NWTV2003 - I am agreeing with you with regards to Carlton Cinema. I completely forgot about that distinct GOOD "Carlton" channel!!!!
I would, now, still merge ITV4 and M&M - keep it the schedules between 6pm and 6am (with no infomercials, gaming shows etc,) and with the free transponder ITV should create a new film channel - possibly call it ITV FILM (original isn't it ).
BTW do ITVplc still hold the libraries to the many films shown on Carlton Cinema or were they sold off to Canal+ just like quite a number of other broadcasting materials during the late 1990's?
On the wider issue I think three "general" channels is about the limit that a company can operate successfully. Otherwise content is spread too thinly and the demographics of each channel are too narrow.
I think it's the perceived need to interlink all of the channels together into a 'family' which is what has weakened the ITV extended channel range. I firmly believe that ITV2 was at it's best pre-January 2001, when, aside from a few repeats of *only a few* shows from the ITV network, it operated it's own agenda with programming designed to benefit the channel, not ITV itself. When, from 2001, it lost all of that and became little more than a forum for last night's primetime 'ITV1' and soon after being filled up with 'xtra' programming strands from primetime 'ITV1', the channel went downhill.
The few strengths it did have (such as allowing ITV to run more than one live football match at a time) are now being shared out over the new ITV channels (why does football need to be moved to ITV4 when it did well enough on ITV2, except to try and create a need for another channel?)
ITV3, if it did emerge as a replacement Granada Plus (which it only has in a very limited form) could have done well enough, but again it has just ended up nabbing programming from ITV2 and supporting programming from 'ITV1' with no real reason.
The bad old days of 1998-2000 ITV2 where it existed as a second channel looking out for itself with limited support for the ITV Network were IMO a much better time for an extended ITV channel range than building a schedule with 'ITV1', and then having ITV2/3/4 support it, with additional programming trowelled in to create a perceived justification for having each additional channel which doesn't really exist.
The scary thing about their present policy is that lack of need for another channel (neither ITV3 nor ITV4 have any reason to exist - all programming on them could fit onto 'ITV1' and ITV2) seemingly no longer prevents another channel from appearing. ITV plc (whatever they may say) have only gone up to ITV4 because the BBC has got to BBC4. Will they now try and diversify again and launch ITV5 to give them the edge over the BBC? Will the beeb then argue that they need a fifth channel to give licence fee payers value for money and have the launch of BBC5 approved? When will it end?
Quote:
Sorry to slightly spoil your party but Men and Motors, formerly called GRANADA Men and Motors has always been operated by ITV. At first it was Granada in partnership with SkyTV, under GSKYB banner. Then when ITV wanted ITV3 to come to satellite they bought out Sky and thus GRANADA Plus disappeared and reamerged as ITV3.
Who are 'GRANADA' and who are 'SkyTV'. And since when is GSkyB a 'banner', I always thought it was a company. Also, what does 'reamerged' mean?
In any case, Men&Motors has not always been operated 'by ITV'. It was previously operated by a company owned jointly by BSkyB and Granada. It only fell into the ownership of ITV plc (which is not the same as ITV) in late 2004.
It seems to be the multi-channel policy for all broadcasters. Spreading the material thinly across ever increasing number of channels. For example there's no need for BBC Three, no need for 2 BBC children's channels, E4 and More 4's schedules are padded out with fillers, definally no need for Five.2 that is allegedly supposed to be starting soon and then there's UKTV with about 100 different channels in operation!
I suppose its the way people watch TV thesedays, constantly going through the Sky EPG until something catches their eye is on right now. It seems its one of those things that Digital TV has brought along which we will have to live with.
Going slightly off topic, but Sky Three is beginning to be what it should be now
Not sure I agree with that. Every time I tune in they're either trying to sell me a holiday, simulcasting Sky news (again), or showing a cookery programme that was on the night before anyway.
Who are 'GRANADA' and who are 'SkyTV'. And since when is GSkyB a 'banner', I always thought it was a company. Also, what does 'reamerged' mean?
In any case, Men&Motors has not always been operated 'by ITV'. It was previously operated by a company owned jointly by BSkyB and Granada. It only fell into the ownership of ITV plc (which is not the same as ITV) in late 2004.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Granada TV was (and still is)the regional ITV licence holder for the North West region. GranadaTV was owned by Granada plc before "merging" with Carlton plc. Therefore in today's world Granada TV is owned by ITVplc
Granada plc was a major broadcaster whom, as you correctly state, formed a partnership with BSKYB (to give its proper name) to create a network of channels around the so-called famous Granada brand. This partnership was a company called GSKYB. At the time it was a marriage made in heaven due to the fact they were strong partners for the C5 licence - 21st Century Television. Although Sky, in the end were not allowed to be part of the consortium Granada did continue its strong links with Sky.
I used the word "banner" loosely as although GSKYB was a company many people did and still do refer to the channels as Granada channels. And to be honest Sky only involvement was from advertising revenue and carriage of the channels on its transponders.
ITV plc was formed when Granada plc took control of Carlton plc (although it was only meant to be a friendly merger - yeah right look who is in control now!!!!!!!). As Granada plc was a MAJOR partner in GSKYB (owning more than 50% of the shares in the company), it can be perceived that Granada Plus (latterly just called Plus) is an ITV channel. This was consolidated even further when ITVplc (having already owned more than 50% due to its natural ownership through Granada plc) bought the rest of the shares from Sky when ITVplc wanted to bring ITV3 to Sky and the only way was to close down Plus.
But this is all WAY OFF TOPIC. I have said before in other posts what I think of ITV4 and what I, personally, think should happen. Lets just get back on topic and see what other people's thoughts are.
).