SWatson7's posts, page 27

BBC daytime revamp

As long as kids get to watch their programmes (and they know where to find them having grown up with kids channels and knowing no different) then there is no issue. A lot of the programming on BBC1/2 is repeats anyway, and it gets a very small audience. The BBC won't be able to get away with cutting back in the same way that ITV have.

Daybreak: With Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones

I don't see the harm in just keeping Lucy instead of trying to get someone else now. In a list of things wrong with the programme, Lucy is near the bottom. Besides it would be retaining at least one familiar face, they know too well how too much change can drive away viewers (not that anyone would stop watching if Lucy left, but just as noone will start watching if they got someone else in).

Channel 4 Lost £42.3m

More4 was too specialist to keep afloat in its previous form, but there is a big female audience interested in lifestyle shows. It might be sending Channel 4 itself down the plug hole but it will be very profitable for a digital channel if it manages to pull in the numbers. Housewives are very lucrative hence ITV daytime.

Channel 4 Lost £42.3m

Big Brother is to blame for the situation they are in. They cut costs in most areas to afford the rights for the final few series, just when it started to fail meaning an overall reduction in innovations and quality, with an increasing reliance, expectation and need for Big Brother to perform, only it didn't. When they tried to reduce their reliance they just shifted the burden onto other shows such as Secret Millionaire, Come Dine With Me, Gordon Ramsey, Embarrassing Bodies etc all of which were capable of attracting 3m+ viewers, in some cases over 4m. Those became overexposed along with new hits such as Million Pound Drop and everything has taken a hit as a result.

There are still some gems in their schedule that have been well looked after such as One Born Every Minute, 24 Hours in A&E and Gypsy Weddings, although the latter has taken a significant drop in viewing figures, but their overall strategy at the minute is poor and they are still relying on shows that were once great performers but are now merely average. They need to find more breakout shows, but the only way they can afford them is through ad sales for their successes so its a vicious circle. E4 is very strong at the minute but maybe its time for them to begin to 'promote' shows to Channel 4 in the way that BBC and ITV do, freeing up E4 to find successes of the future.

Granada Reports

They did the same last year for the Manchester United parade. The sports presenter did really well co-hosting the programme, would be interesting to see if that would translate to a regular edition. Lucy couldn't have made it more obvious she's a City fan .

The Voice UK

I know I keep banging on about the production and how its improving etc etc yawn yawn... but this weeks worth of BGT live shows have shown how amateur The Voice actually is. Holly Willoughby's dress was one of the biggest talking points last night which probably says it all about where the show is now. They need a big rethink for next year including a new line up of coaches, and perhaps air it from January instead where it won't get lost amongst the competition. The current line up is a bit pretentious and feels like a bit of a love in, yet oddly theres no chemistry and noone for viewers to relate to.

Britain's Got Talent

And they went and put them in the death slot with a bad song and gave them mediocre comments. It seemed a bit pointless after all that.

Overall it was a good final and got the right winners (although any of the top 3 would have been 'right'). Good show this year, and Simon has said on More Talent that all of the judges will be back next year (but he also said that last year too!). I hope he's right, I think this years panel was the best of any British reality show and is reminiscent of the X Factor panel from 2008-2010 which he has been desperate to recreate.

Daybreak: With Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones

Isn't that what BBC Breakfast is doing? That's a good mix of news, sport and entertainment and is reminiscent of the GMTV of 10 years ago.

I'm not to sure about the changes and whether I'll watch the new Daybreak, but I do like how there does seem to be a clear focus of showbiz & lifestyle which should provide a good enough alternative to BBC Breakfast for those who want it. The original Daybreak and the many versions since haven't had that focus, they've tried to do everything and have failed. If they went for Kate Garraway & Matt Barbet with a focus on news, then they're just doing what is already happening on BBC1 and increasingly over the past 5 years, BBC Breakfast have been edging them out in every way possible. Then it's the choice between adverts and no adverts.

I don't think anyone other than those in the target demographic can say what will/won't work.

Daybreak: With Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones

So he's actually replacing Kate as editor and not Steve as correspondent? Will be interesting to see where that leaves Kate. That is just about 500 steps backwards for Daybreak.

Daybreak: With Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones

Clare Nasir returning?

I like Lucy, I think she suits Daybreak quite well so I hope they keep her.

Daybreak: With Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones

Jeremy Kyle is already shown on ITV2 with the repeated double bill and its very successful for them. But moving it from ITV1 is just silly because it has a much higher audience than other ITV daytime shows (barring the 5pm offerings) and is the only show that beats BBC1 daytime.

I imagine that should they drop JK, it would have a domino effect on This Morning and Loose Women so it just wouldn't be worth it.



Daybreak has a higher audience than Lorraine towards the end of the show. It's The 6-7am hour that is the problem for the viewing figures. I do think Lorraine's popularity is overstated and I'm not sure she'll be able to 'save' Daybreak (but she is clearly popular). That issue lies with the format which is fundamentally flawed. Lorraine hosting may also be somewhat of a backwards step considering she presented it years ago. I do wish they'd have more faith and be willing to take a risk on Helen as she does have the light and fluff ability.

Just on the subject of the American style breakfast shows, the original Daybreak did take this format on with the amount of editors who presented their own sections instead of them doing a sofa interview. They should have kept that aspect of the format. Adrian & Christine just weren't the right anchors for it.

Channel 5

I really like it even though the advert is like something off Super Mario and the eye is like Elmer the Elephant. Can't say I'm overly looking forward to the series though, it had its day and came full circle in 2006. I dip in and out of CBB depending who goes in and Channel 5 should just run that. The latest CBB was better than most of Channel 4's but thats more due to luck than anything.