"Good TV programming is relatively expensive and difficult to make. The comparatively tiny BBC4 has a greater level of subsidy (£54.3m) than any NPO, despite having a schedule that appears to be full of repeats and access to the fabulous BBC Archive. And that budget is under threat. For an indication of popularity, last week, Sky Arts reached 0.7% of the viewing public, BBC4 4%. These are not figures that have “the future of the arts” written all over them – and if the BBC is looking to move out of a market, it seems unlikely to be a new opportunity for unsupported content makers."

Everyone wants to be on TV - AMA Commons