BB FANS

Legendary music show Top of the Pops will move to BBC Two from the spring of next year, ending a lengthy relationship with BBC One but aimed at resurrecting the flagging programme.
Announcing the move, Roly Keating, controller of BBC Two, said the show, previously shown on BBC One on Friday night, will move to the channel’s Sunday night schedule in what the corporation believes will make it attractive to a more diverse audience.
The programme will also feature a new format consisting of both the latest bands as well as an older archive of music.
It is also hoped that the new timing will create a closer relationship with the BBC Radio One’s weekly chart show, which goes on air late on Sunday afternoons, whilst attracting an older audience profile.
Keating said: “It’s an exciting era for Top of the Pops. We want to make it bigger and better so that it becomes the ultimate pop music show for music lovers of every generation.
“BBC Two has a strong heritage in pop music and performance programmes, from Jools Holland to Glastonbury, so Top of the Pops will have a natural home on the channel.
“The addition of Top of the Pops will also extend BBC Two’s offering to younger audiences.”
But with ITV1’s CD:UK competing for audience ratings, the move is also a sign of the decreasing demand for the traditional single format.
Recent years have seen a downturn in enthusiasm for the single by music lovers, with album prices slashed between major retailers and a so-called slump in the quality of new music hitting the airwaves.
Lorraine Heggessey, controller of BBC One said: “Top of the Pops has enjoyed a great life on BBC One, which will continue to support popular music.”
In the 1970s Top of the Pops would regularly pull in audiences of over 14 million, but its show last week attracted only 3.1 million viewers.
Jana Bennett, director of television for the BBC, added: “In the changing world of music and television, Top of the Pops will find a stronger home BBC Two in its new format.
“I believe moving to Two and adapting to a more diverse audience of music lovers is the right evolution for the programme.”
By Kunal Dutta


Created by kmay
Publication Date 2004-11-29 02:50 Media Week

Crikey, I remember when you could tell what time it was of any day of the week by what was on telly. Thursday night, Top of the Pops at 7.00, followed by EastEnders, and Tomorrow's World at 8.00.

And they call Sky progress...

It's really sad they are doing this to TOTP, I will miss seeing it on a Friday!

I loved TOTP as a kid but haven't watched it in years. TOTP went down hill years ago imo there are much better music programmes out there now, they have a lot of competition. I actually prefer TOTP2 to TOTP.

Only just read this one as I've not been on here for a while.

Reckon moving it to BBC2 could save the show, it's been very tired for years now and on a smaller channel they can take more risks with it.