Breeze cut backs

Media Guardian is reporting that G Breeze will be cutting back on UK based programming from early september, changing the focus of the channel on mainly US based programming of 'cheap imports'.

Suppose it brings back the old question of whether they should find some way to merge G Breeze & Wellbeing. I know it would be difficult with them having different partners in both ventures but they could somehow find a way surely with both channels not doing very well!

Cheers,

Hmm does anyone remember when Granada Breeze was called Granada Good Life? When it first started, it was actually split into several 'channels' (though I think they were only 2 or 3 hours long each or so) with different subjects such as Food & Drink, Shopping etc.

I think GSkyB should cut their losses and just close it down really, it seems awfully cheap as it is with all these American chat shows (some of which have been cancelled in the US anyway).

ITV Digital should replace it with Living (which has cool idents IMO!).. it seems more broad than the other 'lifestyle' channels and although it markets itself as such, it has quite a few shows which attract male viewers as weel as well as it's target of female viewers.

Yes I agree, Granada would be better just closing Wellbeing and Breeze altogether if some way can't be found to merge the two. There just isn't the demand for this type of minority channel. They would be better off improving and investing in Granada Plus, making it a general entertainment channel and raising it's profile. They can then also free up some space on the ITV Digital multiplexes for a better channel.

I know people will argue that there are minor differences between the channel, but I just can't really see what possesed granada to launch another channel so similar to one of their previous ones which wasn't doing so well.

As for *Living, it's a lot better IMO, with shows like Home & Away and their 'late night' programming which seems to be rather unisex!

Cheers,

I think Granada is making cuts because of loosing money on ITV Digital. They should just sell their share in it - and put better quality channels on!

Men and Motors is a 2001 TV version of Page 3
Plus is full of old US shows
Breeze is full of old US shows - and stupid 'lifestyle ones'

Now if they want to make a go of Wellbeing, they SHOULD join the two channels together. And make Granada Plus a better channel, like the brilliant UK Gold. They should use better programmes, maybe some ITV programmes from just a few years back.

Hmm, saw some Men & Motors the other night and can't believe how braindead it is... I'm sure quite a large number of straight men would/do find that channel rather offensive... but then I suppose quite a lot of women might find Breeze offensive. I don't know

I've got the original trailer from 'Granada Sky Broadcasting' before it launched.
'Contact your local cable operator' - lol

Granada Talk TV was also around, that was a disaster though!
I remember Granada Good Life too.

GSKYB was only designed because Granada had a massive stake in BSkyB, along with others such as Vivendi and Chargeurs.
They obviously had to sell their stake when they went into DTT with Carlton after Sky were removed.
DTT would have been so much better if Sky had some input into it.

I'll get the trailer for you if I can, it's worth nothing though. The GSkyB idents were very similar to the Sky idents when they launched.
Silly old Granada, selling its stake in Sky. Probably the biggest mistake they ever made!

Hmm yes I remember Talk TV.. it had some really cheaply made live TV shows.

It didn't even get to see it's last day of broadcasting as it was replaced with a simulcast of Sky News due to the death of Diana.

I remember the idents, Big G with a white oval type shape with a square around it... plus was purple, goodlife was green, talk was red

Yes DTT would probably have been better if Sky had stuck around because they probably wouldn't have made all those exclusive channel contracts, but at the same time, it would've meant less competition of course and I think Murdoch has more than enough clout as it is.