When the service became Channel 4 Schools, there was nothing to stop Channel 4 asking LWT to produce a programme for the service. After all, LWT was a production company, as well as a broadcaster.
Theoretically maybe, but logically why on earth would they want to do that?
Only LWT management can answer this one. Perhaps it wasn't sufficiently profitable for LWT to produce schools programmes or they had no ideas about exactly what themes and topics they wanted to cover.
When the service became Channel 4 Schools, there was nothing to stop Channel 4 asking LWT to produce a programme for the service. After all, LWT was a production company, as well as a broadcaster.
Very true. LWT could theoretically have produced programmes for any TV channel either independently or in partnership with another company.
Only LWT management can answer this one. Perhaps it wasn't sufficiently profitable for LWT to produce schools programmes
It wouldn't have been profitable at all.
It does not need anyone from the company to answer it surely? The reason is they had no need to and it wasn't in their interest to do so.
Though the question arises... who paid for schools programmes? Obviously it was a commitment they had to fulfil, but the commercial companies wouldn't have just offered to make them out of the goodness of their heart otherwise the production of them would have been more evenly spread
Though the question arises... who paid for schools programmes? Obviously it was a commitment they had to fulfil, but the commercial companies wouldn't have just offered to make them out of the goodness of their heart otherwise the production of them would have been more evenly spread
ATV / Central produced more schools programmes than anybody can keep count of - and possibly more than all of the other ITV companies put together. Did they make a profit out of schools programmes or did they just have some passion for producing them?
Though the question arises... who paid for schools programmes? Obviously it was a commitment they had to fulfil, but the commercial companies wouldn't have just offered to make them out of the goodness of their heart otherwise the production of them would have been more evenly spread
ATV / Central produced more schools programmes than anybody can keep count of - and possibly more than all of the other ITV companies put together. Did they make a profit out of schools programmes or did they just have some passion for producing them?
It was all part of the ITV’s PSB requirement. I suspect ATV were ITV’s main nominated producer of schools progs ( in the same way LWT were for World of Sport etc) There were no ads either within or adjacent to the schools sequence, so obviously no revenue to be earned. I suspect the other companies paid ATV for them on a not for profit basis, but the whole scheme was offset against corporation tax
If that was the case then how did TVS, TSW, and Border get away with producing (next to?) no schools programmes?
It is noteworthy that TVS produced a number of factual and science programmes - they even had Michael Blakstad on their team - as well as being a strong player in children's programmes, so it does seem a bit of a paradox why they didn't venture into schools programmes or produce dual use programmes for both schools and children's or general viewing.
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I suspect ATV were ITV’s main nominated producer of schools progs ( in the same way LWT were for World of Sport etc) There were no ads either within or adjacent to the schools sequence, so obviously no revenue to be earned. I suspect the other companies paid ATV for them on a not for profit basis, but the whole scheme was offset against corporation tax
There is a cynical theory that schools programmes were a form of 'poison pill' for ATV / Central to pressure the IBA into renewing their contract in the face of bad performance or competitors that appeared to be better in areas other than schools programmes. Did schools programmes help to save ATV in the 1980 franchise round, as they were forced to restructure and rename themselves as Central, whilst Southern and Westward were given the boot?
If that was the case then how did TVS, TSW, and Border get away with producing (next to?) no schools programmes?
Because they showed schools programmes produced by the other companies. And they certainly met their PSB commitments in other areas. TSW in particular produced many adult education programmes.
When you consider how many schools programmes were made, by both the BBC and ITV (and later Channel 4 and indies), and the fact many series were often updated at least every 3-4 years following feedback from teachers, it’s surprising that nowadays there is seemingly no need for such a service.
I can understand why major broadcasters don’t want to fill up their daytime schedules with PSB material - but as far as I’m aware no company or organisation produces any substantial amount of “video” material for schools and colleges. Is this a reflection of changing teaching methods, or the National Curriculum, or is it more the case that schools programmes were a victim of changing broadcasting commitments rather than becoming surplus to requirements?
I can understand why major broadcasters don’t want to fill up their daytime schedules with PSB material - but as far as I’m aware no company or organisation produces any substantial amount of “video” material for schools and colleges.
I can understand why major broadcasters don’t want to fill up their daytime schedules with PSB material - but as far as I’m aware no company or organisation produces any substantial amount of “video” material for schools and colleges.