Is BBC 4 the new BBC 2?

[Drusilla]

I have enjoyed the foreign film season on BBC 4 recently and adored last nights Korean film, 'Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...Spring', but I can't shake the feeling that BBC 4 is merely doing the job for which BBC 2 was intended.

Did we really need BBC 3 and 4, or just a damned good shake up on BBC 1 and 2?

[gary baldy]

I know i would be very p*****d off if my lovely wife hadnt bought me Sky Digital for my birthday a few years ago (something she is always threatening to withdraw for bad behaviour).
You hear some of the viewing figures for bbc3/4 shows just breaking into 4 figures and you wonder why they bother.
I think there is room for 3 and 4 (although 3 is consistently awful - i dont fit the demographic though so not bothered) but it does seem a little spiteful to put amazing things on 4 - depriving terrestial customers.
I am always saying like:
"Did you see that amazing programme on 50's teapots" to my less 'with it' friends knowing that they would love it - but they just dont have sky/ freeview. The really good stuff sometimes emerges on 2 but they just dont have room for things like your Korean film for example.
Shame really but nature of modern broadcasting i'm afraid.

[rabbits]

They are talking about putting the fee up to �180. Outrageous, I have cable and hardly ever watch it, but no way round it.