Originally Posted by Grenade:
“It was a drama series when it first started out and turned into a soap. If Hollyoaks Later gets healthy ratings, then theres no reason why, in theory, moving Hollyoaks to 2 weekly hour long slots couldn't work. The success of Hollyoaks Later could be due to the 'event' feel of it, but theres nothing to say it won't work weekly, There is only one way to find out.”
It was commissioned as a weekly drama yes, but so was Corrie. It quickly became a soap.
Quote:
“I wouldn't say it is being saved by Channel 4 because of the mess it is in. If it was in that bad a state, Channel 4 could easily dump an extra episode in and get a bigger audience at a much lower cost. But if you think Channel 4 is in a big mess, then I don't understand your earlier logic to axe Shameless. That is one of their better rated shows and one of their only returnable dramas.”
I'm a massive Shameless fan but it's a drama which has to end sometime, and with ratings falling significantly this year along with the quality of the show it needs to begin working towards wrapping up - and releasing a significant amount of C4's drama budget for them to plough into new drama.
Both the BBC and ITV of late have axed shows as decisions had to be made and they couldn't recommission everything perhaps they'd like too - and C4 should be no different, and indeed just like it's motives for axing Big Brother it should now be encouraging new talent too emerge rather than holding on to a show which rides on previous success.
Originally Posted by Charnham:
“would a move to E4 do the same for Hollyoaks? Actually I dont why I bothered I dont think it would, it already airs first look on E4, so im not sure what would change.”
As someone pointed out elsewhere on DS unlike Neighbours Hollyoaks hasn't really got international sales to supplement it's funding. If it moved to E4 although I'm sure it would be made for less I'd guess it would come out of the E4 budget, though probably maintain it's C4 presence within T4 - though I doubt neither E4 or T4 could justify a significant chunk of it's budget going to one show.
However, that said Hollyoaks does provide a crucial hook into the evening for E4 - and with Friends gone losing Hollyoaks as well would leave it's evening schedules empty.
Originally Posted by jonnyblack:
“I don't think Hollyoaks needs axing just yet. They are in the now unfortunately predictable "summer slump" ratings wise. It will pick up in September.”
People said that last year and the year before - and it just didn't, so now it's "summer slump" is a million or so less than it's summer slumps from a couple of years ago, and indeed checking the ratings we're close to seeing the C4 airings fall below what the E4 episodes were getting regularly just 2-3 years ago.
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“ But this is where they should be targetting. From recent cast updates it seems they are shooting 6 weeks ahead so if they take the opportunity and act now then we could have a solid show in time for more people tuning in and create a buzz again.”
The thing is that isn't happening - although they shoot six weeks ahead, it is taking about six months for changes made by producers to make it to screen. As I said earlier it was a problem when Bryan Kirkwood left, then when Lucy Allan was sacked and then when Paul Marquess left too - there is something seriously wrong with how the show is run for the show to completely fall apart everytime the Series Producer moves on.
Originally Posted by Glenn A:
“Hollyoaks is stuffed period. It is now attracting the sort of ratings Brookside attracted in its last days. However, since it is made by Phil Redmond, no doubt this paranoid egomaniac will blame the powers that be at Channel 4 and the media for destroying Hollyoaks in the same way he made the same rantings nine years ago about Brookside. In fact he became so deluded he even tried to sue someone for making derogatory comments about Lindsay Corkhill, a soap character FFS. No doubt if Channel 4 wield the axe, then will see entire episodes with two characters setting the worlds to rights and someone making a coded attack on Channel 4 in the last episode.”
Although I think Phil Redmond has now completely cut his ties with Hollyoaks and Lime Pictures. I doubt he'd do it but I think the absolutely last role of the dice would be to get him back to oversee it.
