BBC Trust service review: BBC OnOne, BBC Two, BBC Three and BBC Fouru
Consultation Questions
November 2013
Getting the best out of the BBC for licence fee payers
Introduction to the consultation Background
The BBC Trust works on behalf of licence fee payers to ensure that the BBC provides high quality services and good value for everyone in the UK. One of the ways we do this is by carrying out an in-depth review of each of the BBC's services at least once every five years.
This consultation is part of our review of BBC television. It will help us to get the views of licence fee payers on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three and BBC Four. What do you think are the strength of the channels and what should the BBC do to make these television services better? How to take part in the consultation The simplest way to take part in the consultation is by completing the questionnaire online at www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/have_your_say/ If you cannot reply online, you can return it to us using the enclosed pre-paid envelope at BBC Trust, Television Services Consultation, 180 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5QZ. To request a questionnaire in audio or braille please call 0800 0680 116 or Textphone 0800 0153 350.
The consultation is open until 14th Feb 2014, we are unable to accept responses after this date.
You can answer as many or as few questions as you wish. What happens next? Once the consultation closes, we will analyse the responses, alongside a range of other information that we are collecting as part of this review. This will help us to consider any changes to help improve BBC television. A report setting out our findings and conclusions including any recommendations we will be making will be published on the BBC Trust website in the summer of 2014. If you would like to be notified of when the report has been published you will have the opportunity to leave your contact details at the end of the questionnaire, and request a paper copy of the review’s summary report. About you: Equality and Diversity The BBC Trust is committed to engage with and represent all licence fee payers. We ask a small number of optional questions at the end of the consultation so we understand more about the people who have taken part in this review.
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The information we collect will also help us to identify and improve the way we consult with licence fee payers in the future. Any information that you provide will only be used to analyse the range of respondents to this consultation. This information will be anonymous and will be kept strictly confidential. Confidentiality, Data Protection and Freedom of Information We do not intend to publish individual responses from the public and will treat your identity in confidence if you disclose it to us. Any specific quotes used in the report will be anonymous unless otherwise requested. If you are responding on behalf of an organisation we may publish the organisation’s views with your consent. The BBC complies with the Data Protection Act 1998. The BBC Trust will securely store any personal information you provide such as your name, address, email address and your organisation and use it only for the purposes of administering this consultation. You can find more information on the BBC’s privacy policy at http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy. This consultation is being run by Delib on behalf of the BBC Trust. Any personal data you provide will be processed by Delib in line with the BBC’s instructions. If you submit information via the online form, Delib will set some cookies on your computer. You can find out more about these cookies at http://consultations.external.bbc.co.uk/cookie_policy. The BBC is covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If a request is made under the Act in relation to this consultation, the BBC may be required to disclose the information unless an exemption under the Act applies. For more information, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi.
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Your response
A. Are you responding on behalf of an organisation or as an individual?
Please tick one box only.
Organisation: please go to
Individual: question B
B. If you are completing this on behalf of an organisation: The BBC Trust usually publishes organisational responses in full when we reach our conclusions. If you would prefer that all or part of your response is treated as confidential, please complete the table below.
What do you want the BBC Trust to keep confidential? Please mark one box only.
Nothing
Whole response
Part of it: (please indicate which part)
Please provide your organisations details
Your name
Name of organisation
Address of organisation
Other organisational contact details (telephone/email)
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Watching BBC Television These questions are to help us understand how often you watch the BBC Television services and other television channels and the different ways you watch it.
1. In a typical week, how often do you watch the following television channels?
For each channel, please tick one option below.
BBC BBC BBC BBC ITV Channel Channel One Two Three Four 4 5
Most days Around once a week Less than once a week Hardly ever or never
2. Please tell us which other channels you typically watch at least once a week.
3. Television programmes can be viewed using a number of different devices. Which devices do you use to watch television programmes and how often do you use them?
Please tick all that apply.
Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never Don’t know/no opinion
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Watching TV programmes as On a television they are set broadcast
Watching TV programmes at a time of your choosing on your personal video recorder (Sky Plus, etc)
Watching TV programmes at a time of your choosing through the BBC’s iPlayer or other on- demand service (e.g. ITV player, 4OD)
Watching TV programmes one hour later using +1 channels where available
On a desktop Watching or laptop programmes as computer they are broadcast
Watching programmes at a time of your choosing on iPlayer or other on-demand service
On a tablet Watching device (such as programmes as an iPad or a they are Kindle fire) broadcast
Watching programmes at
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a time of your choosing on iPlayer or other on-demand service
On a Watching TV smartphone programmes as they are broadcast
Watching TV programmes at a time of your choosing on iPlayer or other on-demand service
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Views on the quality and range of BBC One programmes The service licence for BBC One says that it should be the BBC’s most popular mixed-genre television service across the UK. It should offer a wide range of high-quality programmes, and a very high proportion of these programmes should be original productions.
It should be the BBC’s primary outlet for major UK and international events and it should reflect the whole of the UK in its output.
These questions are to help us understand how well you think BBC One is performing against its service licence.
4. Please take a look at the words and definitions below. To what extent do you agree or disagree that, overall, they are good descriptions for the range of programmes on BBC One?
Please tick one box in each row.
Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly Don’t Agree disagree know
High quality (typically programmes are well- made and the
acting or presenting is of a high standard)
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Original (typically programmes are different to the kind of
programmes shown on commercial TV channels)
Engaging (typically programmes are enjoyable to watch and
hold your attention throughout)
Innovative (there are sufficient programmes that try new and creative things in how they look and/or in their choice of subject matter)
Offer something for everyone (there are sufficient programmes that
audiences of all ages and backgrounds can appreciate and enjoy)
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Challenging (factual programmes are stimulating
and thought provoking; feel like you’ve learnt something on watching)
5. Please tell us more about your answers. Are there any other words that you would use to describe BBC One?
6. To what extent do you agree or disagree that BBC One’s evening schedule (between 7pm – 10pm) shows a wide range of programmes including drama, entertainment, comedy and factual?
Please tick one box
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know / no opinion
7. Please tell us more about your answer including whether you think the range of programmes on BBC One could be improved.
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Views about the different types of programmes on BBC One We’d like to know what you think about the different types of programme shown on BBC One - what are their particular strengths and what you think could be better. It would help us if you could give examples of specific programmes in your responses.
We’ve explained about the different types of programmes, and have given some examples, however these are purely illustrative and we would welcome your views based on any of the programmes you might watch.
8. Drama
We have separated BBC One drama programmes into:
- Continuing drama and soaps: This covers EastEnders, Doctors (Daytime drama), Holby City, Waterloo Road and Casualty. They are shown at least weekly for most of the year.
- Other drama programmes: This covers all other drama programmes including those which have a fixed number of episodes, such as Call the Midwife, The White Queen, New Tricks, Luther, Last Tango in Halifax, By Any Means, Atlantis, Sherlock and Dr Who. Some of these programmes can return for one or more further series. BBC One also occasionally shows one-off dramas such as the Lady Vanishes.
Continuing drama and Strengths Areas for improvement soaps:
Other drama: Strengths Areas for improvement
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9. Factual
We have separated BBC One factual programmes into:
- Specialist documentaries: These are programmes (either presenter-led or observational) on particular subjects such as natural history, science, history, art, religious affairs, business, and topical social issues. Some recent programmes include the Great British Year, Africa, Nick and Margaret: We All Pay Your Benefits, Motorway Cops, Imagine and Who do you think you are?
- General interest/magazine shows: These programmes tend to be long-running and follow a regular format. Some recent programmes include DIY SOS, Countryfile, Watchdog, the One Show, and the Antiques Roadshow.
Specialist Strengths Areas for improvement documentaries:
General Strengths Areas for improvement interest/magazine shows:
10. Entertainment
This covers a wide range of programmes including Saturday evening entertainment programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing, the Voice, and the National Lottery, chat shows such as The Graham Norton Show, panel shows such as A Question of Sport and Have I Got News For You,, as well as more factual- based entertainment programmes such as Masterchef and The Apprentice.
Strengths Areas for improvement
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11. Comedy
This is what most people would call sitcoms. Some recent programmes include Miranda, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Not Going Out, Citizen Khan and Big School.
Strengths Areas for improvement
12. How often do you watch BBC One on weekdays between 9.15am- 6pm?
Please tick one box
Frequently (i.e. most days
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
13. If you watch some daytime programmes on BBC One during the week, please tell us what you think about the quality and range of these programmes.
Strengths Areas for improvement
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14. Overall, what do you think BBC One does well and should continue doing?
15. What changes or improvements would you like to see on BBC One?
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Views on the quality and range of BBC Two programmes The service licence for BBC Two says that is should be a mixed- genre channel appealing to a broad adult audience with programmes of depth and substance. It should carry the greatest amount and range of knowledge-building programming of any BBC television channel, complemented by distinctive comedy, drama and arts programming.
16. Please take a look at the words and definitions below. To what extent do you agree or disagree that, overall, they are good descriptions for the range of programmes on BBC Two?
Please tick one box in each row
Strongly Strongly Agree Disagree Don’t know Agree disagree
High quality (typically programmes are well-made and the acting or presenting is of a high standard)
Original (typically programmes are different to the kind of
programmes shown on commercial TV channels)
Engaging (typically
programmes are enjoyable to watch and
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hold your attention throughout)
Innovative (there are sufficient programmes that try new and creative
things in how they look and/or in their choice of subject matter)
Challenging (factual programmes are stimulating
and thought provoking; feel like you’ve learnt something on watching)
17. Please tell us more about your answers. Are there any other words that you would use to describe BBC Two?
18. To what extent do you agree or disagree that BBC Two’s evening schedule (between 6.30pm – 10.30pm) shows a wide range of programmes including drama, entertainment, comedy and factual?
Please tick one box
Strongly agree
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Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know / no opinion
19. Please tell us more about your answer including whether you think the range of programmes on BBC Two could be improved.
Views about the different types of programmes on BBC Two We’d like to know what you think about the different types of programme shown on BBC Two - what are their particular strengths and what you think could be better. It would help us if you could give examples of specific programmes in your responses.
We’ve explained about the different types of programmes, and have given some examples, however these are purely illustrative and we would welcome your views based on any of the programmes you might watch.
20. Drama
BBC Two drama programmes are usually series with a fixed number of episodes, though they can often run for more than one series. Some recent programmes include Line of Duty, Peaky Blinders, Top Of the Lake, and Dancing on the Edge. The channel also has shown some one-off dramas such The Girl, and Shakespeare’s Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V.
Strengths Areas for improvement
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21. Factual
We have separated BBC Two factual programmes into:
- Specialist documentaries: These are factual programmes (either presenter-led or observational) on particular subjects such as natural history, science, history, art, religious affairs, business, and topical social issues. Recent examples of BBC Two documentaries include Autumnwatch, The Story of the Jews, The Brain Doctors, The Tube: An Underground History and Hunt vs Lauda: F1's Greatest Racing Rivals.
- General interest/magazine shows: These programmes tend to be long- running and follow a regular format. Recent BBC Two examples include Gardener’s World, Coast, Rick Stein’s India, The Great British Sewing Bee and Paul Hollywood's Bread.
Specialist Strengths Areas for improvement documentaries:
General Strengths Areas for improvement interest/magazine shows:
22. Entertainment
BBC Two’s entertainment programmes include Top Gear, panel shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Mock The Week, quiz shows such as University Challenge and Mastermind as well as more factual-based entertainment programmes such as Dragon’s Den.
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Strengths Areas for improvement
23. Comedy
Generally these are what most people would call sitcoms. Recent BBC Two comedy programmes include Hebburn, Rev, The Trip and the Wrong Mans. It also includes sketch shows such as Watson & Oliver and It’s Kevin, and scripted comedy entertainment programmes such as Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipes.
Strengths Areas for improvement
24. How often do you watch BBC Two on weekday afternoons between 1pm and 6.30pm?
Please tick one box
Frequently (i.e. most days
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
24. If you watch some programmes on BBC Two in the afternoon, please tell us your views on the quality and range of these programmes.
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Strengths Areas for improvement
25. Overall, what do you think BBC Two does well and should continue doing?
26. What changes or improvements would you like to see on BBC Two?
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Views on the quality and range of BBC Three programmes The service licence of BBC Three says that it should ‘bring younger audiences to high quality public service broadcasting through a mixed-genre schedule of innovative UK content featuring new UK talent. The channel should use the full range of digital platforms to deliver its content and to build an interactive relationship with its audience. The channel’s target audience is 16-34 year olds’.
27. Please take a look at the words and definitions below. To what extent do you agree or disagree that, overall, they are good descriptions for the range of programmes on BBC Three?
Please tick one box in each row.
Strongly Strongly Agree Disagree Don’t know Agree disagree
High quality (typically programmes are well-made and the acting or presenting is of a high standard)
Original (typically programmes are different to the kind of
programmes shown on commercial TV channels)
Engaging (typically programmes
are enjoyable to watch and hold your
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attention throughout)
Innovative (there are sufficient programmes that try new and creative
things in how they look and/or in their choice of subject matter)
Challenging (factual programmes are stimulating and thought
provoking; feel like you’ve learnt something on watching)
28. Please tell us more about your answers. Are there any other words that you would use to describe BBC Three?
29. To what extent do you agree or disagree that BBC Three’s range of factual, entertainment, comedy and drama programmes provides a high- quality offer for the channel’s target audience of 16 – 34 year olds.
Please tick one box
Strongly agree
Agree
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Disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know / no opinion
30. Please tell us more about your answers including whether you think the range of programmes on BBC Three could be improved.
Views about the different types of programmes on BBC Three We’d like to know what you think about the different types of programme shown on BBC Three - what are their particular strengths and what you think could be better. It would help us if you could give examples of specific programmes in your responses.
We’ve explained about the different types of programmes, and have given some examples, however these are purely illustrative and we would welcome your views based on any of the programmes you might watch.
31. Factual
We’ve separated BBC Three factual programmes into:
- Specialist Documentaries: These are factual programmes (either presenter-led or observational) on particular subjects particularly topical social issues. Recent BBC Three examples include Rachel Bruno: My Dad and Me, Growing Up Poor, and Crazy for Party Drugs.
- General interest/magazine shows: These programmes tend to be long- running and follow a regular format. Recent examples include Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents, Snog, Marry or Avoid, Don't Tell the Bride and We're Having a Baby.
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Specialist Documentaries: Strengths Areas for improvement
General interest/magazine Strengths Areas for shows: improvement
32. Entertainment
Recent examples of BBC Three’s entertainment include Family Guy (an import from the United States), Russell Howard's Good News, Staying in with Greg and Russell, and Sweat the Small Stuff.
Strengths Areas for improvement
33. Comedy
Recent examples of BBC Three’s comedy programmes include Cuckoo, Bad Education, Pramface and Bluestone 42 .
Strengths Areas for improvement
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34. Drama
Although there has always been drama on BBC Three, please note that the channel now only tends to show one original drama series a year. Recent BBC Three drama programmes include Being Human and In the Flesh, and the Canadian import Orphan Black.
Strengths Areas for improvement
35. Overall, what do you think BBC Three does well and should continue doing?
36. What changes or improvements would you like to see on BBC Three?
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Views on the quality and range of BBC Four programmes The service licence of BBC Four’s primary role ‘is to reflect a range of UK and international arts, music and culture. It should provide an ambitious range of innovative, high-quality programming that is intellectually and culturally enriching, taking an expert and in-depth approach to a wide range of subjects.’
37. Please take a look at the words and definitions below. To what extent do you agree or disagree that, overall, they are good descriptions for the range of programmes on BBC Four?
Please tick one box in each row.
Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly Don’t Agree disagree know
High quality (typically programmes are well- made and the
acting or presenting is of a high standard)
Original (typically programmes are different to the kind of
programmes shown on commercial TV channels)
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Engaging (typically programmes are enjoyable to watch and
hold your attention throughout)
Innovative (there are sufficient programmes that try new and creative
things in how they look and/or in their choice of subject matter)
Challenging (factual programmes are stimulating
and thought provoking; feel like you’ve learnt something on watching)
38. Please tell us more about your answers. Are there any other words that you would use to describe BBC Four?
39. To what extent do you agree or disagree that BBC Four’s factual programmes are more in-depth and informed than elsewhere on the BBC?
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Please tick one box
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Don’t know / no opinion
40. Please tell us more about your answer including whether you think the range of programmes on BBC Four could be improved.
Views about the different types of programmes on BBC Four We’d like to know what you think about the different types of programme shown on BBC Four - what are their particular strengths and what you think could be better. It would help us if you could give examples of specific programmes in your responses.
We’ve explained about the different types of programmes, and have given some examples, however these are purely illustrative and we would welcome your views based on any of the programmes you might watch.
Please note that most of programmes on BBC Four are factual documentaries. BBC Four no longer shows original UK drama but does regularly show foreign language dramas and films. The channel does show a few original entertainment and comedy programmes.
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41. Factual
Recent BBC Four factual programmes include Storyville, Britain on Film, Pain, Pus and Poisons: The Story of Modern Medicine, a Very British Murder with Lucy Worsley and the Golden Age of Steam Railways.
Strengths Areas for improvement
42. Drama including films
Recent BBC Four drama programmes include the Danish import Borgen, the Italian import the Young Montalbano and the original one-off drama Burton and Taylor.
Strengths Areas for improvement
43. Comedy and Entertainment
The limited comedy and entertainment programmes shown on recently on BBC Four include Only Connect, Up the Women, Bob Servant Independent and the United States import Parks and Recreation.
Strengths Areas for improvement
44. Overall, what do you think BBC Four does well and should continue doing?
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45. What changes or improvements would you like to see on BBC Four?
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Views on how the BBC TV channels perform collectively These final questions are to understand how well you think the BBC TV channels complement each other. The questions also seek to understand how well you think the output across the BBC TV channels reflects the United Kingdom as well as covers events which bring the nation together.
46. Based on the type of the programmes that each BBC TV channel shows, to what extent do you agree or disagree that they offer something different from each other?
For each column, please tick one box
BBC One BBC Two BBC Three BBC Four offers offers offers offers something something something something different from different from different from different from the other BBC the other BBC the other BBC the other BBC TV channels TV channels TV channels TV channels
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree Don’t know / no opinion
Please tell us more about your answers.
47. All the BBC TV channels have responsibilities to reflect the diversity of the United Kingdom. How well do you think each BBC TV channel reflects the different people, places and interests of the whole of the United Kingdom in its programmes?
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For each column, please tick one box
BBC One BBC Two BBC Three BBC Four
Very well
Quite well
Not well
Strongly disagree Don’t know / no opinion
Please tell us more about your answers.
48. All the BBC TV channels have responsibilities for coverage of arts, music and culture. Please tell us what you think of BBC television’s coverage of national and international arts, music, and cultural events.
49. BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Three all have responsibilities for the BBC’s sport coverage. Please tell us what you think of BBC television’s coverage of national and international sporting events.
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About You
Your answers to the following questions will help us to understand how successfully we are gathering views from BBC licence fee payers in all their diversity and help us to improve how we consult in the future. We would like to assure you that this information is strictly confidential. No information will be used in any way which allows a person to be identified. These questions are optional and you can answer as many or as few as you wish.
1. Location
England Northern Scotland Wales Other (please Ireland state)
2. Age
15 and 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 and Prefer under over not to say
3. Gender
Male Female Prefer not to say
4. Sexual Orientation
Heterosexual/ Gay Gay man Bisexual Other Prefer not to Straight woman/ say Lesbian
5. Disability
Yes No Prefer not Do you consider yourself to be to say disabled?
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6. Ethnic group or background Asian/ Asian British Bangladeshi
Chinese
Indian
Pakistani
Any other Asian background (please state)
Black African/Caribbean/Black British
African Caribbean
Any other Black/ Black African/Caribbean background (please state)
White
English/Northern Irish/Scottish/Welsh
Irish
Gipsy or Irish Traveller Any other White background (please state)
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups White & Black Caribbean
White & Black African
White & Asian
Any other Mixed/multiple ethnic background Other ethnic group (please state)
Prefer not to say
7. Religion/belief
No religion Jewish Buddhist Muslim Christian (including Church of Sikh England, Catholic, Protestant and all Any other (please state) other Christian denominations) Hindu Prefer not to say
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Next Steps
Thank you for responding to this consultation.
A report outlining the BBC Trust's recommendations will be available on our website in the summer of 2013.
If you would like us to notify you when the reports are published please provide your email address below.
[You can also request a paper copy of the full or summary report by giving us your name and postal address so we can send this to you. Please indicate which report you would like us to send to you.]
We will only use these details to for the purposes of administering the report.
Please note that because we can only collect personal details from you if you are 16 or over. This is because we need proof of parental consent to collect personal data from children. By completing the questions on this page, you confirm you are aged 16 or over.
Notify me by Email address: email
[Please send me by post: Tick the relevant box to indicate which report you would like.
My name and address is: The summary report
The entire report
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