IMO, Channel 4 should now give up on breakfast TV, for at least the forseeable future. Not permanently though.
They should wait at least two years, from the end of this year, before they start to make plans to launch any
brand new, dedicated breakfast television show, whether it's a some kind of reworked "BIG Breakfast" style
show, or something with a totally new and unique format that's never been tried in a pre-9am timeslot.
In the meantime, Channel 4 might as well just replace RI:SE with "T4 Daily", or simulcast one of the many
music video channels from Emap or MTV for two hours a day. Or failing that, bring back "4-Tel On View" !
Apparently that is the idea for the replacement, several programmes, not one big one. A bit like when BBC1 did the same thing with their daytime schedule
I like the sound of a t4 daily as long as it would be like t4. i.e. have links and guests and gossip spots and stuff around the shows rather than just a plain channel 4 announcer into programmes (like the bb - rise slot in april 2002).
And thats what channel 4 get for mucking things around.
They've mucked up RI:SE by changing it from its original formula which was getting better everyday.
They moved brookside so that viewers cant find it (even though it was still doing ok in the slot) and have said due to low ratings it is to be axed, i wonder why they have low ratings.
And a similar thing that they are doing with countdown.
They've mucked up RI:SE by changing it from its original formula which was getting better everyday.
I quite like the current format. If you got rid of Iain and had Kate and Dougie doing it would be better but I think it has been much better of late than the old Durden-Smith format. Of course it is a totally different show than the old one but it still has the name - dare I say it - the Crossroads effect.
Not sure what they could replace it with but the format they had while RI:SE was off air over Christmas was pretty good (Futurama, Chart Show and something else - maybe a news bullitin).
And thats what channel 4 get for mucking things around.
They've mucked up RI:SE by changing it from its original formula which was getting better everyday.
No it wasn't. And to prove it they were losing viewers every day...
Mind you, you think SMTV is currently "better than ever", so it's not surprising you like that too!
But the ratings were higher in the first carnation than in its current state.
Mel & Sue were great on RI:SE I loved to watch them, and thus watched the rest of the show too. Some of the features created when the show ran from 8-9:30 were great and were a good change, yet when it went back to 7 - 9, things began to drag again, including too much big brother.
Ive never really liked any RI:SE even in its later years the big breakfast was a far better show. I seem to be watching more GMTV nowadays, or sleep right through everything!
I dont say that SM:tv is better than ever. Ant & Dec made SM:tv what it was with their quick witted banter mixed with the excellent writing. I dont think that people give SM:tv a chance, true some shows are rubbish, but you get the odd moment that just feels like the good old days.
Seriously though, Channel 4 Daily really was unique. I loved the rather eclectic combination of yuppy-esque journalism and generation-x cartoons such as dennis. Obviously, nowadays its probably considered dated, but if the programmes visual design was updated, and little or no editorial changes implemented, this show could work.
In short, a good formula usually remains good for a long time.
