Here are the STV OPT OUTS for the rest of this week (Tue. 20th - Fri. 23rd inclusive):-
TUE. 20TH - 10.35pm-5.30am - ITV shows The Bourne Supremacy film,till 12.30am - then Kojak interrupts The Zone & Nightscreen, while STV goes for THE CUBE, MONTE CARLO OR BUST and ODD ONE IN - all repeats until 1.05am, then KOJAK double bill, COLUMBO and JEREMY KYLE.
Verdict: It's an action thriller on ITV, whilst STV opts for fun and games until a round of cops and mystery takes over. For seasonal variety, STV WIN.
WED. 21ST - 3.00-5.00pm - ITV & STV show different episodes of Midsomer Murders. 10.35pm-5.30am - ITV repeat Michael Buble's Christmas concert, then Grimefighters until 12.25am - The Zone takes over until 2.30am when they show the 1996 film Barb Wire. Nightscreen airs until 5.30am. STV continue with JOANNA LUMLEY and GRIMEFIGHTERS repeats until 12.05am, then in come the cops again with KOJAK and COLUMBO preceding JEREMY KYLE at 3.30-5.20am.
Verdict: A similar schedule to the previous night, but once again for this viewer STV WINS.
THUR. 22ND - 10.35pm-5.30am - ITV screens James Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies. The Zone airs from 12.45-2.45, then sci-fi film Serenity airs until 4.40am. STV show FILM:RUMOUR HAS IT from 2005- until 12.25am. A double bill of KOJAK shows until 2.15am. The awful NIGHTSHIFT comes on until 5.30am.
Verdict: A close call tonight, as ITV rolls out James Bond and STV goes for the rom-com option! The acceptable KOJAK lifts STVs schedule until 2.15am - but this one is A DRAW.
FRI. 23RD - 10.50pm-5.30am - ITV run the 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut until 1.35am, then The Zone and 1979 horror film The Fog swirls in at 3.30am. STV repeats MICHAEL BUBLE until 12.15am, then KOJAK and COLUMBO do more sluething until the rotten NIGHTSHIFT kicks in at 2.45am.
Verdict: Debatable movie choice from ITV, and so the vote goes to the Scottish broadcaster for craftily scheduling MICHAEL BUBLE just before Christmas and the acceptable cop shows. STV WIN.
Conclusion: I've missed a week or so of posting the STV OPT OUTs (but looking back they have had a good and acceptable run) and so they continue on form in the run up to Christmas. Back in a few days for the Christmas week OPT OUTs.