:-(
A former member
its does have a purpose.
It where ch4 can dump a tone of programmes it can;t place anywhere else
It where ch4 can dump a tone of programmes it can;t place anywhere else
NW
The last time they had Channel 4 News on during the Breakfast slot was when the Iraq war started in 2003, ISTR it had very very low ratings, possibly lower than RI:SE (which was getting less than 100,000 at that point), hence why it was dropped pretty damn quickly.
Don't forget for us Forumers who are old enough to remember there used to be The Channel Four Daily , which originally was like a TV newspaper, although by the time it had finished it was more of a News service. It ran for 3 years, Channel 4 promoted it and backed it, but it bombed, even in the days of 4 Channel TV, hence why it was cancelled.
Face the facts Channel 4 are better just sticking at what they're doing now, it's getting average ratings and doesn't cost much. There's plenty of fluff on BBC1 and ITV, News on the Sky channels, heavy stuff on The Today Programme on Radio 4, I think we're catered for...
Don't forget for us Forumers who are old enough to remember there used to be The Channel Four Daily , which originally was like a TV newspaper, although by the time it had finished it was more of a News service. It ran for 3 years, Channel 4 promoted it and backed it, but it bombed, even in the days of 4 Channel TV, hence why it was cancelled.
Face the facts Channel 4 are better just sticking at what they're doing now, it's getting average ratings and doesn't cost much. There's plenty of fluff on BBC1 and ITV, News on the Sky channels, heavy stuff on The Today Programme on Radio 4, I think we're catered for...
HC
I was thinking about this the other morning, when I was flicking around the channels at 7.20am. A breakfast show on Channel 4 'could' still work, if a different approach is taken.
First a news based show can't run during the entire slot. A 30 mins top to half hour block of news/current affairs based programming would be one way to go. The backhalf would be filled with the usual schedule fillers. Three blocks of news 6 - 6.30, 7 - 7.30, 8 - 8.30. Of course, the advantage is during heavy news/breaking news mornings, just drop the half-hour non-news show and keep the live show on the air.
Second, don't set it in a studio. Maybe base it on location in a empty and sparce decorated from a high floor in a city of London office block looking out across the captial back towards the HOP and London Eye (i.e the opposite direction the Andy Marr backdrop - and it would be live and different every morning)
Third, Give the presenter carte blance to stamp his/her personallity on the style of news presentation. At that time an almost chatty, maybe cynical, comment based presentation would work - plenty of humour and cross questioning to the sport/business presenters.
I'm thinking in style of the British version of Keith Oblermann of off MSNBC's Countdown
Only name for the show I can think is 'The 6/7/8 Half Hour News Hour'
First a news based show can't run during the entire slot. A 30 mins top to half hour block of news/current affairs based programming would be one way to go. The backhalf would be filled with the usual schedule fillers. Three blocks of news 6 - 6.30, 7 - 7.30, 8 - 8.30. Of course, the advantage is during heavy news/breaking news mornings, just drop the half-hour non-news show and keep the live show on the air.
Second, don't set it in a studio. Maybe base it on location in a empty and sparce decorated from a high floor in a city of London office block looking out across the captial back towards the HOP and London Eye (i.e the opposite direction the Andy Marr backdrop - and it would be live and different every morning)
Third, Give the presenter carte blance to stamp his/her personallity on the style of news presentation. At that time an almost chatty, maybe cynical, comment based presentation would work - plenty of humour and cross questioning to the sport/business presenters.
I'm thinking in style of the British version of Keith Oblermann of off MSNBC's Countdown
Only name for the show I can think is 'The 6/7/8 Half Hour News Hour'
IT
itsrobert
Founding member
I don't think a C4 breakfast news programme is needed. Anyone wanting news can watch BBC Breakfast until 0830 and I think they do a very good job. It's a very watchable programme nowadays. It was still a bit on the stuffy side when it relaunched with Jeremy and Sophie eight years ago but I think Bill and Sian have got the balance just right.
If you want fluff, then GMTV is perfect for you. Short celebrity-centred news bulletins followed by loads of entertainment in between. I really don't think there's room for anything else. Of course, The Big Breakfast was something different again. The BBC and GMTV are still pretty formal in terms of presentation so I guess there's maybe room for something like that again?
Out of interest, what sort of ratings did 5 News Early get when it launched in 1997? That was an ITN-produced programme.
I actually enjoy watching the C4 breakfast sitcoms from time to time. If I'm on a late morning I sometimes watch Frasier with my cuppa.
If you want fluff, then GMTV is perfect for you. Short celebrity-centred news bulletins followed by loads of entertainment in between. I really don't think there's room for anything else. Of course, The Big Breakfast was something different again. The BBC and GMTV are still pretty formal in terms of presentation so I guess there's maybe room for something like that again?
Out of interest, what sort of ratings did 5 News Early get when it launched in 1997? That was an ITN-produced programme.
I actually enjoy watching the C4 breakfast sitcoms from time to time. If I'm on a late morning I sometimes watch Frasier with my cuppa.
NW
I don't think it ever did well, it was originally a 90 minute programme, but by January 1998 it became 60 minutes, then into the ITN News Channel and then into Sky News Sunrise. I remember reading somewhere that NC/Sunrise ever only got about 20-30,000, so I don't think 5 News Early ever got big ratings.
Also forgot to add in my last post, there's Channel M Breakfast , the only other sofa based show there is on breakfast TV, it's quite unique, a good mix of Local news and cultural stories aswell as Sport, but it's all rather low budget.
itsrobert posted:
Out of interest, what sort of ratings did 5 News Early get when it launched in 1997? That was an ITN-produced programme.
I don't think it ever did well, it was originally a 90 minute programme, but by January 1998 it became 60 minutes, then into the ITN News Channel and then into Sky News Sunrise. I remember reading somewhere that NC/Sunrise ever only got about 20-30,000, so I don't think 5 News Early ever got big ratings.
Also forgot to add in my last post, there's Channel M Breakfast , the only other sofa based show there is on breakfast TV, it's quite unique, a good mix of Local news and cultural stories aswell as Sport, but it's all rather low budget.
TO
Channel 4 have sitcoms in the morning for a very good reason- there is nothing for the younger audience to watch who aren't interested in news or kids shows which occupy the rest of the channels. Whats the point in no longer filling a gap in the market to have a stab at something being done to death at the same time across a fair few channels?
LI
I don't think the majority of viewers would be happy until Channel 4 brought back The Big Breakfast.
The sad thing about it, is the reason it was axed in the first place, ended up being false come its end, as the ratings rocketed as soon as they announced the show was coming to an end.
It'll never happen I doubt, but that seems the only safe but appreciated gamble C4 could take now in that specific slot... bring back Lock Keepers Cottage!!!
The sad thing about it, is the reason it was axed in the first place, ended up being false come its end, as the ratings rocketed as soon as they announced the show was coming to an end.
It'll never happen I doubt, but that seems the only safe but appreciated gamble C4 could take now in that specific slot... bring back Lock Keepers Cottage!!!