What went wrong with night time

Its now been 20 years since the it started, in a glory of dalzy and wonder and promising to open up a new age of television for many viewers, including shift workers. of course it was filled up with some bizarre shows but there did make the effort. but lets be honest, its been 10 years since it was any good, and it seems the Glamor has now all but gone.

I dare say its hey days were 1988 - 1994, after that it all started to go down hill, and I dare say it was down on its heel. where did it all go wrong? its now gone back to what it used to be like in 1987 with most programmes finishing around midnight. then it was either air time was sold of to Live Quiz or soon to be tele-shopping.

its like there have given up on anything after midnight.

I know what you mean. I would much rather a closedown on bbc1/2 at 1am or whenever than pointless BBC News taking up unnessiscary air time all through the night.

All of the digital channels either show re-runs of old tv shows that nobody ever watches, or they use the pointless Teleshopping thing that nobody uses either.

So, either way - nobody's watching it.

Dave/ BBC3 and even BBC4 gives up at midnight, there repeat the show broadcast at earlier in the evening from 8pm!

BBC 2 tried to get some night time viewers in with star trek repeats at midnight but have since lost interest.

now there to much pride to broadcast the test card!

Yes... I miss the test card. Sort of a double-symbol for BBC1/2.

I think BBC2 still closes down on friday's and saturdays at about 3am. Check on the tvguide.co.uk website; there's a blank space where BBC2 should be.

At least 60% - 70% of viewers must tune out of TV by 11pm. Which means that less than 30% is still on after 11pm, and falling as the night progresses into the morning. So, this wasted air space transmits BBC News, which is already being broadcast, on another channel (and on BBC2 as well on sunday - friday).

ITV through-the-nights used to be semi-interesting, with things like Payne and music shows and the like, perfect for us late-retirers.

What about TVS "Late-Night-Late"? They used to run a very strange mix of stuff. A personal favourite was the Aussie "Beyond 2000" (sort of their version of Tomorrow's World)

ITV did have one final push at a revamp of Night Time in 1996 when new shows were comissioned like Gods Gift, Bushell on the Box and Carnal Knowledge (which was probably one of the first regular programmes for Graham Norton)

what went wrong with night time?

the sun came up

I'd like to see your research for this - because I reckon it's probably a load of bollocks.

There were some fun shows on ITV Nighttime...'Get Stuffed' for one, ultra-cheapo low budget crazy-youth cookery show with mad camera work and general insanity. Still being repeated a few years ago with everyone in c.1993 hairstyles and clothes. Might even still be repeated actually, dunno.

If it hadn't been on in the dead of night it would have never been allowed on TV, but somehow the timeslot made it acceptable...

I usually go to bed about 4 or 5am these days and there is absolutely nothing on anymore... no Top Gear... Not even the Crystal Maze! Most music channels are teleshopping too .

Research for what? It's common knowledge; BBC News does take up the whole night strand for BBC1 (not sure about 2 - Here's proof - http://www.tvguide.co.uk/?systemid=&thistime=3&thisday=7/19/2009&ProgrammeTypeID=&gridSpan=03:00&catColor=

Most of the ITV Channels have Teleshopping, BBC 1 alternates programs with BBC News & BBC2 Closes down (where there is a blank space) at 03:59am. The other channels either close around 4am or show Teleshopping or an equivalent (Home Shopping on Living and Bravo) or shows repeats of earlier broadcasts.