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The Channel 4 "Thing".....
WhoAteMeDinner
Posts: 4,612 Forum Member
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Not even sure I am literate enough to express my affection and loyalty for Channel 4.
And right now, from last Autumn, the unique icon of publicly-owned, yet advertinsing-funded, UK and Ireland broadcasting is on a serious hot streak.
Babylon, Indian Summers, No Offence (btw: not a comedy, a serious insight into modern British social problems) and currently the ratings smash: Humans give the impression that C4 has something extra in the staff coffee, which other broadcasters(Sky) would pay 5 billion pounds for. And even then, Sky would still make unwatchable dross, that seems to defy their financial might.
By way of balance, as ever with Channel 4, some unspeakable turkeys have been launched our way at the same time: Man Down, a dull shipping documentary and a new comedy starting this Tuesday about someone moving offices that looks awful.
But that is C4 in a nutshell, they will try anything and see what works, the majority of their shows are both successful and of good quality with this creative chaos approach.
Back finally to the unique element, given C4 is about the only bit of UK national infrastructure that has not been sold to China, America or Qatar as yet.
Is there a compelling case to be made for a separate Channel 4 license fee to protect the Channel 4 "DNA" in tough economic times that might leave them open to being privatised ?
And right now, from last Autumn, the unique icon of publicly-owned, yet advertinsing-funded, UK and Ireland broadcasting is on a serious hot streak.
Babylon, Indian Summers, No Offence (btw: not a comedy, a serious insight into modern British social problems) and currently the ratings smash: Humans give the impression that C4 has something extra in the staff coffee, which other broadcasters(Sky) would pay 5 billion pounds for. And even then, Sky would still make unwatchable dross, that seems to defy their financial might.
By way of balance, as ever with Channel 4, some unspeakable turkeys have been launched our way at the same time: Man Down, a dull shipping documentary and a new comedy starting this Tuesday about someone moving offices that looks awful.
But that is C4 in a nutshell, they will try anything and see what works, the majority of their shows are both successful and of good quality with this creative chaos approach.
Back finally to the unique element, given C4 is about the only bit of UK national infrastructure that has not been sold to China, America or Qatar as yet.
Is there a compelling case to be made for a separate Channel 4 license fee to protect the Channel 4 "DNA" in tough economic times that might leave them open to being privatised ?
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Comments
I did not mean it as a parody and I have no connection to C4, but if it makes people laugh, happy to oblige.
Their easy daytime programming is far easier to watch than whatever version of "Tat in the Attic" the BBC are pushing on daytime.
I wish Indian Summers had a different time slot, I don't think it helped in the ratings facing off against Poldark and Vera.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/11703615/Channel-4-faces-shock-move-to-Birmingham.html
So Labour forced the BBC to Manchester and now this!
Tory B******S!>:(
Yes there is, but only if you could do the same for the BBC, then the tv tax could be dished out more equally.
I do wonder if the long term plan by the current government is to merge the BBC and CH4 as one comapny and renaming it.
Some great points made by all, the overriding fear for Channel 4's future must be its constant informed criticism of the governemnt, which drives Tories crazy as they are used to being fawned over on Sky News.
Privatisation in some form must be on the cards.