Depressingly, you're probably right.
There is hope tho. When Channel 4 first started, Channel 4 News initially got viewing figures so near zero it was touch and go whether it would survive the gorblimey media slagging. But it stuck to its guns and has earnt respect as a heavyweight news outlet.
Maybe merge BBC2 and BBC4. BBC2 has been dumbed down so much that BBC4 tends to be first port of call for something a bit more intellectually stimulating. And BBC4 doesn't even start til 7pm. BBC2 afternoon telly is in the main standard daytime telly slop.