OpenTube

Why We Shouldn't Forget BBC Four

Adam Martyn

32,957 views

Launching in 2002, BBC FOUR arrived onto the scene with clear goals in mind. But how did it get there? And where does it stand now nearly 25-years later, does BBC FOUR still have a purpose in the modern day TV landscape...?

MY LINKS:
PATREON - patreon.com/adammartynamtv
TWITTER - twitter.com/AdamMartynAMTV

With Thanks To Our Patrons & Staff Members: (as of 10/06/26)
Assistant Floor Managers
Phil Atkin
Evonne Okafor
Martin Spellacey
Mevans2001
Alek Zapara
Hannah_ecs
The Mela Experience
Colin Heinink
spelivor
"CK" with manual curly quotes
Allyson Yates
Caitlin21
Delonco Eats
GothicaNoctua
Robert Kennedy
Keith Privett
Benny Factor

Directors
Rob Jefferson
jimmythebantam
Tristan Ayling
Paul Kranawetter
Matt Pekarek

Producers
Joseph 'Gerkuman' Adams
Twitter: Gerkuman
Jenny Tea
James Brindley
Macra99
Twitter: Macra99
Callum Crayston
A Riddle, wrapped in an Enigma, hidden by a Question Mark
Matthew Elliff
Alix Whitley
Sparks_Cart123
Steve Hornsby
Ian Sherwood MBE
Darren Williams
Darren Murray

AMTV Staff Members
Macra
Shaun Knock
Daud Khan
Ethan Carberry-Holt
Ajmac 200017
Liam De-Maine
jen
Mr Eurovision 1986
Tim Ripley
40somethingmanchild
James Wallis
Mr J MacLeod
Ben
Steven Oliver
Shadowfiend180x
Adam Gamer
Matthew Elliff
pigeonshouse
Seraphic Euphoria
Dave Batten
Liam Turner
Char H
Jenny Tea
LovelyDaveAndGem
NJayOnDT84
jimmythebantam
Robert Wallace
The Macabre Tavern
Paul Harper
Paul Conway
Michael Kennedy
Benjamin Samuel
Blue Galaxy

Please like, subscribe, share and check out my other videos! :D

#bbcfour #documentary #2026

20 Comments

@MrSmith1984 3 months ago

There is still a need for the BBC to do Arts Programming, which is the biggest reason why BBC Four should survive in some form or another.

@hayleydouglas 3 months ago

I love BBC Four and I don't want it to disappear - it's the only place I can watch archive TOTP episodes & dance performances and documentaries, especially ballet

@RobinPalmerLDN 3 months ago

BBC Four struck gold when they began broadcasting TOTP reruns and it's really good for The Proms

@tomleader7054 3 months ago

BBC 4 is what BBC 2 used to be.

@DougFisher-r3q 3 months ago

So the BBC are keeping BBC3, aimed at younger people who are the least likely to watch linear telly, and killing BBC4, aimed at older people who are the most likely to watch linear telly. Managerial genius well worthy of their publicly funded six figure salaries.

@AbstractODST 3 months ago

I remember watching The joy of painting by Bob Ross on BBC 4 during covid

@rgp1989 3 months ago

BBC4 used to be my favourite channel. The documentaries and music programmes were second to none. Its sad to see what it has become

@BMTredinnick 3 months ago

To me, BBC Four is Saturday night scandi/european drama (which basically led to the creation of Walter Presents from Channel 4), Only Connect, and "smarter" comedies

@nicholasprince2697 3 months ago

I no longer watch television in the traditional sense of actually switching a box on but when i did BBC4 was my favourite.

@Anona-ud4cg 3 months ago

90% of the documentaries on my Freeview recorder are from BBC4. I still rely on an old fashioned aerial in the attic for television reception.

@markw1london1 3 months ago

BBC FOUR is fantastic. ❤. There’s almost always a good documentary on to watch. One documentary that comes to mind was about Caravanning, I have no interest in caravanning, whatsoever but I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the documentary. It was fascinating.
Please continue wth the excellent programming.

@roboi2241 3 months ago

Since about 2010 the only BBC channel I can watch without vomiting blood.

@lifesimmercanada5401 2 months ago

As a Canadian, I love BBC4! Being the last province to join Canada, my parents were born British citizens and the BBC was LIFE in my house. I grew up with TOTP and my entire family knows now that the TV is Moms on friday, for BBC4

@LovelyLambLunch 3 months ago

Timeshift was always quality on any subject

@philmartin5689 3 months ago

This used to be my favourite channel, often my only channel but to be honest, they might as well pull the plug on it now.

@AManWithoutAPlant 3 months ago

BBC Four was great when I had access to it in Belgium, but I also realized an uncomfortable truth: a lot of the cool things from BBC Two moved to that channel and were replaced by an increasing barrage of cooking and gardening shows (and other junk). Now I haven't had access to BBC Four in years, and I miss it, and BBC Two isn't showing highlights from it: IIRC some of its music documentaries would air months later on BBC Two, for instance.

@DanBmthUK 3 months ago

Probably should become a TV archive channel for BBC music content.

@mathieuleader8601 3 months ago

The leitmotif for BBC Learning Zone is iconic

@rowandavis2061 1 month ago

Some of us young uns are enjoying a lot of the archive programming too. Can't get enough of the TOTP reruns at the moment. I sort of wish it would come back for real to give current artists another way to show their live performance skills.