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Why hate Channel 5?
Glenn A
Posts: 23,877 Forum Member
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I think it is a better channel than ITV1 for a start. At least they don't feel the need to clog the schedules with soaps until 9.00 and their daytime offerings like The Wright Stuff is vastly better than clapped out This Morning. Of the good stuff on Channel 5, I recommend their American imports like NCIS, their cricket highlights show, the classic films they show, the afternoon TV movies, Fifth Gear, Ice Road Truckers and The Gadget Show.
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The Wright Stuff - Rude and egotistical presenter puts callers down and cuts them mid sentence while inflating his own ego.
The Jeremy Kyle Show - Rude and egotistical presenter puts guests down and cuts them mid sentence while inflating his own ego.
Can't see the difference myself apart from the fact Kyle gets more viewers than Wright and the same for the well established TM compared to Gabby Logan.
2) They don't need to be shown "in order", they are procedural dramas and the vast majority of episodes are self-contained. That said, according to DigiGuide they were both shown in order.
3) The decision to take those programmes out of the schedule was in their best interest as they were struggling outside of their usual timeslots. More people will be able to watch them scheduled at more appropriate times after Big Brother has finished.
Whilst Channel 5 are undeniably weak when it comes to UK scripted content, I don't think you can dismiss the whole channel on that basis.
I know Channel 5 is weak in drama and ITV still have some excellent drama hits, but you look at the diversity of the 5 schedule compared with ITV1 between 7 and 9 and there's far more variety.
A fairer comparison would be C4. They spend over twice as much on programmes each year as C5, and yet C5 is closing the gap in the ratings. They do, to their credit, still broadcast a number of UK scripted shows a year. And obviously contribute significantly more than C5 in this area, which hasn't provided anything at all in this genre for a few years.
One of the main reasons why C5 doesn't do more homegrown drama is because it's very expensive and their budget is the smallest out of the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. Plus where they've tried in the past, they've either been dead on arrival, or started high and lost viewers throughout before ending on a low number. (i.e. Minder)
They do still invest heavily in UK produced shows, indeed the percentage of UK produced shows on C5 is higher than you might expect but I don't have the figures to hand right now.
Therefore, the reason I "hate" Channel 5 right now, is because the new owners are not interested in that kind of quality programming.
Don't get me wrong though, things started to go downhill before Desmond bought the station, however, with Live from Studio Five in 2009 which was just as bad as OK TV, the start of the showbiz documentaries (I am aware that is a contradiction in terms), and shows like the Going for Gold revival, Heads or Tails, and bringing in Natasha Kaplinsky to host a newly dumbed down news output.
That's why I'm saddened the new owner of Channel 5 is completely dedicated to continuing that streak of bad quality programming with his own brands. Any bets on when he'll sell it on?
They also have a regular strand of programmes that attract regular audiences outside BB, such as Hotel Inspector, Cowboy Builders, The Wright Stuff, Eddie Stobart Trucks and Trailers, Ice Road Truckers and the US crime imports.
On the other hand, there's still a lot of work to be done. The 11am slot against TM is never going to work, 5 News has been dumbed down more than I thought it ever could and will get worse once it moves back to ITN with the increased cuts of the new contract and OKTV while settling down is missing something. Maybe it's because it's scheduled against the BBC regional news bulletins or Hollyoaks on C4? Even moving it to 7pm would be a disaster as it'd be trounced by The One Show.
The only reason it is doing better is because of BB.
Why do you keep focussing between 7 and 9?
Your entire argument seems to be 'Channel 5 is better than ITV because ITV show a lot of soaps between 7 and 9 and Channel 5 doesn't' :rolleyes:
Channel 5=Crap
I barely watch any programmes on either of them, just rubbish imports on five and poor British shows on ITV. Simply awful.
You make a good point about the 7.30 - 9pm slot as a non soap myself I do watch C5 from time to time but it is nowhere near as strong or as interesting as BBC2 & C5 unlike the other main channels do not have must see programmes in my option.
All I seem to see on Five USA is Law & Order & CSI.
They couldn't have cared less that these shows were knocking on for 20 years old (at the time I think) Good on them too. I have a long memory and will always be grateful that these two soaps from my child hood were re-shown (even if they were on at 4 am)
These are the peak hours. Channel 5 manages to fit in a diverse schedule while ITV1 seems to on Mondays and Fridays fills this schedule with soaps and poor factual programmes. Also their morning schedule is a lot fresher than the old drivel ITV1 and BBC One churn out.
Because it is full of sh1tty celebrity orientated programming and reality crap.
Not true, although the news could be improved( maybe by making Ruth Liptrott less excitable).
I like CSI. I find Big Brother absolutely abhorrent. Other people will have different tastes.
Only Mentalist worth watching.
Dodgy logo- (removed for adverts obviously).
Popups.
Terrible commentary when they show football.
The news contract is going back to ITN, the current contract was torn up by mutual agreement apparently, C5 wanted a cheaper deal, Sky News don't like being associated with such a down market channel!
.... as is ITV1 & 2 and countless other offerings on Sky - it's all a matter of opinion. At least it's not populated with an abundance of soaps that we are subjected to by ITV1 and increasingly BBC1 (EE). :yawn: