BBC America Restructures Programming Schedule
By Anne Becker -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/2/2007 8:27:00 AM
BBC America is restructuring its programming schedule to clarify for advertisers where they should buy spots.
It will now program each night to target one specific demographic; previously each night contained programming aimed at a mix of demographics.
The move comes as the upfront ad-buying process begins and after BBC Worldwide Americas named Garth Ancier to be president of U.S. operations.
Each nightly primetime block is getting its own name, and will be programmed with both existing and new BBCA fare:
Mondays become "Murder Mondays," and feature thriller programs, including co-production Wire in the Blood and Murphy's Law.
"Tuesday Nitro," will feature with male-targeting reality and drama, including new acquisition MI-5.
"Wicked Wednesdays," will run female-focused shows including Footballers Wives and new acquisition Goldplated. "Big Thursdays," will focus on characters, including reality shows from Gordon Ramsay and talk shows from Graham Norton.
"Crime Scene Fridays," will focus on procedurals including new co-productions Whistleblower and The Innocence Project.
"Supernatural Saturdays" will feature science fiction shows, including new co-production Jekyll.
"Adventure Sundays" will program action dramas, including Robin Hood, as well British movies.
BBCA, which is distributed by Discovery Networks, averaged 71,000 viewers in prime during February, down 9% from last year.
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What has happened to all the mysteries that used to play on Mondays? British comedy is great but I really miss all the great mystery programming like you have had for a long time...It just disappeared! Please bring it back!
Cindy Carleton - 11/20/2007 11:50:00 PM EST -
this is all well and good, but I don't even have the ability to add BBC America to my Cable One subscription here in Idaho. It is available from both the satellite providers. I can't see spending the money to switch from Cable to satellite. does any one know when and if BBC America will be available in my area by my cable provider. or some item I can add to my system to that I can start receiving BBC America.
Richard Earl Chason II - 5/27/2007 11:43:00 PM EDT -
I finally got BBCA back on my cable service and was disappointed with the programming. Why is Cracker and The Night Detective run in the middle of the morning -- midnight to 3 a.m.? I love detective shows and have been missing the BBC ones. Could you please move these programs to a more reasonable hour so I can see them without staying up all night? I also miss seeing Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, and was hoping you would be showing some of those shows as well. I hope your new programming justifies the additional expense of upgrading my cable subscription.
Suzann Stahl - 5/22/2007 9:58:00 PM EDT -
BBC America repeats the same shows over and over such as whose line is it anyway, cash in the attic etc. I hope you begin to broadcast some of the quality material the BBC is noted for. How about SECRET LIFE with Matthew Macfadyen. I hear that was an excellent movie. Some of the classics would be nice too. I don't even look at the schedule anymore to see what is playing.
Mary Schillo - 5/7/2007 6:08:00 PM EDT -
I think your loss of viewers is the timing of some very excellent shows. They're on in the middle of the night. Hopefully your new plan will work. The only reason I am able to see many of the programs is because I record them on my DVR. Another problem I have is that you keep repeating the same episodes over and over.
Kathleen Kessler - 5/4/2007 12:28:00 PM EDT
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