Autumnwatch on at a new time

[vole-woman]

Yes, I noticed the clanging silence on that point, Mike.

[Gaina]

I am looking forward to the new time and day because originally I'd have to work out what I can and can't get done in preparation for Uni the next day on Wednesday and Thursday so having it on a Friday night when I've got the whole weekend to do 'school-type things' is much better.

As for kids staying up? Friday night was always my night for the special treat of staying up to watch Dynasty when I was about 8 or 9. Now I'm 36 and aim to be snuggled up and unconscious by 11:30pm - where it did it all go wrong!? LOL

Maybe a Sunday or Saturday morning or afternoon may have been better? But then again maybe that would have required them to 'Disney-fy' the program to fit in before the watershed.

EDIT: I just saw on the website that it's repeated on Saturday afternoons.

[jacqui]

No I don't work for the BBC. I am just so used to these posts on various wildlife forums, where people stamp their feet when they don't get their own way. The subject of the time and the content came up time and time again last year on the Autumn/Springwatch forums. People saying it wasn't suitable for their children because of the subjects covered, time it was screened, why wasn't it earlier/later etc. As I have previously said, there really is no way for them to win, whatever time they put it on at, a whole host of people would be complaining about it. If you all look at it rationally, you would see that.

I appreciate what you are saying about people who are "lukewarm" about wildlife missing the programme, but I don't think they will lose too many people because of the time. I think the bigger issue is the change to format, which takes away the excitement of getting you hooked into watching it every night for 2-3 weeks. However, as previously stated, I shall reserve judgement until I have watched it.

I'm off on holiday as from tomorrow so I shall be enjoying all the wonders of the natural world first hand without a television or computer in site.

Bye bye all. x

[vole-woman]

"people stamp their feet when they don't get their own way."

- I find that reallty quite offensive. I'm trying to look at the wider picture, the best format for spreading the word about nature among all kinds of people, not just what's best for my family.

The previous format worked brilliantly - where were all these complaints? The shows were pulling in at least three million, famously beating Big Brother on one occasion.

But even so, I don't think it will be any match for 'Merlin', which has viewing figures of 5 million and has already started its run, and is just about the only other 'whole family show' the BBC does - such genius putting them on at exactly the same time! I'll say again, it really does look like deliberate sabotage by the BBC.

I don't need to watch the show to know that 9-10pm is too late for my kids, and 6.15 will clash with just about the only other programme we watch as a family. And I'm absolutely sure those same issues will be replicated in homes across the country, where A/W has previously been enjoyed live.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by jacqui

No I don't work for the BBC. I am just so used to these posts on various wildlife forums, where people stamp their feet when they don't get their own way. The subject of the time and the content came up time and time again last year on the Autumn/Springwatch forums. People saying it wasn't suitable for their children because of the subjects covered, time it was screened, why wasn't it earlier/later etc. As I have previously said, there really is no way for them to win,

Bye bye all. x

I like to stamp my feet when I get cross...and spit my dummy out for that matter . They were winning by at least a country mile with the last formula as far as I'm concerned. With a weekly slot at 9 pm they won't be. How can anyone appreciate the minutiae of seasonal developments at seven day intervals. It's nonsense, nonsense, nonsense it is.
Are you going anywhere nice for your hols?

Regards, Chris

[eeyore]

according to chris packham in the radiotimes interview the 9pm slot precludes a lot of live footage as it is dark outside and not a great deal is happening - he also said he would have favoured a daily slot on something like the one show but bbc pollitics stopped this idea from taking off.

frankly re autumn watch i could care less - the format is past its best anyway , the first springwatch was great but it gradually wound down to being more time spent on kate and bills cringeworthy chat and flirting than on the wildlife - and now we have autumn watch, no doubt winterwatch and summer watch will folow then navel gazing watch and watching paint dry watch ... time to take this drooling old programme behind the barn with a shotgun IMO

If you want to have a family time learning about nature and wildlife a weekly family walk in the countryside with binos will teach the kids as much and get them away from the gogglebox at the same time

in reply to jennie - i also thought he talked a lot of sense, contreversial certainly but imo hes right about not pouring our limited funds into lost causes however fluffy and chariasmatic the poster animal concerned.

[loripo]

"Watching Paint Dry Watch" - I like the sound of that -very soothing, so long as I dont have to do the painting first.
Re the panda - yes it's very toylike - if it was a snake or bug of some kind I dont think people would be bothered.

[vole-woman]

You may not like it, eeyore, but that's a subjective comment. The format is still as popular as ever - in fact its viewing figures last series were the highest yet.

"If you want to have a family time learning about nature and wildlife a weekly family walk in the countryside with binos will teach the kids as much and get them away from the gogglebox at the same time"

- Ideally you do both; it's not as if the TV precludes the going outside. And the point I've been making is that for hundreds of thousands of families, S/W A/W has been the impetus behind them doing just that, getting out and involving themselves with wildlife where they might not have thought to otherwise.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

You may not like it, eeyore, but that's a subjective comment. The format is still as popular as ever - in fact its viewing figures last series were the highest yet.

"If you want to have a family time learning about nature and wildlife a weekly family walk in the countryside with binos will teach the kids as much and get them away from the gogglebox at the same time"

- Ideally you do both; it's not as if the TV precludes the going outside. And the point I've been making is that for hundreds of thousands of families, S/W A/W has been the impetus behind them doing just that, getting out and involving themselves with wildlife where they might not have thought to otherwise.

I know its a subjective comment thats why i sad IMO - is there any data to back up the assertion that springwatch etc was the impetus for hundreds of thousands of families going outside who wouldnt have done so anyway ? or is that a subjective comment based on your feelings for the programme.

IMO the sort of people likely to watch spring/autumn whatever watch are probably interested in nature anyway - those that are more interested in "i'm a nonentity get me a career" or whatever are likely to be watching that, so springwatch is just preaching to the choir.

[Jennie]

The point I was trying to make was twofold; I would think twice before allowing any kids of mine to watch a wildlife programme when the presenter advocates the extinction of a species.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but having that opinion printed on the cover of a national magazine does not make me keen to watch the programme, and smacks of the BBC actually agreeing with the presenters views.