Date : Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:17:52 +0100
From : rs423@... (Mick Champion)
Subject: Fw: Fwd: ITV Teletext to shut down in January
Philip Pemberton wrote:
> There pretty much isn't any "regional franchising" left /now/. Turn
> on, tune in, see ITV logo, turn off.
I think you are right about there not being much regional programming
any more aside from a snippet of local news. Does Bunny Guinness even
have her gardening program in the Central area anymore? When I said
regional franchising, I meant there used to be 15 companies fighting off
bitter rivals for their right to transmit in their region every 10 years
or so. 17 franchises If you include the Oracle and TV-AM franchises.
Now we are down to 5 companies if GMTV isn't owned by someone else
(thanks for that info Brian) . I wonder if the 5 companies will still
have to tender for the old 15 regions the end of the term assuming there
are any bidders or terms anymore. I can't find any info on this. I guess
I'll have to write to OfCon.
> ... It's especially bad with dark (visually speaking) films like Van
> Helsing and just about anything in black and white. Green splat in the
> corner, thanks ITV.
What green splat? Thankfully, never seen it.
> As long as the BBC keep funding BBC HD and the Natural History Unit,
> I'll retain my status as a (relatively) happy bunny. A few of their
> "experimental" short series have been pretty good as well, e.g. Being
> Human.
I do like the BBC. The fee is a expensive, but if I'm honest *I* do
get value for money from the Beeb. Not forgetting Ceefax is to remain
here in London until 2012.
> ITV Yorkshire has been pants since they (as in ITV Plc.) forced them
> to get rid of the chevron logo. P45-ing most of the staff at Kirkstall
> Road was a great move as well -- that pretty much counts as killing
> the goose that laid the golden eggs...
I liked the regional identities and I think it made ITV a bit more
personal. Having 15 companies fighting to sell programs to gain national
airspace was good for competition too.
Rick Murray wrote:
> Yes, isn't it sickening how this squashed green-blob-on-white
> half-screen credits nonsense (to give ITV a unified branding? what's the
> excuse?) is being retrofitted to older programming? I was watching
> something the other day (I forget what) and instead of the still-photos
> credits and Thames logo, it switched to the crappy generic "ITV credits".
What green blob? Or is it a splat??
> That's the reasoning behind a DOG these days? People who are so inclined
> can download MPEG4 movies in an acceptable quality, so I don't think
> plastering a branding on stuff is going to help much.
Is this blob only switched on during films? Perhaps it's only
transmitted on Freesat? I too dislike the way the ITV credits roll these
days too. Is it all about speeding it all up, just to cram in an extra
advert in the absence of a sponsor? When I want to check up who played
what in a programme, I can no longer read it on my 17" screen! On the
subject of advertising, I just happen to have a copy of the IBA guide
to independent television 1973. It states the authority allowed a
maximum of 6 minutes per hour averaged over the days programmes (max 7
minutes during the peak), and no more than 3 spots per hour. It goes on
to say "that the amount of time given to advertising in the programmes
shall not be so great as to detract from the programmes as a medium of
information, education and entertainment". I suppose it could be argued
that there is very little contact to be detracted from on ITV these days
:-( However, 26 years later, surprisingly this figure has only risen by
1 minute to 7 per hour average. The maximum is up to 12 minutes per hour
from 7 though. ITV want to up this to a 9 minute average in line with
non public service broadcasters which I think is self defeating. If you
only have 2-3-4 minutes, you might just sit in front of the telly rather
than go walk the dog. On those companies not bound by OfCon rules such
as Virgin1, the adverts seem to go on forever. As a result, I absolutely
NEVER watch anything live from them, relying on the PVR to skip 3
minutes when the ads come on.
Rick Murray also wrote way back on 18/07/2009:
> Hey Mick! I'm sitting in the garden with the eeeeee as the sun is
> setting. Wish you were here? :-)
If I was there, the farmer in the next field would probably start to
spray toxic chemicals! Good point about the multilingual subtitles and
dubbing. NICAM and teletext could cope with this very well. I've never
seen NICAM Language A or B displayed though, or even an alternative
subtitles page. Was it used regularly in Welsh Wales then? It wouldn't
really be cost effective to have to transmit the program on two separate
channels to get round this. Is there definitely nothing built into DVB-T
to handle this scenario? Perhaps something like a BBC interactive feed
could hash it somehow?
> Cancel dramas that cost too much to make. Cancel programming that is
> popular in order to "reinvigorate" the channel. Skip random episode of a
> series because, well, it'll cost less...
You wouldn't be thinking of the time ITV skipped an episode of Pushing
Daisies by any chance ;-)
On the subject of ITV cuts, did anyone see "The Bill" Thursday or
Friday. Arrrrgh! It's ruined!!! Hideous incidental music throughout,
lots of padding including close ups of the actors trying to look
emotional but not used to doing so and looking most uncomfortable, slow
plot, and a totally unmemorable new theme tune too. In its favour,
there was no sign of a green blob or splat. Perhaps my monitor needs
adjusting on that note :-)
All the best,
Mick.