Are there too many channels?

There are currently around 700 radio and television channels available on the Sky platform, and on Freeview you can get over 72 channels, substantially more than the 'good old days' of four channel terrestrial television.

Some may argue that there are currently too many channels broadcasting at the moment, with the quality of programming being 'too thinly spread' for this reason. Therefore, I would be interested to know other member's opinions on what channels they would close.

In my view, and this is my own personal opinion and I realise it may seem controversial, but I would close any channels that are an extension of the broadcaster's principal platform. For example, BBC One, ITV, Channel Four and Channel Five are okay, however BBC Two, ITV 2, E4 and 5* would not be. I cannot see any reason why a broadcaster should have more than one channel, and I would argue that it is excessive and redundant. It seems to me that most of the main broadcasters have raced to get as many channels as they can on air, with the programming being an afterthought. There has literally been a 'flooding' of channels, leaving the market over saturated and awash with simply too much choice.

Case in point being the small satellite platform, Information TV, which has three television channels: Information TV, Showcase TV and Irish TV, all broadcasting much of the same content except at different times. I would argue that this is simply excessive and does not add any value to the content being offered on satellite at the moment.

I bet you hate that there's so many chocolate bars as well. Why have Time Out when we have Kit Kat? Too many crisps too.... How come Walkers AND Golden Wonder do a salt & vinegar? Shocking..... And all those beers, all we really need is one lager and one bitter....

No. As I say, I am not against choice, but I am against excessive and redundant offerings. For example, are there over 700 different types of chocolate bars being offered? 700 different types of crisps? 700 different types of beers? I don't think so.

How about more HD channels at the expense of some SD channels?

I think the argument should be whether TV networks are spreading themselves too thinly, such as UKTV - previously there was UK Gold, now we have Gold, Watch, Drama and Alibi. Because apart from that, it's not like you have one channel for every show you want to watch, the big name shows are still owned by the big name companies.

The choice we had in Choclate bars years ago was so much better



Your on the ball.

Like a Samuel Smiths Pub

Firstly are you sure that that there's 700 channels? Sounds a little high to me (the Box Office channels don't really count)

But anyway the big flaw in your 'argument' is that one channel existing doesn't (normally) mean that another has lowered the quality or content of another. All they compete for viewers, advertising and subscription money, the market decides how many exist. Also many channels are there just to serve a specific niche and don't compete with others, there's no harm them being there.

Think of it like magazines, no one ever says that there are too many magazines available on the shelves of WH Smiths yet there are hundreds of titles available.

Off the top of my head.... 5 Star from Channel 5 should close.

Don't know what the purpose of it is. It was hoping to be Channel 5's answer to E4 but there's not a lot on there IMO.

Oh and... Get rid of all the teleshopping channels I really hate them.

I would strongly recommend that Irish TV stays because I think it's wonderful for Irish Tourism.

What Freeview really needs is a channel that shows the best of RTE and TV3's original output for the UK. I think we have some good shows here that could work well for the UK too and I think they would offer something different for UK viewers.

Anyway - 5 Star is the main one I have a grudge for and don't get me started on how disappointing Spike has been whenever I tune in there's You've Been Framed types of shows on it or cop shows. Disappointed about Spike.

Like what? Alot of stuff is from the USA, ITV used to broadcast Glenroe.

If we cut out all the repeats and imports we'd probably have enough content for three and a half channels.

ITV and C4 have decent brand extensions which are able to super serve niche groups which their main PSB's can't.

I'd agree that Channel 5 still have a problem with their brand extensions, that is mainly to do with that they were too late in launching them. (ITV2 and E4 launched in the late 90s), while 5* is the worst name for a spin-off channel. Another N&S clanger there.

As for UKTV, they're revenue earning and viewers across the board are up, thanks to their policy of FTA and paywall channels.

I would say yes to your last three questions.