:-(
A former member
What a lot of silly Billys. ... one thing to say representing border.
PC
I can only guess at what you mean by this, but ... if you're suggesting Representing Border shows that ITV will do more than it has to then you're wrong. Ofcom intervened due to the disparity of programming being offered by STV and ITV Border and came up with options on how to fix this. The current set-up is there simply to fulfil this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-21532460
If ITV took over STV I wouldn't be surprised to see an equivalent of Representing Border introduced - a once a week politics show to tick the boxes. It's hard to imagine them scrapping Scotland Tonight and not replacing it at all due to the political flack. But that'll be it. And as soon as they can get rid of it, they will.
What a lot of silly Billys. ... one thing to say representing border.
I can only guess at what you mean by this, but ... if you're suggesting Representing Border shows that ITV will do more than it has to then you're wrong. Ofcom intervened due to the disparity of programming being offered by STV and ITV Border and came up with options on how to fix this. The current set-up is there simply to fulfil this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-21532460
If ITV took over STV I wouldn't be surprised to see an equivalent of Representing Border introduced - a once a week politics show to tick the boxes. It's hard to imagine them scrapping Scotland Tonight and not replacing it at all due to the political flack. But that'll be it. And as soon as they can get rid of it, they will.
PC
I imagine they'd standardise it with the rest of the ITV stations.
I wonder if ITV do take over if they will get UTV+1 (ITV+1) finally available on satellite.
I imagine they'd standardise it with the rest of the ITV stations.
TJ
The UTV case is more interesting commercially, but the STV case is more interesting politically.
I've often wondered whether a regulatory principle could be applied to both television and radio.
That is that any broadcaster who chooses to segment a broadcast into areas for the purpose of advertising, must also supply some (proportionate) content. This might just be the local news and weather for STV's sub-regions, or in C4's case it might politics, or sport's news on C5. ITV largely has this match already, but some txs like Sudbury and Heathfield lose out. Heart and a few other Global stations would have to up their game as well.
I've often wondered whether a regulatory principle could be applied to both television and radio.
That is that any broadcaster who chooses to segment a broadcast into areas for the purpose of advertising, must also supply some (proportionate) content. This might just be the local news and weather for STV's sub-regions, or in C4's case it might politics, or sport's news on C5. ITV largely has this match already, but some txs like Sudbury and Heathfield lose out. Heart and a few other Global stations would have to up their game as well.
RD
rdd
Founding member
UTV appear to have answered the question as to whether or not UTV Ireland would be included in any sale:
http://www.u.tv/News/2015/08/24/UTV-Media-in-talks-to-sell-TV-channels-43580
http://www.u.tv/News/2015/08/24/UTV-Media-in-talks-to-sell-TV-channels-43580
SC
scottishtv
Founding member
I'm ready to be proved wrong but I can't see the same situation coming up at STV any time soon. That said, shareholders and pound-signs are involved so anything can happen, but it would be a fairly major change of strategy for STV Group.
A sale would've been more likely when SMG became too big and was on the wane. STV in the last days of being at Cowcaddens was pretty dire - minimum effort on everything (a bit like how UTV sounds, according to some on here). Not just presentation-wise, but the news shows were basic, local programmes were fairly non-existent and everything just seemed worn out.
However, since the sale of the Herald newspapers, getting out of radio (unlike UTV) and selling off the S1 homes and jobs websites, STV had a change at the top and are now much more focused on just doing telly.
Whilst the main STV channel is mostly ITV, there are some okay local programmes, they have properly invested in news and current affairs programming - they don't need to do two separate news programmes for east and west central Scotland, but introduced this off their own backs. Likewise with their nightly political programme. I don't like it, but plenty watch it.
The focus on local TV channels, with accompanying good local news websites, social media and decent local programming is in stark contrast with anything ITV is doing. They are also expanding in this area from just STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh, to Aberdeen, Dundee and Ayr. Oh, and STV is making money out of doing this commercially.
They also have a productions company that makes shows, including Antiques Road Trip for the BBC.
I don't often praise STV, but they aren't doing much wrong these days. Okay, I don't like the WinCashLive tie-up and that Nightshift show they had for years, but STV - with their complementary local channels - seems to be actively "doing telly", so it would take a fairly significant change in strategy (or sum of money) to change this.
A sale would've been more likely when SMG became too big and was on the wane. STV in the last days of being at Cowcaddens was pretty dire - minimum effort on everything (a bit like how UTV sounds, according to some on here). Not just presentation-wise, but the news shows were basic, local programmes were fairly non-existent and everything just seemed worn out.
However, since the sale of the Herald newspapers, getting out of radio (unlike UTV) and selling off the S1 homes and jobs websites, STV had a change at the top and are now much more focused on just doing telly.
Whilst the main STV channel is mostly ITV, there are some okay local programmes, they have properly invested in news and current affairs programming - they don't need to do two separate news programmes for east and west central Scotland, but introduced this off their own backs. Likewise with their nightly political programme. I don't like it, but plenty watch it.
The focus on local TV channels, with accompanying good local news websites, social media and decent local programming is in stark contrast with anything ITV is doing. They are also expanding in this area from just STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh, to Aberdeen, Dundee and Ayr. Oh, and STV is making money out of doing this commercially.
They also have a productions company that makes shows, including Antiques Road Trip for the BBC.
I don't often praise STV, but they aren't doing much wrong these days. Okay, I don't like the WinCashLive tie-up and that Nightshift show they had for years, but STV - with their complementary local channels - seems to be actively "doing telly", so it would take a fairly significant change in strategy (or sum of money) to change this.
:-(
A former member
Good to see your on the ball here, alot of people forget its making money on the local channels, and providing enhance news services.
Alas p_c_u_k your were not on the ball with my comments. My point was Representing Border shows that ITV was forced by Ofcom to provide a better level of service. Representing Border is on three times aweek, Border Scotland also has to show 90mins of local peak time programmes, which is just short of 2 hours STV has to have deal with.
Then other people keep on saying ohh, There have a single news programme for Scotland, Let not fogot here people that still three separate legal requirements in three sperate franchises , so ITV would have to ask Ofcom were want to reduce the news service, I doubt Ofcom or Holyrood would be happy.
Back with UTV, It will be very interesting what will happen with UTV Ireland. I can see it becoming ITV, and all new programming would be cover Ireland aswell.
Alas p_c_u_k your were not on the ball with my comments. My point was Representing Border shows that ITV was forced by Ofcom to provide a better level of service. Representing Border is on three times aweek, Border Scotland also has to show 90mins of local peak time programmes, which is just short of 2 hours STV has to have deal with.
Then other people keep on saying ohh, There have a single news programme for Scotland, Let not fogot here people that still three separate legal requirements in three sperate franchises , so ITV would have to ask Ofcom were want to reduce the news service, I doubt Ofcom or Holyrood would be happy.
Back with UTV, It will be very interesting what will happen with UTV Ireland. I can see it becoming ITV, and all new programming would be cover Ireland aswell.
Last edited by A former member on 24 August 2015 2:39pm
RS
Rob_Schneider
What I'd love is for ITV Plc to get all the franchises - and then OFCOM to finally have the balls to put the regions out to tender for the first time in a quarter of a century.
That's not a sensible commercial decision. Sentiment and emotion aside, ITV would be better off as a truly national proposition.
:-(
A former member
Ofcom are a regulator. It would be in ITV's interest to remain united - but not necessarily Ofcom's. But they're not going to put them out to tender - their solution is Freeview Channel 8, the new local stations.
Yet the only stations which are making worthwhile programmes and breaking even is STV ones