media guardian story weeek6

Weakest Link tipped for Neighbours slot
Tara Conlan
Guardian Unlimited
Thursday November 8 2007

Robinson: could front The Weakest Link on BBC1. Photograph: BBC
BBC2 quiz The Weakest Link has emerged as the leading contender to replace Neighbours when the long-running soap leaves BBC1 early next year.
Discussions have been taking place within the corporation to transfer the Anne Robinson-fronted show to BBC1 - a move that would push flagship children's shows Blue Peter and Newsround back to an earlier time slot.
The move is likely to boost BBC1's ratings but anger those children who are not home in time to see some of their favourite programmes.
The thorny issue of how to replace Neighbours has been taxing top BBC executives ever since Five snatched the rights to the Australian show in May.
It is understood that BBC Vision director Jana Bennett is in favour of the proposal to move The Weakest Link to BBC1.
The problem is that the quiz runs for 45 minutes whereas Neighbours, which has been a BBC1 stalwart for 21 years, runs for just 25 minutes between 5.35pm and 6pm.
Talks have been taking place with the show's producers to reduce the caustic quiz to a 30-minute running time.
However, it is understood they feel the format would be damaged by cutting it to half an hour and want to keep it at 45 minutes.
Beginning The Weakest Link at 5.15pm would have a knock-on effect on children's programmes such as Blue Peter.
It would have to begin at 4.45pm, rather than 5pm, meaning some young viewers would miss it if they were not back from school in time.
Another show that might be moved is news programme Newsround, which usually airs at 5.25pm.
The Weakest Link currently airs every weekday between 5.15pm and 6pm on BBC2 and averages an audience of around 2.4 million viewers.
It is not yet clear if the total amount of hours of children's programmes would be reduced.
One insider said the whole two-hour block could remain, but simply be shunted back to begin earlier at 3.15pm to accommodate The Weakest Link.
But another source warned the move would send out the wrong signals about the BBC's priorities.
"At 4.45pm, many children are not home from school yet. The BBC talks about investing in the future of young children and isn't that one of the reasons it exists - yet it's now considering pushing back children's shows for an adult quiz."
The source added: "When the BBC was bidding for a new licence fee it constantly went on about its public service credentials. Who would have thought a year later this would be being proposed?"
ITV has already seen the ratings benefits of cutting back on children's programmes in favour of more quizzes and repeats of classic dramas.
But the move has been attacked by children's campaigners and teachers.
A BBC spokesman said: "A number of options are being discussed but no decision has been made on what will replace Neighbours."

THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT WEAKEST LINK TAKING OVER NEIGHBOURS AS IT WILL BE LEAVING BBC1 NEXT YEAR. THEY ARE THINKING OF SHOWING NEWSROUND AT AN EARLIER TIME, HOWEVER EVEN THOUGH THE MOVE IS LOOKING TO BOOST RATINGS; IT WILL ANNOY SOME CHILDREN AS THEY ARE NOT HOME IN TIME TO WATCH NEWSROUND. NEIGHBOURS WILL BE MOVING BECAUSE CHANNEL 5 'SNATCHED' THE RIGHTS.