Neighbours for ITV?

It could be the beginning of the end for Neighbours if it does move to ITV. If it doesn't rate as well as it does currently on BBC1, which has often happened with shows ITV has poached, I can see ITV axing it or moving it to a graveyard slot before long...which would surely mean the end of the show in Australia. It's often said how the soap's popularity in the UK is what keeps it going in Aus. Would be a shame...

On the other hand perhaps with Michael Grade at the helm, ITV will be less hasty with its scheduling decisions... One can hope.

wonder if the beeb will invoke a similar clause to that which ITV used to prevent five from showing Home and Away for about a year after acquiring the rights

Oh dear God, no. My lunchtimes will never be the same.

Your TV not able to pick up ITV1 then?

I doubt The Royal Today will last long anyway.

Ive posted my comments in the Neighbours thread.

Well let's hope Fremantle make the right decision for Neighbours and not just for their bank balance! I take the line that if it's worked so well for the last 20 years where it is why change it?

This could Be a good thing for BBC, there could over haul the line up adn proivde us with a better line of programming

You mean more home improvement / antiques shows? Woo

I mean Actully good programming,

If it did go I think they'd move the BBC2 programming to BBC1 and have The Weakest Link at 5.15pm, then move CBBC to BBC2 - and take the opportunity to cut it down in the process I'm sure.

Yes, removing the need to have Neighbours on at 5:35 would mean that the beeb could rethink the whole afternoon schedule - childrens could finish at whatever time they want e.g. 5:30 or 6pm. CBBC will move over to BBC2 at some point which would free up things even more.

It's enevitable that Neighbours will go to another broadcaster, it's a lose-lose situation for the BBC - they'll get criticised if they lose it but then if they continue showing it they'll be criticised for spending too much money

Hmm this is getting like de ja vu to last week's news.

Neighbours should never have ad-breaks in the UK and with it being on ITV1, it'll become something like the dreaded Shortland Street.

With respect to Mr Grade, I'm sure he's got a lot in mind to sort out ITV but poaching Neighbours from the BBC after 21 years is not the best move.