sjdavis' posts, page 10

ITV

It's pretty clear the average Joe doesn't hate ITV, whereas the average TV Forumer does - what, a handful of people? I don't think Charles Allen will be quaking.

For the record, the BBC and ITV are as bad as each other when it comes to trash TV - only you have the priviledge of paying for the tripe you see on the BBC.

We must remember ITV doesn't have an obligation to please minorities - it HAS to be a one-size fits all TV channel. It needs to scrap the crap and keep the performers. That's why programmes like Shafted... were Shafted.

People may say I'm a Celebrity is Trash TV, well, in that case, more than 1 in 6 British citizens are heathens. It is one of the most popular things on the box. If you were the boss of ITV, would you stop producing this "trash" and instead show "World in Action", which would gain 1.5 million viewers at most?

I think the answer to programmes which don't perform on ITV1 is to whack them on ITV2 (or ITV3) at the same time it was intended for broadcast on ITV1. Then everyone stays happy, and the money programmes stay on ITV1, and subsequently ITV2 benefit from an increased audience inherited from the "trashed" ITV1 venture.

ITV

* ITV is free

* The drama productions on the channel are more watched and far superior to any other UK television channel by a long shot. It's one-off dramas are superb. Example: Ahead of the Class with Julie Walters.

* Brings good sporting events to our screens including Champions League football, The Boat Race, Formula One, and WRC.

* Its peak-time schedule is the most watchable on any day of the week.

* Its news isnt patronising, I don't know everything - therefore it's simply nice to be able to told what's happening in the world in a way I understand and using the best methods possible.

* The regional news (in my region at least) is far superior to its BBC equivalent. I managed to watch on ten minute bulletin of Meridian news and be told about two murders, a fire, a serious road accident, MRSA scandal, health rish, and then a light story to end. The BBC led with a lady whos flower stall had been trashed and all they got away with was 30 quids worth of stock.

* It's sister channel ITV2 is doing extremely well, even given the fact that it shows re-runs and extras. Hopefully the increased budget for the channel will see its content improve. I have enjoyed watching some good movies, live football, extra segments, and "new" comedy shows such as Third Rock on the channel.

* ITV3 is again a different mix. It doesn't take much effort to screen these old shows, but it brings a great variety to the multichannel package - especially for Freeview, which lacked this kind of channel.

* ITV News is the most improved news channel in the last year. Still plenty more to do, but I enjoy watching it, and have since been torn between the tabloid Sky News and the boring BBC News.

ITV Lunchtime News: now 1 hour as part of ITV Day

But isn't this the gap in the market ITV are trying to attract with this extended lunchtime bulletin? ie: Less of the "hard news", and more of the Mums' favourites - "how does it affect me?" type stuff.

F1 Australian Grand Prix: Ads?

I think people are forgetting how unbelievably boring F1 presentation was on the BBC before ITV got hold of it. I wouldn't exactly say ITV revolutionalised it, as Channel 4 did with Cricket, however they breathed life into a tired format - and made it interesting.

BBC only went over to the the race about only 15 minutes before it started, and even then - there was no gridwalk, little in the way of pitside commentary, no on-board commentary of lap dynamics with Martin Brundle, and the analysts were pretty much ALWAYS in London.

During the race itself, although the commentary boasted Murray Walker, that was about it. There was little in terms of conveying the technical side of F1 to the viewer as they didn't even know much about it, they hardly linked up with pitside, like they do now, etc. I could go on.

I really wouldn't want my license fee being spent on even more sport by the BBC. They got the Premiership rights back and are getting less viewers than ITV did, and I don't think they'd do any better with F1 to be honest. I think it's got to stick to commercial TV now.

The ad breaks are annoying, but sport is free on ITV. It's only ten minutes out of a 2 hour race, and usually, nothing happens in that space of time anyway - they have learned to strategically pick their times now, unlike - as aforememtioned - the first couple of weeks, where it went to pot.

ITV News

You've got to say it's an excellent effort. Is the set they've been using for the News Channel recently, the same one as they used to have the "tighter" CSO shots from where they did have the "Theatre of News" mock up, yet it did look decidedly smaller?

Also, I dont know how VR works, but couldn't they somehow take photos of the flooring in the real "TON" at all angles, and that whack that under the feet of the presenters in the fake "TON" rather than have the graphics, which make it look less realistic?

All the same, it looks good from the screen-grabs. I can't see the channel itself at the mo as its off in my region on Freeview until mid May, but looks impressive.

Somethiong tells me thing are very very slowly starting to come together for ITV??

ITV News

Nice to see they spend their time watching Sky News!!

Sky News wins RTS News Channel of Year

I think you answered your own question in the last paragraph. I think the award is based more on content than looks.

BBC Sport

He should be neutral in the commentary box, and to me, he hasn't seemed biased at all. Are you an Arsenal fan?

I'm sure he's more reflecting on the hopes of any neutral, ie: that the underdog wins.

ITV regional weather

TV Forum is famous!

Well, it didn't mention the name, but Martyn Davies was in the studio with Fred and Debbie in Meridian Tonight (South), for the usual pre-forecast chat. 18:26 tonight.

Fred was commenting about the new graphics, and Martyn was talking about the "TV Forum" where readers are talking about the new weather look. Martyn said he was reading through the forums and gathered that "most people like the new look". He also said its scary that there are people that talk about weather graphics on the web and "it's like being followed".

He said this is the shape of things to come though for ITV Weather, and there will be "a lot more on the way", including maps which "zoom down to street level" etc.

Ultimate Force

Although to be fair, I must only one of a few who think Peter Kaye is crap. I don't actually dislike Peter Kay; he's a funny guy. But he's a one trick pony, and it can't be long before people realise that. There are only so many jokes about being a thick Northerner you can make.

Hopefully he'll disappears while people still have the good memories of him he deserves and not when the papers start laying into him for making his millionth UK tour making the same old Northern jokes.

ITV regional weather

ITV really do know how to balls up a brand. Reminds me of an earlier tirade penned by me...

ITV's absolutely awful branding

I love the programming, but its marketing department are a bunch of wasters.

ITV News

Must say Nina's looking damn fine this lunchtime.