I have often heard that some people think ITV's programming quality has got worse since the 2003 merger. Someone I know, who is very interested in TV history, has often said that when ITV was 15 companies the programme output and quality was generally much better. I have noticed myself that there aren't as many drama series and definately not many comedy series (I can't remember the last time I heard about a new ITV sitcom).
All ITV series now of course have the same generic closing credits - even Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Although I'm not a regular viewer of either soap, it was still a big surprise (and shock) seeing the blue screen credits in place of the familiar credits.
Carlton played a part but as the merger is 51% in favour of Granada. Would your view change.
Carlton's main crime was the rebranding of Westcountry and Central to their name sake. Granada's on the other hand was to buy the other stations, close down regional centres, reduce regional content. Ultimately remove all region branding by a uniform ITV1. (Does Carlton's rebranding sound so bad now?) and finally strip Granada's programming down as much as possible to it could return a profitable return back to their shareholders.
Still it can't get as bad as Celebrity Wrestling and Love Island.
Well to be fair that's what they are doing - there are new gameshows planned for 2010 such as Push the Button and The Whole 19 Yards, plus they'll have Paul O'Grady in primetime.
What they do, is good for the market that they address, what they have done is reduce the range of programming and as a result alienated key sectors of their potential audience.
Their approach has been to dilute the content of the channel and become a narrowcaster, appealing to limited viewers.
Well to be fair that's what they are doing - there are new gameshows planned for 2010 such as Push the Button and The Whole 19 Yards, plus they'll have Paul O'Grady in primetime.
Are there on the Same Crap level as Cash machine game? The Last good ITV gameshow/quiz was Duel, and itv got rid of it.
has any one actully Confirmed that Paul is getting prime time?
I would argue that ITV programmes are actually better now than they were in 2003, wasn't that the height of the Love Island, Celebrity Wrestling, Millionaire shown umpteen times a week, 10pm flops era?
Carlton's main crime was the rebranding of Westcountry and Central to their name sake. Granada's on the other hand was to buy the other stations, close down regional centres, reduce regional content. Ultimately remove all region branding by a uniform ITV1. (Does Carlton's rebranding sound so bad now?) and finally strip Granada's programming down as much as possible to it could return a profitable return back to their shareholders.
I didn't realise Granada wanted to close down regional centres when they were buying other stations. Considering Granada's strong regional identity in the past, this seems surprising and it seems to me like Granada's view of itself was changing from the north-west ITV region to a national TV company. AT one time, Granada seemed so closely linked with the north-west, especially Manchester.
- cheap and tacky 
