Autumnwatch on at a new time

[vole-woman]

Eeyore, I work hundreds of hours a year in wildlife conservation, much of which involves talking to the public. There are, generally speaking, three groups of attitudes to wildlife: the people that care about it, and are already switched on to helping the environment; those who just aren't bothered and would never be, no matter what encouragement they received; and a big group in the middle, the 'floating voters' if you like. With a little gentle poke, some validation from their TV screen (or from their peers, or a town meeting, or BBC cameras turning up, or a chat with someone like me at a fete or on their doorstep) those people can be drawn in to appreciating wildlife and helping it.

I know when a programme's made a difference because I get feedback: people say, 'Oh, I saw that on telly'. And, for many of those floating voters, the small screen validates nature-watching as an activity - as long as it's presented right. The public I meet tell me what they've seen, and how they've responded. So I know that even people who might look like a very atypical demographic for ecologists can respond if they catch an item on Springwatch.

[earthdragon64]

I'm not overkeen on the format of either S/W or A/W, like a lot of programmes I find there is a bit too much emphasis on telling people what's coming up repeatedly, usually after every short segment.

If less time was spent telling the audience what's going to be shown, and more time spent actually showing it, on hour long slots there could probably be at least 10 more minutes of actual wildlife. By all means tell us at the start of a programme what's going to be in it, but most of us really don't need this repeated every 5 or 10 minutes.

Another bugbear of mine with S/W is when they show a montage of flowers, butterflies, dragonflies etc, without saying what species they are showing. It can't be too difficult to indicate on screen what they are showing.

I liked the format of the "Nature's Calendar" series that Chris Packham presented a couple of years ago, it would be nice if that could be brought back.

[SparklySarah]

It's a shame it's been put to a later time. Kinda hypocritical saying they want more children involved in the environment and wildlife then putting a top wildlife programme on after the watershed when most children go to bed!! But I for one am glad I just got my TV licence sorted out for my laptop so I can now watch these things. I missed some programmes since being in uni!! xxx

[Gaina]

Well, I watched with an open mind tonight and I have to say we unanimously approve of the new time and format in our house . I like the fact that they are still flitting back to Simon King on Rum. I also think they are getting more actual information in because it's been pre-recorded. I also noticed that they gave you a quick run-down of what's coming at the beginning and then just got on with it. That makes me wonder if the old (and I agree slightly tedious) habit of telling you what's coming up every five minutes was a bit of a 'filler' in the old format of the show.

I really enjoyed 'Unsprung' - that out-take with Simon was hilarious. And wasn't the Sparrowhawk stunning!?

It will be interesting to watch the repeat on Saturdays as the weeks go buy to see how the content changes (or not as the case may be) from the 9pm slot to accommodate families.


...oh, and I just loved Chris' 'Geeky Bit'.

[Dan Salter]

I didnt read all of this thread but a lot of the criticism at the start of the thread was that it was pre recorded and notlive...but it clearly is still live as is the extra program after which im glad they have taken off of the 'red button' only slot.

However im shocked and kind of annoyed they are covering the rut yet again!!!...Ok so simon has not been physically there for 3 years but we have had the rut covered in some form or other every bloomin autumn and its getting tiresome.
There are plenty of other things going on in autum surely?.....Im not knocking SK at all he is a legend just with the program got a little more imagination.

Packham was ace as ever!....but its also not a good sign when Kate seemed to be the only member of the team including long haired double barelled blokey who i thought was a producer or something as well, who remembered that they had covered the mating leaopard slugs in great depth before?

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by Gaina

think they are getting more actual information in because it's been pre-recorded. I also noticed that they gave you a quick run-down of what's coming at the beginning and then just got on with it. That makes me wonder if the old (and I agree slightly tedious) habit of telling you what's coming up every five minutes was a bit of a 'filler' in the old format of the show.

I really enjoyed 'Unsprung' - that out-take with Simon was hilarious. And wasn't the Sparrowhawk stunning!?

I really enjoyed it as well, for my family the time is actually better, hubby sometimes doesn't finish work until 8pm, so would miss part of the programme. I felt it flowed much better because we weren't being told every 5 minutes what was coming up.

Let's be honest, unless it was on at about 5pm, it's getting too dark in the evenings for there to be much live content anyway.

The Sparrowhawk was gorgeous.

[colincurry]

I started watching. Coped with the intro and summing up. When it came to the rutting ....... ho hum. I switched off.

Colin

[loripo]

First found that our communal arial was not working, fiddled with a set top one to get a reasonable image, got annoyed at the giggling, thought the rut was, what do they say 'deja vue all over again' and gave up. Will see if Unsprung is on iplayer as that sounds more interesting

[John D]

Originally Posted by colincurry

I started watching. Coped with the intro and summing up. When it came to the rutting ....... ho hum. I switched off.

Colin

Yes Colin 'the rut was OK first time round but to repeat the same old 'act' albeit with some ' new actors' is a bit of a waste of time and lack of imagination. There is so much more that could be covered, which hasn't been in previous series.

I also feel the programme has become more of a 'scripted act'. I miss and I know he wasn't everybodies favourite, Bill Oddie. He didn't/couldn't stick to a script but his spontaneous comments were based on his very wide knowledge of wildlife. He always had something interesting to add and was more than a presenter who follows a script.
I will continue to watch the programme but BBC should rethink the format.

Just MHO.

John D

[solus]

I watched it all - mainly because I was doing the ironing at the time otherwise I may well have switched off after the first ten minutes or so! As regards the Red Deer rut, and much as I love seeing the beautiful island of Rum, it feels like a repeat of a soap opera. I appreciate new viewers may not have seen it before and will be fascinated but it does become somewhat tedious year after year...

At times to start with I felt I was being "talked down to" although a few comments about "the pub" reminded me that the programme was now being shown after 9:00pm and was aimed at a grown-up audience (at least, those who were not "down the pub" for a Friday evening!) How this will fit with the "family" repeat on a Saturday afternoon I'm not sure! I did appreciate, like others here, not being constantly told about what was "coming up" or recaps of what we had just seen.

I have to say I think I enjoyed the "Unsprung" half hour more having never been able to see its like before due to not having cable/satellite and my only "red button" being the "Off" switch! A tad chaotic but I found myself wishing for an hour "Unsprung" and a half hour main programme!

I do miss Bill Oddie though...