Autumnwatch on at a new time

[Jennie]

Did anyone on here read the Chris Packham interview in the Radio Times?

I don't think he did himself or Autumnwatch any favours at all!

[ollyk]

Originally Posted by lancashire lad

you all need to employ one of those mysterious magic boxes that sit under the tv with many wires and strange buttons and lights. It will surely capture the invisible images that float through the airwaves. And better yet - it will allow you to watch the images whenever the children are not in bed, and when programmes such as "have i got news for you" are not on at the same time. :d:d
regards, mike.

:d :d :d

[jacqui]

I think that if people read the posts, both on here, and on Autumnwatch Forums you will see that this really is a very old argument. The BBC simply cannot win. When it was on at 8pm people complained that it was too late for children (despite the fact that it was never aimed at children and they had their own show on earlier). Some said they wanted it at 6pm but then the workers complained that they wouldn't be home in time to watch etc. There will never be a suitable time that will meet everyone's needs so some people are going to have to be inconvenienced.

I'm not entirely sure that all of Springwatch/Autumnwatch's content is suitable for young children anyway, it has never, to my knowledge been targeted at a childrens audience. Surely educating young children about the wonders of nature should be a parents job, not a televisions? If 9pm is too late for your family to gather round and watch the tv and if you want to watch nature live, how about going out at 7pm and letting the children experience it first hand instead? That is what we do.

I also believe that the reason a lot of people in wildlife/conservation groups are above a certain age, is because they are generally retired and have more time to take part. My husband and I are usually the youngest in any wildlife group we join (early thirties) for this exact reason. However, I do know an awful lot of young people who are doing a lot of conservation work in their own backyards, quitely, not necessarily part of a large group.

I am not particularly keen on the sound of the new format as I think it will become "just another wildlife programme". However, I do understand why they have changed it for Autumnwatch and I will reserve judgement until I have watched the series.

[PMG]

The existing format was right regardless of presenters and Bill Oddie was right for a lot of younger viewers who are not old/wise enough in the ways of the world to know about personality clashes - the kids just want to see the critters and don't much care what is being said and by whom!

That is how to get people interested initially if they arn't already 'nature aware'. I'm not going to go off on a this presenter or that presenter as we've had a thread about this subject before and I suspect people who do not already have an interest in natural life will not be bothered whos presenting - they watch cos its there at a suitable time and it 'catches and draws them in'. And this is where the beeb have made a BIG mistake - or a deliberate action. To lose the opportunity to interest the younger generation 'by default' as it were - is just stupid at a time when we all need to be more aware of the natural world we are destroying just by being here - never mind the thousands of deliberate destructive actions big and small going off every day ....

I can feel a rant stealing in so I had better step of the box ...........

Pauline

[vole-woman]

"despite the fact that it was never aimed at children"

- How can you possibly claim that? It was specially linked up with CBeebies and CBBC, loads of the events associated with it were aimed at children and families, plus the whole style of presenting - the anrothopomorphism, the silly songs and daft props - it all said 'accessibility, fun, youngsters'. The BBC themselves awarded it that "family" icon they use in the Radio Times.

And as I've said before, there's a difference between children watching a programme on their own, which might make them think briefly about wildlife and then forget it, and watching a programme with a parents who afterwards says, 'Let's go to Martin Mere' or 'Let's go pond-dipping' or 'Let's buy a bird feeder'. The adults enabled the children to get involved, and the children enthused the parents. It was a perfect dynamic.

"Surely educating young children about the wonders of nature should be a parents job, not a televisions?"

- Yes, and what if the parents aren't naturally interested? That's what I keep trying to get across. We're all big nature fans here or we wouldn't be on this forum. You take your kids out to look at nature, Jacqui, and so do I. But the parents who are only lukewarm about environmental issues, they're the ones that S/W A/W captured and drew in, along with their children. In some families, an activity isn't validated till it's been on TV. S/W A/W stopped the subject being seen as dull or worthy, and made it fun.

Over and over again on this forum we see posts about animal cruelty, especially amongst youngsters. That's a generation growing up dosconnected with their environment, not realising it for the treasure it is. Programmes like A/W and S/W are one important way to tackle the problem.

I wish I could believe there are ranks of new-retirees about to take over in ther wildlife groups, Jacqui, but I'm not seeing any evidence of them. To me, the lack of youngsters in all the groups I attend is a real worry.

[vole-woman]

Originally Posted by PMG

To lose the opportunity to interest the younger generation 'by default' as it were - is just stupid at a time when we all need to be more aware of the natural world we are destroying just by being here - never mind the thousands of deliberate destructive actions big and small going off every day ....

Beautifully summed up, Pauline.

[Ukwildlifeo]

I think its a great idea to spread it across the season. Im looking forward to it.

As for the 9pm start I dont think they will loose many viewers. When I mention springwatch to a class of 30 kids at most 3 or 4 know what it is and only 1 or 2 watch it. Sure its important for kids to learn about the nature but most arn't that interested in wathing the programme. Plus those that will miss it can watch the repeat and a lot of kids are very tech savvy so iplayer is another option.

[vole-woman]

It must vary from class to class, then, because I know stacks of kids who used to watch it in the 8-9pm slot.

It's a completely different business having to seek it out independently on iPlayer, though. You need to be already committed to wildlife, and that's not the group of viewers I'm talking about.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by pressld2

. And while I agree with much of what you say I would take issue with the "right presenters". I know a lot of people like Bill Oddie but I also know that I'm far from alone in finding him totally cringe-worthy and completely unwatchable. Any presenter that makes half the audience run screaming from the room is hardly the "right presenter" in my book!

Dave P.

Very true Dave, but I have a real thing for Lancastrian presenters. They make me feel all aglow and content, even when they talk nonsense, hence my post. Chris P aint bad though, especially when he tries to neatly dovetail a Smiths song title into proceedings.
Jacqui, do you work for the BBC or summat?

Regards, Chris

[Lancashire Lad]

On the Autumnwatch Messageboard, (which can be accessed via the link provided by loropo in post 16 of this thread), there are several threads referring to the change in time and format.

One such thread "Why has Autumnwatch moved to 9:00pm", was immediately directed by the BBC Autumnwatch Web Team to another thread on the AW messageboard, entitled "WHY Change The Format".

Interestingly, on that thread, (on which the concensus is overwhelmingly that both the new format and broadcast time are negative moves), The BBC Autumnwatch Web Team respond by saying "Hi all, not sure if you were aware of this but here's what Tim Scoones, the Springwatch/Autumnwatch executive producer has to say on the new format: BBC - Autumnwatch Blog: A new shape for Autumnwatch - watch the whole of autumn with us ".

All well and good, but he makes absolutely no comment whatsoever, on the reasons for changing broadcast time, saying only: -
"The live TV shows will be transmitting weekly every Friday night at 9pm and then repeated on Saturday afternoons for families (something we're delighted to be offering this year, having listened to your comments)".

Pity then, that they don't seem to have asked for, or listened to, any comments regarding the change to 9pm.

Regards,
Mike.