'Top Of The Pops' axed after 42 years as teen generation switches off

[MaryJane]

TOP of the Pops is being laid to rest 42 years and 2,204 shows after Jimmy Savile welcomed it to the TV screen.

BBC bosses admitted yesterday there was nothing more they could do to improve the appeal of the once great music show with the teenage generation.

In the 70s it was watched by 19 million. But since July that has dwindled to one million under Fearne Cotton, who will front the show for the last time on July 30.

In recent years TOTP has had several facelifts and relaunches. But ratings continued to plummet and last year BBC1 chiefs shunted it into a Sunday night graveyard slot on BBC2 where even fewer tuned in.

Finally the BBC's Creative Review Music Strategy board concluded it "no longer occupies the central role it once did".

The news will be a huge blow to the 120 countries around the world which also screen it each week.

BBC director of television Jana Bennett said the decision had "not been taken lightly". She blamed increasing competition from multimedia and other music channels where viewers can listen around the clock, rendering TOTP's once a week format obsolete.

She said: "We're very proud of it but the time has come to bring it to its natural conclusion."

TOTP was a "must watch" under the likes of Sir Jimmy, Dave Lee Travis, Noel Edmonds and Peter Powell. It gave viewers the only chance of the week to watch their favourite bands and Pan's People dancers.

Sir Jimmy, who presented the first show in 1964 and hosted it for 20 years, said: "I'm not really sad or surprised. Things change and these things happen."

Former Pan's People dancer Babs Powell said: "It's the end of an era but sometimes it is best to remember things fondly."

Noel Edmonds, host throughout the 70s, said: "I'm very sad. It's a great British brand and it's very dangerous when the corporation throws out one of the most recognisable names in TV."

Dave Lee Travis, host into the 80s, said: "There are plenty of outlets - MTV, iPods, videos, a million ways to access music. It's no wonder it was squeezed out of the modern world."

Tony Blackburn said: "I don't think it has much relevance any more. It's outlived its day."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_obje...name_page.html

Too bad, I loved the show

[AliceInWonderland]

English television sucks!



except for AbFab and The Office

[ekee]

It's quite cheesy but I liked it.

[ourmaninBusan]

It's quite sad, when you think about it. I've never seen the show
but its death marks the passing of an era.

[sprynkles]

Originally Posted by ourmaninBusan

It's quite sad, when you think about it. I've never seen the show
but its death marks the passing of an era.

Yes you are so right. As a long time PBS employee I predict it will live on though, just as we air Lawrence Welk still every Saturday night, it may do very well in syndieland. We''ll see.

[SVZ]

Tony Blackburn said: "I don't think it has much relevance any more. It's outlived its day."

Why not just update it then? Even with a viewserhip as "small" as 1 million viewers, there's so much stuff they could do. Live voting, podcasts, personal blogs, etc

[sprynkles]

^^^ Agree! It may just be too late! They should have been doing that 2 years ago. It may be too spendy to bring in big talent now and the network won't risk it. 1 million viewers is considered zero viewers in ratings. At least in the US.