ITV1, the channel that cried wolf

With ITV1's new(ish) drama Steel River Blues starting tonight, my question is: has ITV1 damaged its chances of getting decent ratings for new shows by panicking and rescheduling or pulling so many after a couple of episodes? Does anyone give either Steel River Blues or that new Martin Clunes thing better than a fifty-fifty chance of actually surviving in a prime-time slot more than three weeks, considering that ITV almost certainly have far too high expectations for both of them (just like they have for everything else)? Is ITV1 now a channel that simply can't be trusted to stick with anything?

I think the 'Martin Clunes thing' will be popular, but Steel River Blues will not.

I'm intending to give both of them a try, Jenny, though I agree with Blob that I expect Doc Martin to be better than Sunderland's Burning.

I SHALL, however, be a tad peeved if I get into one of them, as 'er indoors did with the Navy thing, and it then gets pulled.

In short, ITV are getting ONE more chance as far as I'm concerned.

What do ITV1 care about except can they make the most of their advertising revenue between the shows?

Personally, Steel River Blues might inherit the old London's Burning audience so has a good chance of making it through to the end of the series' run, and I think Dr Martin will be successful too.

On another point, if ITV1 ran one of these drama series on a Saturday night, would things be different? Would they give the series more promotion throughout its run? Would they respond to low or high ratings?

Or do ITV1 think that people who for some reason don't go out at weekends won't want to watch a drama series on a Saturday night and bung on entertainment and a film instead?

I'll throw that one open to the floor... what do you all think?

I would love to see more drama on at the weekends. They are rather boring at the moment.

Well Sunday nights are virtually given over to drama. Aren't ITV running this "Trapped" series on Saturday nights ?

Oh, and perhaps somebody could tell itv.com that Doc Martin is TOMORROW night (see home page now). How do they ever hope to get an audience for Sunderlands Burning when they don't even know when it's on themselves ?

I don't know 'Trapped', and haven't noticed anything except 'Midsommer Murders' to interest me on the weekends.

The on-air promos and the billings in TV listings magazines are correct, though, and they are far more important that the ITV website in getting people to the show. If Steel River Blues fails, it won't be down to a mistake on the ITV website.

And there was me planning my evenings viewing via the ITV website, doesn't everyone do that ?

Well, an intersting first episode of Sunderland's Burning.

Slightly more humorous than I was expecting, when compared to the London version; but I should be the LAST person to complain about that.

Think I'll be back at 21:30 next Wednesday for more.

I note that it didn't get a sponsor, yet they're plugging Doc Martin tomorrow as being backed by Linderman's.

Is that how they say "tomorrow" down your way, Nick? I love that old western accent.

Why call it Sunderland's Burning when it's set in Middlesbrough?

From the itv.com website:
Steel River Blues
ITV1 Wednesday 1st September 9.00pm to 10.30pm
Exploring the lives and working challenges of Blue Watch, a team of fire fighters working in the heart of Middlesbrough.

The fire fighters of Blue Watch cope with the demands of the daily dangers their jobs present with humour and grit.