ITV Whats Gone Worng

I think it's more to do with EastEnders as it's difficult to get the audience back at 8.30pm. The only original programme that pulls decent ratings in that slot is Airline and when that's followed by new episodes of Taggart ITV does quite well on Fridays.

As long as they dont add a 6th episode of Corrie on Friday's to get people back to ITV at 8.30pm

Well we at TVF can moan all we want about how bad ITV is but of course the only people who really matter are the shareholders and, oh no, looks like some of them are calling for ITVplc to be demerged in the face of poor performance! Independant Business
Fidelity shareholders held enough power to oust Micheal Green in 2003 so change may well be on the horizon!

Well, it’s a shame Gordon Brown never did what Gregg Dyke asked and made ITV tax exempt, so they could spend that extra £300million on programmes. Having said that, BBC 1 aired something called “Just For Laughs”, this is utter **** (cheap) TV the sort of thing you’d expect on ITV.

It’s no wonder, UK Gold is one of the highest rating channels on Sky/digital/cable.

Just For Laughs is now in its 4th season.

I actually saw a couple of episodes when I was flying between Cairns and Hong Kong when I was coming home after a month in Oz.

I do agree, it is rubbish - but it is the PERECT replacement for Beadle's About and its home SHOULD really be ITV

One word: Carlton.

Have Carlton, in all their pathetic 13ish years, ever made a decent television programme? Come on, think.

I can think of lots of great programmes in the eighties, for all of Thames, LWT, Central, etc.

Then I think of great programmes in the nineties - Jeeves and Wooster, Poirot, Audience With etc - all Granada (or LWT Granada). With the possible exception of Police Camera Action (hardly great television, but a mildly interesting watch) I can't think of any decent Carlton shows. Surely there must have been lots?

but carlton never sought to be a great producer, they were a publisher from the start. channel 4 proves that you can broadcast great quality programmes without producing any of it in-house.

apart from carlton's over-zealous crusade to dispose of the established central production brand, i don't actually think carlton were that bad. they left central and westcountry pretty much in good shape with fantastic presentation and regional continuity.

granada have been the controlling force within itv for years, given the amount of franchises they held, from which you'd imagine they must have been a guiding force in the direction of the channel and the type of programming commissioned.

The only early Carlton prog I liked was 'A Class Act' with Jo Lumley.

The only other early Carlton progs that spring to mind was 'Brighton Belles' (their version of 'The Golden Girls') & anyone remember their one off 'rip off' of 'This Is Your Life', 'Surprise Party' which was presented by Parky & featured Richard Branson as the subject ISTR.

Didn't they do a 'rip off' of 'Wish You Were Here' as well, or am I wrong?