ITV Discussion Thread

What's wrong with "vultures"?

After all, it's nothing more than ITV deserve -- Carlton, Granada and UNM acted like a bunch of vultures tearing the network apart in the first place, so what better poetic justice than that the shower in charge get swept away following a hostile takeover?

Oh for heavens sake.

Its not a hostile takeover. If BSkyB are instructed to dispose of some of their shares, then they will be available to be purchased by other investors.

Whoever invests will not be a majority shareholder or anywhere close to it. How could it possibly be a "takeover"?

Its simply an opportunity for another company to make some money. That is what ITV is about - that's what it has always been about.

If you stick to the facts and avoid rhetoric like "vultures" and "justice" then you stand a chance of understanding how business works.

I'd love to see what shape ITV would have been in now how they not acted how they did. "Tearing up the network", or making it fit for the increasingly competitive industry? Hyperbole again from someone who obviously knows nothing about business.

Tsk. You see good in everyone, Gav. I bet you'd argue that 'Vlad the Impaler' had a warm caring side and was really out to help people with posture issues

Perhaps in much the same shape UTV are in right now?

One thing is for certain. The chances of ITV surviving as an independent organisation are slim. So much for business savvy.

UNM? They were nothing like the other two. Still had a flourishing production side and regions run with uniquity of programming and support services right up until they sold out of ITV. They just weren't aggressive enough (or didn't want to be) to be on the same playing field as the new boys.

Walking the tightrope of good business and public service used to be a gentlemanly sport - in the days of ownership regulation. After then it simply became a scrum.

I remember Carlton and UNM were going to merge, but it got called off, and within days Granada had bought out UNM's ITV stations. The only difference it would have made if the merger went ahead was that Anglia would have been owned by Carlton. Due to the law at the time one company couldn't have so much of the Network, so when Granada bought UNM they had to sell off HTV, and that went to Carlton, and if Carlton UNM did happen they would have had to sell off Meridian to Granada.

UNM they didn't make too much for ITV, but they held a fair share in Channel 5, so the production bases for Anglia and Meridian got a boost in the late 1990s as they made a few of their programmes, which is hard to believe nowadays. When Granada bought them up they basically severed all ties with Channel 5, any programmes made by UNM were axed. One was The Wright Stuff which originally came from Anglia, but when Granada dropped it, Princcess Productions picked it up, and the rest they say is history.

Even after Digital swicthover apart from what?

Crap Sky three and 12 hours of Virgin 1 BBC and ITV, Ch4 and CH5 will still have most of the control of the free channels?

yet there will be NO regional programmers, its a disgrace

If regional programming was still profitable then companies would carry on. Take ITV for example. There are currently about 15 different regions and with viewing figures across the board on a downwards spiral, a show with 5m viewers has on average 0.3m viewers per region. Now, advertising is done regionally on ITV and with ITV now being one large corporate company, what is the most profitable decision to make? 15 seperate programmes or one national programme? Its because of costs that regions get the airtime that they do on ITV and the costs are reflected in the type of programmes that are broadcast, eg 'Eye in the Sky'. Big programmes just aren't profitable anymore.

I'm not too bothered if regions returned or not (which they won't anyway) because to be frank, I couldn't care less what someone in the Anglia region is watching or what is being broadcast there whilst I'm watching something on Granada. I don't think the average viewer cares either. But having said that, I can see why some people want regions to return, but being in business myself I know that companies have to do what is best for their business, not what [essentially] the minority want. Channels (not just ITV) don't deserve the flack they get over lack of regions IMO.

there could still show something? and not up against eastenders?

STV shows it can be done, there have a Gameshow, fishing show cooking show, Clubcupids, even the 5.30 show. Plenty of scoop for more viewers,
so crap you get crap ratings

STV also serves a whole country and isn't under ITV Plc. Its more profitable for ITV Plc to put out one national programme and get profit from that instead of 15 separate programmes.

just to point out: stv does not cover teh south of scotland and ITv plc controls that area. although For how long? I dare say the SNP will change that!