For once some agreement on here - Charles Allan is talking out of his a***.
For someone outgoing from ITV to complain about lack of public service broadcasting is really pot and kettle. Thing is, he could easily argue that this is no longer ITV's job, but even judging it as a busienss it has been badly run.
Channel 4 is deservedly channel of the year because, as pointed out, it has more serious prime-time shows in its schedule than any other channel (including the BBC), yet it also knows how to produce commercially viable programming. Public service programming and commercially successful. In other words, it's everything that ITV used to be about.
All agreed then - sour grapes from Charles Allen . The main difference between C4 and ITV it seems to me is that C4 have always had inspired TV people at its helm not accountants .
You can't help wondering how things might have turned out if Carlton had won the battle to buy up ITV. Probably worse actually....
I think ITV's best hope is Greg Dyke.
Then maybe some of the former management and talent that has either been fired, made redundant or jumped ship since 2002 could be persuaded back to sort it.
but then pigs will fly.....
anyway
I digress
Well done to C4 - a worthy Channel of the Year.
The full text of what he actually did say, rather than the tabloid headlines is here
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/comment/0,,1858632,00.html He didn't actually just get up, rant about Channel 4, and then sit down, he actually discussed a lot of other stuff
It brings back the old question "What is public service TV?" - well, it's not doing the public much service if people aren't watching it!
C4 have a far greater range of programming than other broadcasters - and push the boundaries alot more!
Charles Allen may see Deal or No Deal as just a game show, but infact you could argue it's a daily afternoon lecture on game theory!
And C4 don't make kids programmes because that is what ITV are supposed to do! Though he's outgoing, is this a hint that ITV want the responsibility shifted to C4 as it's a "public service" broadcaster!
According to Ofcom (!), public service broadcasting is meant to "reflect and support cultural activity in the UK". That's the definition from an Ofcom booklet on PSB. Not from David Cameron/ Rob Del Monte
For example where are the minority sports ? Channel 4 used to show Football Italia, Tour De France, Sumo, Aussie Rules Football, Basketball, American Football, Cricket all we seem to have now is horse racing. Remember Kabadi anyone ?
Where are the arts programmes ? There used to be a time when Channel 4 would show opera and ballet in full.
Once we had Fifteen-to-One (short of Mastermind probably the most intellectual quiz on the box) now read Deal or No Deal, a gameshow with people opening boxes.
The first is true - but C4 probably did more for cricket than any other terrestrial broadcaster has done for any sport in the last few years, while C4 has had to do a bit to keep the racing (well, get the bookies to pay for it!) when it would have been easier to drop it - as the BBC have largely done! They do need more sport though - but not the foreign stuff!
Arts programmes - they still do occassionally, but not as often as in the past - but then again, neither do BBC2!
As for Deal or No Deal - it's format is as intelligent as Fifteen to One, but it's alot more accessible and alot more entertaining!
Square Eyes posted:
Where’s the comedians ? Channel 4 used to be the home of stand up. There aren’t many sitcoms to speak of, it’s US import or comedy panel show usually with Jimmy Carr. What about the likes of Who’s Line is it Anyway, Friday Night Live, Drop the Dead Donkey, Clive Anderson, Graham Norton. Now we’re getting the comedy legend that is Charlotte Church.
Channel 4 used to show Party Political Broadcasts in full, political programming and discussion has been scaled back, Right to Reply has gone. Schools programming has been sidelined.
Where is the Breakfast service ? Channel 4 Daily / The Big Breakfast ? They just serve up Friends / Will & Grace repeats or Big Brother repeats.
Then of course Channel 4 devotes more hours of it’s schedule to the reality TV genre than any other broadcaster.
Comedians - it's the general state of TV, but C4 is still the breeding ground more so than any other channel, and this autumn their post 9pm line up will be completly British!
Right to Reply - much missed, while what they get away with as Schools programmes is questionable, but nowadays I doubt schools programmes are used as they were when I was a kid!
Breakfast - it's still an alternative line up, but it's a shame they haven't got a daily live entertainment show - though they are still on the look out for something, but don't seem willing to commission it for the sake of it!
And your last point is nearly as stupid as Charles Allen! Outside of Big Brother C4 screen very little reality programming, and alot of it would previously have been classed as documentary or factual entertainment.
Big Brother is also the only C4 show which relies on public voting - unlike ITV and even the BBC, who virtually incorporate the public vote into any "reality" show they air!
C4 do have some problems - but they are far fewer than the other stations. I'd say breakfast and sport are the only areas they should be concerned about really!
In actual fact this year there was less Big Brother on C4 at night time at least, last year the Live feed would take up all of Channel 4's after midnight schedule, this year it ended at 1:30am/2am
Channel 4 is still rather good, it's only other reality programme is The Games which doesn't really depend that much on phone ins & is a different reality show in a good way, anything to encourage the youngsters to do some sport
It brings back the old question "What is public service TV?" - well, it's not doing the public much service if people aen't watching it!
C4 have a far greater range of programming than other broadcasters - and push the boundaries alot more!
Charles Allen may see Deal or No Deal as just a game show, but infact you could argue it's a daily afternoon lecture on game theory!
And C4 dn't make kids programmes because that is what ITV are supposed to do! Though he's outgoing, is this a hint that ITV want the responsibility shifted to C4 as it's a "public service" broadcaster!
According to Ofcom (!), public service broadcasting is meant to "reflect and support cultural activity in the UK". That's the definition from an Ofcom booklet on PSB. Not from David Cameron/ Rob Del Monte
What I am not a Conservative, and why am I supposed to be linked to David Cameron
they're on to me—argh! They know who I really am !
!