make a weekly 30 minute show without doubt.
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I completely agree. For decades that programme was transmitted at close to midnight which was a crying shame.
 
According the the magazines editor Chris Bramley no, it's only the programme that's up for 'discussion'.
 
20,000 signatures reached. It was just a little over 15,000 when I signed yesterday afternoon.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
I know it's a generalisation but people are much more interested in lowest common denominator TV like x-factor, soap operas etc.
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The BBC puts out some excellent, non-celebrity based science and mathematics programs. For example More or Less, a show about statistics. Never heard of it? That's because it's on the World Service and sometimes on Radio 4.

They seem to have trouble when it comes to having serious science on BBC1 (and to a large extent on BBC2 as well nowadays)
 
The BBCs coverage of science and maths can be very good and it is a great pity that a programme such as the Sky at Night may be axed simply because not a huge number of people follow it. Isn't the BBC's brief is to have programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain and the Sky at Night certainly fulfils two of those, and IMO fulfils the third too.


More or Less is an excellent programme that probably is not well known, not because it is on the World Service and sometimes on Radio 4 (its the other way around, although it is repeated more on the World Service), but because it is about statistics which for many it is acceptable not to like and because it is broadcast in the afternoon.

Dave
 
onomatopoeia said:
They seem to have trouble when it comes to having serious science on BBC1 (and to a large extent on BBC2 as well nowadays)
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That's pretty much what BBC4 was originally intended to cover along with the Arts.
 
onomatopoeia said:
They seem to have trouble when it comes to having serious science on BBC1 (and to a large extent on BBC2 as well nowadays)
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Agreed. I was flicking last night and came across a grinning, drawling Brian Cox setting light to a flask of hydrogen/air and pointing out that water was produced. Watch this 30 second clip here .

Bearing in mind this was on 9pm on BBC2 you have to wonder who the beeb thinks is watching these programs. Anyone that knows the most basic science isn't going to be interested as it's pitched too low and anyone that doesn't know it isn't going to be interested in it at prime time. Late afternoon on CBBC it might have been useful.
 
Steep said:
That's pretty much what BBC4 was originally intended to cover along with the Arts.
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But why should quality, educational material be hidden away? I think part of the BBC's remit should be to encourage intake of science related content. At the moment it's scheduled in such a way that those that are interested can find it (obscure hours on minority channels), but why not stimulate interest from the masses?
 
lowrider said:
Over 30000 signatures now
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Good news then.

I remember a few months back when a local BBC Radio station wanted to remove the Naked Scientists radio show from its schedule. Viewer response, including involving MPs, did manage to get the decision reversed.
 
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