BBC3 and BBC4 have come under increasing attack from inside the corporation, with claims that the channel should be axed in an attempt to save £2bn by 2013. Could the BBC do more to save pennies without lynching the digital channels?

Today veteran John Humphrys and Panorama reporter John Sweeney suggested it should be closed down. Humphrys said it was "utterly, utterly ludicrous" that all parts of the BBC were suffering equally in the budget cutbacks. "If continuing to fund channels like BBC3 and BBC4 means that the price to pay is that there must be damaging cuts to core programmes, then I don't believe that that is a price worth paying."

However, defending the channel, Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn (not exactly known for his love of the BBC) said that BBC4 "embodies the best of the corporation's public service traditions". Littlejohn is not so keen on BBC3 though, and "given the choice I'd get rid of BBC1 and Radio 1 too". Also standing up for the digital channel was Brian Groom of The Financial Times saying "The save BBC4 campaign starts here! Although it may be watched by - in Mr Humphrys' words - 'six men and a dog' (I think I know the other five, but not the dog) it seems to me to come a lot closer to Lord Reith's mission to inform, educate and entertain than many other parts of the BBC's output. I am not saying that Today or any part of news and current affairs should face cuts, but the BBC's choices will be difficult. Once the genie of viewer choice is out of the bottle, it is hard to put it back again."

Of course, this is a debate that has no intention of going away anytime soon. In my mind, there are many ways of saving the BBC money without axing two whole channels. How about getting rid of Jonathon Ross' wages for a start? Or maybe getting rid of News 24? Or how about the directors at the top taking a slight dip in wages?

"I am appalled that senior figures within the BBC are apparently suggesting the closure of BBC3 and BBC4 as an alternative to cost-cutting within the BBC's news services," writes Alan Hewitt in a letter to today's Times. "Much of what allows the BBC to claim to be a public service broadcaster has already been relegated to its digital only channels. If these were switched off the licence fee would become indefensible. Once the BBC had to compete in the marketplace for its income, ruthless cost-cutting would inevitably ensure. Would BBC News 24 survive commercialisation? After all, the ITV News Channel didn't survive in the marketplace."

The campaign to save BBC4 has now spread to Facebook. "... join the facebook petition!"

It seems that this news is going to get people coming out of the woodwork to defend the channel, but will need someone a little more famous to get the ball rolling. Let us help kick start the saving of a truly wonderful and inventive channel. What are your views? As ever, TVScoopers thoughts are more than welcomed! [Mof Gimmers]

[via Guardian]