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ITV 'considered approach to acquire Channel 5'

Northern and Shell understood to have made contact (April 2013)

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IS
Inspector Sands
p_c_u_k posted:
They've actually got quite a lot of great programming on there - mainly imported US stuff, admittedly

The US stuff is essentially the same programme - Law & NCIS-CSI Order

Quote:
Despite it being a digital age people still have a huge bias towards the old heritage stations.

Heritage station is a good way to refer to the old analogues (it's a phrase used for the old ILR stations) but I'm not sure that Channel 5 can really be classed as one. It never really had a chance to establish itself before the digital came along, when it became just one of many, it rivals with fewer commitments and restrictions
WH
Whataday Founding member
Inspector Sands posted:
p_c_u_k posted:
They've actually got quite a lot of great programming on there - mainly imported US stuff, admittedly

The US stuff is essentially the same programme - Law & NCIS-CSI Order

Quote:
Despite it being a digital age people still have a huge bias towards the old heritage stations.

Heritage station is a good way to refer to the old analogues (it's a phrase used for the old ILR stations) but I'm not sure that Channel 5 can really be classed as one. It never really had a chance to establish itself before the digital came along, when it became just one of many, it rivals with fewer commitments and restrictions


I think Channel 5 could be classed as a heritage station. It did make a mark in its own little way, particularly where news presentation is concerned. And of course, talk of Channel 5 goes back to the 80s so in a way it's been around a lot longer than what launched in 97.
FA
fanoftv
p_c_u_k posted:
They've actually got quite a lot of great programming on there - mainly imported US stuff, admittedly - splashed the cash to steal the Australian soaps off BBC and ITV, had a go with live sport and movies and do the most children's programming by far of any mainstream channel, and for relatively low figures.

Despite it being a digital age people still have a huge bias towards the old heritage stations. Mind you, Channel 5 didn't help itself in the early days with its "football, films and f***ing" mindset. Yes, that is what most people are interested in but you need to be a bit more clever about it and make people think they're watching something with more worth


Was it the three f's approach that ruined the station, or was it the change to 'five', and more arts & documentaries which despite being well made, and repositioning the channel as more sophisticated, I don't think that they ever shook off the initial image, and it aimed at too much of a niche market.
Maybe they would have been better to stick with their original approach, aim at a younger audience, with films, football, comedy & game shows, much like ITV2 & E4 have become popular through in recent years, but with added PSB commitments.

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