The BBC is to shift its flagship music chart TV show, “Top of the Pops,” to a weekend slot for the first time in its 40-year history.
The move, effective in April 2005, sees the show switch channel from BBC1 — where it currently airs during prime time on Fridays — to a Sunday evening time-slot on BBC2.
“TOTP” has aired on BBC1 since the show’s launch in January 1964.
The new Sunday night program will coincide with national Top 40 network BBC Radio 1’s unveiling of the U.K.’s weekly singles chart. The BBC says the change will create “even more of a weekly, live musical event.”
A major relaunch in November 2003 prompted by falling ratings failed to revitalize “TOTP”; ratings have continued to ebb since then. Audience figures in the current Friday-night slot average 3 million, less than half what the program attracted 10 years ago. Executive producer Andi Peters, who was recruited in 2003 from national free-to-air network Channel 4 to oversee the revamp, will continue in his current role on the show.
BBC2, launched in 1964, has become the broadcaster’s main channel for arts and culture programming. Keating describes it as the “natural home” for “TOTP.”
