Just got an e-mail from the person who told me this information. He said that the names aren't set in stone, but so far through the development they have been refered to as ITV Gold and ITV Kids.
I find it very strange that they'd want to lose the CITV brand, but then again I found it strange when they launched the news channel.
And what's wrong with "the CITV Channel" all of a sudden? I think that would be a great name in itself. Don't need this "ITV1 Kids" rubbish, just confuse everything, that would.
I always thought the name of CiTV Plus, an extention to CiTV on itv1, along with CiTV Tots, or the return of CiTV Telly Tots. If they were successful, a CiTV Gold channel (a section would start on CiTV Plus, along with a CiTV Toon section, that could be developed into a channel also), CiTV toon would be based on either itv/CiTV setting up their own animation studios ala Nick, or working in conjunction with one of the best, cosgrove hall for example, or itv buying them out to form part of itv plc.
That would be an area worth tackling a CiTV tots area, as there are only Nick Jr, Playhouse Disney (though not many have access to this) and CBeebies (would be the only one on DTB). Though most of CiTV's popular kids shows have been snatched up by Nick Jr, Thomas & Friends, Merlin the magical Puppy, Kipper, Engie Bengie, and others. Interesting to see that the Raggy Dolls had been added to the POP schedule, its awful quality as that was around when I was little, when I was about 5ish, so it was late 80's, early 90's, still remembered the theme tune though!
I expect itv will only want to launch one channel originally like Disney Channel UK, and I presume Nick also did it, and include a breakfast show for older viewers, before Tots in the daytime, and then back to older viewers in the afternoon/early evening. And most probably with it not time sharing they may have it through till 10, or 24 hours, it may not only be 12 hours!
Although I really think they should wait, they aren't ready yet, its just itv havent yet completed the merger, and they are already throwing their weight around as if they have. They could end up losing more money if they try this and it fails.
I hope everyone understands where I'm coming from in this, I love CiTV, but it can only properly work at the moment in its current format, or with a short itv2 extension programme. When they have programmes that they can easily spin off, it may be better. At the moment they can only spin off SM:tv, and thats finishing soon! Not so long ago though, they had SM:tv Live, Mad For It, Top 10 of everything and S Club TV, all Live, all different, all served a purpose. This would have been one of the best times for an itv childrens channel, yet execs went with the other option of an itv sport service, which cost them their digital service, and a lot of money, and shame!
They have just started to rebuild, and are going well at the moment, but they have to keep building on it. Roughly at the moment, if they shownt every link, prorgramme and added a correct number fo ads and links as over the 21 year history, they would roughly have 382 hours of programming, which would roughly do 32 days on a 12 hour channel.
ITV may have the budget thanks to the merger, but they will most probably have even more money in a few years time, they could easily expand CiTV to itv2, test the water and slowly develop more British productions, and develop shows that could easily transfer to a channel. Thats the way thinsg should be done, but (in the words of ant in 'dec says'/'secret of my success'), the way it really will be "is a very Different Story!
Just got an e-mail from the person who told me this information. He said that the names aren't set in stone, but so far through the development they have been refered to as ITV Gold and ITV Kids.
I find it very strange that they'd want to lose the CITV brand, but then again I found it strange when they launched the news channel.
Oh yeah, I read that article and didnt think much of it. I just presumed it was another exectutive that didnt really know that much about their company!
The itv.com/kids link has been there for a while since the old homepage had kids as an option to click instead of citv.
Did get an email back from ITV today, and was much more sense than I ever did (or will get) from CBBC. Basically they said that it's "an adeqate balance for 4:3 and 16:9 viewers" which I do really find in a way a laod of rubbish. No matter how you watch, you see no more than 87.5% of the original picture (and that menas watching via either analogue or digital 16:9. The "balance" with digital 4:3 viewers involves them watching a heavily zoomed in image with 1/4 of the original picture missing. Basically everyone, please email dutyoffice@itv.com about this. I doubt many of you have, but 4 or 5 emails will not do anything, buy if the at least get 2 or 3 hundred comaplints, there might be a chance something will be done.
I doubt many of you have, but 4 or 5 emails will not do anything, buy if the at least get 2 or 3 hundred comaplints, there might be a chance something will be done.
If only 4 or 5 people e-mail, it shows just how few are bothered about it.
It's certinally a case of how many people are bothered to write or phone. I certinally know a few of people who are bothered about this subject (and many others), it's just they can't be bothered to put pen to paper. For every ten-thousand people that are bothered about something, you probabally only get 1 or 2 who actually say anything. Someone told me that when someone like the BBC or ITV recieves a compalint, they have to take it as the views of around 1000 other people who haven't complined, which is who maybe another 20 or 30 emails could make a load of difference.
I also emailed ITV about this and got the same response as James, though no matter what I say, it probabaly won't make a huge difference I still feel happy I've made my thoughts known. Though maybe only a few more people amkign views known could make a world of difference. As James said, you can't just sit there twiddling your thumbs and expect something to be done. If you don't like it, you should at least make your views known. Even if it won't make much difference, it's better than nothing. If only a few more people did this rather than twiddled their thumbs, maybe more things would get done, that's the beauty of free speech. Don't sit there and think "I don't like this cropping, but nothing I say will change it", just send a short email. It could make more difference than you think.
Well that happened for a short period in ITV2's early days and it was a good idea as it was usually on at weekends from about 12.20pm until 2.45pm which was good, they even had (Recorded) IVC at the start and end of the zone, considering that no-one was watching ITV2 in 1998, they did expand it on Saturdays in 1999, showing tots programmes from 9.25am until about 3pm, which was good, though it was all pulled not too long after and ITV haven't even thought of it since, which might have put ITV off the idea for life. Though it should come back, considering that loads more people can now access ITV2, they should try a zone from 5.00pm weekdays and see if it works, if it does expand it (alá CBBC on BBC Two) if not pull it all together. (Again)
I have been reading this thread with interest and have decided to add my 2P worth. It's a shame to see so few people care about this subject, as someone who has worked in the industry it's something I think we should all care about. All directors & producers I've talked to value their work highly, and that does include little bits of picture and none of them are happy about cropping, even to 14:9. To illustrate how much picture is actually loss, I include a picture of TCF with 4:3, 14:9 and 16:9 cut-off points, set higher to indicate typical overscan.
http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/tcfcrop.jpg
A lot more pciture is lost than you might think, and many people I know are up in arms, especially with the fact most people are wathcing digital 4:3- uncecerially cutting picture off all 4 sides. Sadly though there's not much we can do about it. I have, however comaplined to CITV and like those above me, urge as many as possible to email them with protest too.
I think the current state of CITV all seems pretty temporary, so they must be gearing up for big changes.
I'm still baffled as to why they've got programmes with ECP-friendly credits, yet they still squash them up to show a trailer!
That baffles me. Though I couldnt see a CiTV ECP, it wouldnt look right, but they could move them right, so that the text isn't squashed, or set up their own credit rules where titles are right/left alligned.
Why do you think that everything seems temporary? I could understnad previous looks like when they introduced the bouncing letters. But this time around they have changed everything, logo (slightly), jingle, graphics, set, and programmes. It doesnt seem to be a look that could last a long time, but it is very versitile, and could be used well!
i agree with it looking a little tempory, the studio seems plain and only has some screens, and with new shows starting all the time, it will be hard to keep updating the start idents all the time.
i still like the new look though, and im really looking forward to the new series of My Parents Are Aliens, next wednesday!
I can put up with credits squashed up but CiTV really really squashes them up. If they want to show a trailer when the credits are rolling the why can't they do it like they done it ages ago. They used to have the credits in a square on the bottom right of the screen and a trailer/presenter in the top left where as either side have the CiTV website,address etc.
That was when they had the 'metal' titles. Does anyone remember the 'metal' titles. The Letters used to drop dowm onto the orageie dome thing. It used to be good. I don't know a single website that has a video of that one because it lasted only a short time. If anyone has a video then PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post it here.
Thank you! LoveTV!!!
