Originally Posted by p_c_u_k:
“If STV spent more on original programming than the publicly-funded BBC Scotland I'd be hugely concerned.
STV could spend a lot more in the days when there were only four channels on air and it had that famous licence to print money, nowadays it has to focus on being a commercial broadcaster that can pay its way.
Having said that, it still produces Scottish programming. Yes, I admit the quality is mixed, but people made their minds up about some of them without even watching them. Personally I thought Scotland's Greatest Album was a good watch. In addition, it produces highly localised news programming, with separate shows for Glasgow, Edinburgh and the north, with opt-outs for Aberdeen and Dundee. This is more than the BBC does. And personally speaking I feel Scotland Tonight is punching above its weight - a good reputation builder.
Yes, I'd like to see STV do more in the way of Scottish original programming, but that involves investing a lot of money in a show which might bomb after one episode. There's a huge gamble involved in every show, and getting something to network is even more difficult than it used to be. I'd suggest you'd need full-on independence to tackle the dominance of London-based programming, as the media in general is becoming more and more centralised towards London, and broadcasting is reserved to Westminster.
In the meantime it does more than it has to. It should be applauded for that.”
Got to say that BBC Scotland is now streets ahead in terms of quality of programming - the majority of programmes STV produce reek of cheapness. Let's remind ourselves of some of the rubbish they have come out with over the last year:-
THe Hour - a pathetic, desperate "entertainment" show broadcast prime time with "swally loving" Meechelllle. Axed after 4 weeks. :sleep:
Scotland's Greatest Album - The personification of "cheap tv" - let's stick a few Scots z list "famous faces" in a room and show some clips of artists - wow! :yawn:
Weather watch with "Shawn" - sorry Sean Batty - Let's tell our weather forecaster to do an extra programme speaking about the er... weather.
Scottish Passport - Resurrect a programme that was popular years ago and waste it now with Grade z Scots telling us about their holiday. Er - times have moved on STV - ever heard of savvy travellers and the internet, or travel agents? These kind of travel programmes are old hat now.
Just some of the examples of the keech STV have served up -so much for Scottish original programming. And no wonder they get very little to network now, when they produce dross like that.
As for their OPT OUT/programming policy don't think it has improved much in the last year - after the diabolical PR shambles of Downton/Doc Martin/Whitechapel etc.. etc... we still haven't got Law & Order, or how about Cornwall or Poms In Paradise - 2 programmes that have disappeared off our screens mid run? Or the new Lewis episodes - 1 shown a couple of months ago, then nothing else. Or how about the missing film premieres - Inglorious Basterds e.g.?? Or the films that are shown 1 week on the network then oddly the following (or never) on STV. I could go on and on....
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lol
.... STV are really scraping the barrels really ..... why is "beyond explanation" back on?? they run these "dated" shows time and time again why?? ... STV need to get their fingers out than repeat this crap! ... since time I have been on both these threads I am pretty sure these programmes have been repeated at least FIVE TIMES now! 
