ITV

In contrast to the ITV hatred thread I thought I would create a thread allowing people to post their positive views on ITV.

I actually like and approve of the Theatre of News.
I relate to a higher percentage of ITV News presenters than any other news organisation's.
99% of the time ITV News now starts exactly at 12:30, 18:00 and 22:30.
ITV produce some great dramas.
I enjoy watching Emmerdale and Coronation Street.
The overnight schedule is acceptable for the timeslot.

* ITV is free

* The drama productions on the channel are more watched and far superior to any other UK television channel by a long shot. It's one-off dramas are superb. Example: Ahead of the Class with Julie Walters.

* Brings good sporting events to our screens including Champions League football, The Boat Race, Formula One, and WRC.

* Its peak-time schedule is the most watchable on any day of the week.

* Its news isnt patronising, I don't know everything - therefore it's simply nice to be able to told what's happening in the world in a way I understand and using the best methods possible.

* The regional news (in my region at least) is far superior to its BBC equivalent. I managed to watch on ten minute bulletin of Meridian news and be told about two murders, a fire, a serious road accident, MRSA scandal, health rish, and then a light story to end. The BBC led with a lady whos flower stall had been trashed and all they got away with was 30 quids worth of stock.

* It's sister channel ITV2 is doing extremely well, even given the fact that it shows re-runs and extras. Hopefully the increased budget for the channel will see its content improve. I have enjoyed watching some good movies, live football, extra segments, and "new" comedy shows such as Third Rock on the channel.

* ITV3 is again a different mix. It doesn't take much effort to screen these old shows, but it brings a great variety to the multichannel package - especially for Freeview, which lacked this kind of channel.

* ITV News is the most improved news channel in the last year. Still plenty more to do, but I enjoy watching it, and have since been torn between the tabloid Sky News and the boring BBC News.

I must admit that ITV has and is still very good at Drama. And I will also congratulate them on ITV3. For once they are listening to people and we are seeing more old comedy and less US fillers.

When ITV do pull their finger out and make some decent programming, they usually deliver high quality stuff. A lot of their one off dramas and mini-series have been really good. Distant Shores with Peter Davison for example had me hooked.

And soon they are releasing a sci-fi drama starring Patrick Stewart! I wonder why they've decided to do that all of a sudden.....

I must agree with the point about ITV Regional News being better.

Here in the Central region, I much prefer Central News over Midlands Today. Midlands Today feels like a magazine/digest of what's been happening in general... whereas Central News At Six feels like a proper up-to-date News bulletin for the area.

However, that said, the short bulletins in Breakfast/Lunch/Late are on a par with each other.

Good example, but still a personal opinion - the Rover situation. Midlands Today give a round-up of what's been happening. Central News give details of what is happening. Strangely enough though, I feel that BBC Radio's regional news (BBC WM) is of a much higher standard than its commercial equivalent...

Oh yeah, Central News don't tend to feature "Dr." Carl Chinn as much as the BBC (he's also an occasional BBC presenter)... which is a good thing.

Only in as much as you don't pay a direct charge for it - remember the next time you go shopping how much, for example, you washing powder maker spends on advertising and how much cheaper it didn't spend so much on ITV slots.

interesting you cite the rover situation - i challenge you to watch the midlands today and central news bulletins on the day the administrators were called in and tell me central offered superior coverage. central were very slow off the mark. in the late bulletin all they could muster was a mobile phone call with the political reporter, whilst midlands today devoted nearly the entire bulletin to the latest developments with nick joined by peter plisner, the reporter following the story.

central are better at midlands today at some things ... but rover coverage aint one of them. lets not forget bbc midlands won some international award for coverage of the previous rover crisis.

ITV is the channel I watch the most. I enjoy a lot of the programmes in peaktime, there are some good drama's both one off and series.

ITV Daytime looks better now than it has for a long time, at least ITV are trying new ideas in daytime, I do feel they need to try more ideas in peaktime as well.

There are far too many episodes of the soaps, but overall Corrie has done a brilliant job at carrying 5 episodes a week most of the time.

The regional news in my region (Wales) is second to none, infact the local news on ITV Wales is far better than the national ITV News, as the presenters are (mainly) friendly and well loved by the viewers, but also have some authority when bringing us the more serious storys.

We get our own announcers here on ITV Wales, and more local programmes which are generally of high quality.

Series such as the X Factor are very popular and entertaining for a Saturday night.

Well apart from on Tuesday. And yesterday. And after 10pm. And if the junction involves a menu.

Well apart from situations beyond their control yes. Even the most annoying announcers on ITV Wales were better than some of them national team - come back Dilwyn all is forgiven

And im certain ive seen ITV Wales announcers do menu's, or at least the word Wales is on the ident.

Not necessarily IMO. If there's a drama, then yes, definitely. A lot of the time though I would put ITV behind Channel 4 and BBC One, because of shows like "Hustle" and "Wife Swap".

That being said, ITV have beat Hustle in the ratings over the past two weeks (okay, the footy was on) but i just goes to show that many people only watched Hustle because there was nothing else on.