THE BBC has fewer fresh and original programmes than ever before, viewers believe.
Audiences want to see more new ideas at a time when the BBC plans to save money by cutting the number of programmes it makes.
The Corporation's own research has revealed the public harks back to a past in which BBC1 and BBC2 were the home of qual
ity television.
Nowadays, the BBC is increasingly dominated by a "clutter" of entertainment, celebrity, reality shows and soaps, viewers say.
The research shows 72 per cent of people believe it important that the BBC "has lots of fresh and new ideas" but only 51 per cent feel it does.
"There is a small but significant perception among the public that there is less distinctive TV on the BBC than there once was," the BBC says in the report published today.
"People felt that in the past, it was easy for the BBC to claim, reasonably, that it had real range and depth across its two television channels.
"Overall, BBC1 was clearly seen to be providing quality entertainment and BBC2 was seen to be providing quality factual programming. This was felt to be distinctive from what was on offer elsewhere.
"However, the growth of multi-channel television has complicated things. People feel the explosion of choice has provided an alternative supply of range and depth.
"Having said that, TV generally is felt to be increasingly dominated by big entertainment shows, 'ratings chasers', celebrity, soap wars, makeover and reality TV. The BBC is felt to have succumbed to this trend to a certain extent."
Viewers praised some BBC shows, among them Strictly Come Dancing, The Apprentice and Doctor Who, while Tribe was given as an example of what the BBC does best.
The full article contains 297 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
