26 years ago today...

But there's nothing that the commercial stations can do about that, is there, it's a moot point. Although I'd argue that a well timed commercial break gives you a good cliffhanger to keep you hooked.

I do, and the absence of breaks is their 'USP', I just wish they'd try a bit harder to secure the rights to top drawer US series, but it's all down to money (as ever).

I'm well aware commercial channels have to interrupt their programmes with ad breaks, I'm not suggesting they don't, I just prefer to watch those shows by other means (given a choice of course)

If we still had the gentleman agreement the BBC might be able to hold on to content. But your right everyone walks off to Sky when the money bags come out. Of course that what the US stations are after.

I see Agents of Shield is being moved from C4 to E4 where I suspect it will perform relatively better.

Anyhow, getting back on topic but worth noting all the bidders generally promised more local content in their bids so something had to go to make way for it and US content would be the obvious thing to sacrifice.

Indeed this is what they've done with The Big Bang Theory, started it in mid to late October, they're showing a new episode on Christmas Eve and by that point we're one episode behind the USA.

I hope ITV get Family Guy earlier than July, like the BBC have done in the past.

Blockbusters was the first thing to give. Westcountry had 1 hour new programme every weekday evening, only Carlton promised the same. Grampian North tonight was always hour long on Monday and Friday before 93 anways, by the mid 90s it was Friday only?

Anglia and more so Central ended up having Shortland Street at 5.10 and H&W at 6pm. For the whole of 96 Grampian had Paradise Beach at 5.10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Beach and h&w at 6pm. HTV ended up with A country partise at 5.10pm for most of the 90s ending at march 99. YTV ended up showing Sky/central Blockbusters at 18.30 during 96. Many other still had Oz soaps and US dramas in the weekday afternoons, which resulted in nothing bar that for many afternoons. between Lunchtime news and CITV.

So much for Local content in those area.

At least STV had all its local content at 7pm, moving network show back to 5.10 including Emmerdale, I give people a note, STV did broadcast less OZ soaps than most other stations, and did broadcast more local content, it still managed to push in MSW three times aweek during the 90s pushing Blue healers to Saturdays. ACP to school holidays and dropping other stuff.

I can see it moving to FOX. We don't even have word that Channel 4 have bought season 3 of AOS, and FOX airs Agent Carter, it's also MCU-set mid-season replacement.

E4 are advertising season 3 quite heavily. Begins 10th January.