The Sky at Night - The End

[dtokez]

Without reading this whole thread - any updates on this? I would be truly gutted if it goes, I have watched it for the last 20 odd years. Now SPM has gone admittedly it has lost its edge but it is still one of the few thing I look forward to watching on TV these days!

[Rockrae78]

I bet you were green with envy when Chris picked the Shuttle cake.

I can't begin to tell you how much I wasn't! Harvey - the lad who accepted the prize on behalf of his sister - was a little star! Even made Chris Lintott do a 'manly handshake' when awarding said prize... Priceless moment! 

I didn't even bake an astro cake... I just made a load of muffins, cupcakes and danishes - and of course, the giant jaffa cake - so I really didn't deserve a win... The only astro related theme was my moon cakes (which were chocolate cupcakes with baked cheesecake inside), but they did go down a treat. Will be making them again for SGL9 now! 

Last night's episode was the sort of episode I'm not so keen on. S@N is at it's best when they are doing the one on one interviews with someone who really knows their stuff, the recent interview with Sir Martin Rees was a good example. The 'space surgery' and general beginner questions episodes are probably better presented in something like SGL. S@N is tucked away in an obscure slot so it's audience will be people who have sought it out and probably did so because they know something of their subject already. SGL is on in a much more prominent slot and so is better suited to a more general audience who may well ask the sort of beginner questions they tackled last night.

I'll have to disagree with you on this... This is part of why I love the show - no two shows are the same. There have been other shows with more in-depth science and one-to-one interviews.

I appreciate that some people think that the content has been dumbed down, and I can certainly see why, but perhaps this has been done due to the fact that the insiders know that the BBC want to get rid or revamp it.  Perhaps the producers are trying to show that it can appeal to a wider audience.

For me, SGLive should be a feeder show for TSAN... SGLive appealing to those not currently involved in astronomy (as well as keeping the more in-depth Brian Cox sciency bits!), and then viewers should be directed to TSAN when they are actively involved in the hobby. 

Its great that they show the different types of telescopes, and explain the differences between them - certainly helped me when I was looking for my first one (I should also add that I hadn't found this forum at that point), and one of my favourite shows was the one where they had people come to Farthings who had telescopes, but had never been able to work out how to use them.  It must have been reassuring for all those people out there who felt embarrassed asking for help after making a telescope purchase. 

I think it would be a real shame for the show to be changed in any significant way - or God forbid - cancelled completely. They do have shows with more science content, but this last show was called their Space Surgery special, and it certainly lived up to this.

[mikey32shaw]

When does this become available on Iplayer? Had a look it's still ghosted out ?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[palebluedot]

When does this become available on Iplayer? Had a look it's still ghosted out ?

After the longer version is aired on Thurs.

[malc-c]

I recorded last nights episode and watched it this morning.  Must admit my gut feeling was that I wouldn't miss it if it was taken off air.  It seemed so rushed.  The "what to see this month" section didn't really cover a lot, and some of the explanations to the questions left a lot to be desired.  Like Jnb mentioned I much preferred the old format where one major subject dominating the  program, often with a specialist being "interviewed" by SPM outlining some discovery, and then a reasonably detailed look at the current night sky for that month, and then a further section covering a more laymen approach to observing something linked to the main theme.  You know the format, something like the lead scientist behind a mars rover program discussing some new find or what's hoped to be discovered by the rover, then a look at the night sky, possibly showing where Mars is in the sky, and then a section on the early maps of mars by early astronomers, and how they believed civilization existed with canals etc... 

Personally,I feel that with the passing of SPM, what was special about the sky at night went with him.  It would be sad to see it come to an end, but I feel it's run its course, unless they invest in giving this a main stream slot and ( I hate to say it) someone like Prof Brian Cox to present it, but given the tight or non existent budget I can't see that happening.

[foundaplanet]

One of the big problems they would have if they were to give an individual the job of main presenter is that too many people would be making comparisons to SPM. As a friend of mine said, it would be a bit of a poisoned chalice, how many people would be going on about how he or she is not SPM or do they really think they can replace SPM and then making fun of them. It seems to me that the directors and the presenters are going to be stuck between a rock and a hard place if they don't get a break and an opportunity for the show to reinvent itself in due course and time. I'm sure if they were given the chance without the pressure and all the negative they would be able to deliver. Give em all a break is what I want to say.

[Kropster]

A big problem that I have is that Sky at Night will not do a series record on Freesat any more.

Anyone else have this problem?

[Rockrae78]

A big problem that I have is that Sky at Night will not do a series record on Freesat any more.

Anyone else have this problem?

It doesn't do it on Sky either... Sky only has about 10 days of programming on it, so even though I have S@N on series record, it never picks up the next episode... I rely on the good members of this forum and the magazine to remind me when its on.  

[Macavity]

Give em all a break is what I want to say.

I agree. Even the "personality" driven BBC programmer might be forgiven a modicum of confusion?

Sir Patrick aside, I am genuinely intrigued as to how the S@N would be "better" with e.g. Brian Cox...

It kinda worries me that "being an astronomer" (scientist, even!) is now a style / worldview thing?

But I am aware of the power of such things. On an entertainments forum, I once made a "witty aside"

re. Atlantic Rower, Ben Fogle - I still bear the SCARS! Actually, I rather look forward to his stuff...

[foundaplanet]

I agree. Even the "personality" driven BBC programmer might be forgiven a modicum of confusion?

Sir Patrick aside, I am genuinely intrigued as to how the S@N would be "better" with e.g. Brian Cox...

It kinda worries me that "being an astronomer" (scientist, even!) is now a style / worldview thing?

But I am aware of the power of such things. On an entertainments forum, I once made a "witty aside"

re. Atlantic Rower, Ben Fogle - I still bear the SCARS! Actually, I rather look forward to his stuff...

Ay, once everything has been wrapped up in neat little bundles, placed neatly in perfect little boxes etc..

Coxy is a prime example, pleasant fellow that he is and a chap I admire for putting science interests back in the limelight, well, he is a very typical TV face fiend. Like the most of them he don't have much in the way of character, he is only another one of the fashionable things. Dr. Jim Al Khahili any day cos he don't pout like Madonna.

As for the Fogle scars... I hope your proud of them..!

[NeilFawcett]

I recorded last nights episode and watched it this morning.  Must admit my gut feeling was that I wouldn't miss it if it was taken off air.  It seemed so rushed.  The "what to see this month" section didn't really cover a lot, and some of the explanations to the questions left a lot to be desired.  Like Jnb mentioned I much preferred the old format where one major subject dominating the  program, often with a specialist being "interviewed" by SPM outlining some discovery, and then a reasonably detailed look at the current night sky for that month, and then a further section covering a more laymen approach to observing something linked to the main theme.  You know the format, something like the lead scientist behind a mars rover program discussing some new find or what's hoped to be discovered by the rover, then a look at the night sky, possibly showing where Mars is in the sky, and then a section on the early maps of mars by early astronomers, and how they believed civilization existed with canals etc... 

But this episode was obviously an unusual one as it was covering a weekend astronomy event? I like episodes like this once in a while. It's a change of pace and style.

Personally,I feel that with the passing of SPM, what was special about the sky at night went with him.  It would be sad to see it come to an end, but I feel it's run its course, unless they invest in giving this a main stream slot and ( I hate to say it) someone like Prof Brian Cox to present it, but given the tight or non existent budget I can't see that happening.

This is never going to be main stream program. There's not enough chavs from Essex spouting rubbish to gain those sort of viewing figures. It's aimed at a small niche group and there's nothing wrong with that.

And as for Brian Cox presenting it... No... No... No! Let's keep it to the enthusiastic people who actually know and participate in the subject!

[ChrisG3484]

I watched it last evening and on my TiVO box it showed Prof Brian Cox as the presenter. I fear TiVO may know the secrets of the future.

[Macavity]

I watched it last evening and on my TiVO box it showed Prof Brian Cox as the presenter. I fear TiVO may know the secrets of the future.

Might take my onetime alma mater (Yay Manchester Uni!) a bit by surprise too?

But I look back on student years with drunken ... considerable affection though!

[Laurie61]

Interesting comments on the BBC news web page today. The D.G. Tony Hall said "Audiences demand to be involved and expect to participate" he added " in future they will talk to us and  we will listen" Well is the S@N program going to be his first 'listening' decision?

[Pliadian]

It doesn't do it on Sky either... Sky only has about 10 days of programming on it, so even though I have S@N on series record, it never picks up the next episode... I rely on the good members of this forum and the magazine to remind me when its on.  

1st Sunday, Every month for 57 years!

And you don't know when it's on.

ROTFLMFAO xx.

[Pliadian]

2 words on the subject:

SPACE SURGERY !

You heard it here 1st.

[JamesF]

The D.G. Tony Hall said "Audiences demand to be involved and expect to participate" 

Just as the supermarkets tell you that the products they sell are the result of "customer choice", this is double-speak.  What it really means in this instance is "this is the sort of stuff we want to produce".  I suspect because it is easy television to make.  Get the audience involve and participating and actually you don't have to worry about the quality too much.

I don't think I've ever demanded to be involved in television programmes.  Not since I reached adolescence, anyhow.  Perhaps I am not "the audience".

James

[x6gas]

1st Sunday, Every month for 57 years!

And you don't know when it's on.

ROTFLMFAO xx.

The time moves about though.  The BBC website often says "around 01:30" or somesuch, even a week or so before broadcast - amazing really.

[x6gas]

A big problem that I have is that Sky at Night will not do a series record on Freesat any more.

Anyone else have this problem?

Yep - I used to have it on series record and all was well, but the September edition didn't record (and I didn't notice in time to catch a re-run).  My Humax PVR is allowing me to set series record again so I'll see if it works...

[DaveGarland]

This isn't anything to do with the S&N but I think a lot of us might agree with Jennifer Saunders views today.

http://news.sky.com/story/1151677/ab-fab-star-saunders-turns-on-bbc-management

[DaveS]

Article in "Glamour" magazine and reported by Sky news. No surprise there then.

[Rockrae78]

1st Sunday, Every month for 57 years!

And you don't know when it's on.

ROTFLMFAO xx.

I think you'll find that I said 'remind me' when its on. 

[Kropster]

If you set it like that rather than series record you end up recording something you don't want when the series ends and any changes in schedule time, however slight, are not taken into consideration.

All it takes is for somebody higher up to enter the information into the system.

Perhaps they don't bother because the audience is so small?

[Pliadian]

I think you'll find that I said 'remind me' when its on. 

Sorry, I just found it funny. love and kisses

[kirkster501]

Well, despite me saying the old dog has had its day, I actualy quite enjoyed S@N this month (October), the first one I have liked for months, since SPM passing.  It was about amateur astronomy at long last!!!!!  Thats what we want to see.  Listen up producers of S@N.  Repeat this formula and a lot more will watch it.