Originally Posted by nick202:
“My feeling is that Channel 4 nowadays lacks identity - it feels like a mishmash of different things within a confused, incoherent schedule. When I was a teenager in the 90s, Channel 4 was particularly known as the 'go to' channel for high-quality US imports such as ER and their Friday night comedy block of Friends, Frasier, etc. These days, other smaller channels (including its subsidiaries E4 and More 4) perform that function. As a channel which once prided itself on innovation, it seems to be mostly made up of shows which have long outstayed their welcome, and derivative formats like '8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown'. There are some exceptions, of course, but just far too much dross.”
To be fair, in an era where ITV and, to a lesser extent, BBC1 are intent on reviving every entertainment show under the sun, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown is actually quite a clever twist.
The problem with Channel 4 (and Channel 5) is that they've got 3 hours to fill from 8pm-11pm and no real anchors and less money. BBC1 and itv have to fill 9-10pm each night with far more money and big lead-ins. And they don't even manage to do that all of the time. Look at the trouble ITV have on Tuesdays.
The volume of hits required to sustain Channel 4 is massive. And it's why they'll quickly recommission longer runs. C4's viewers are also the young upmarket people hardest to pin down, even moreso in the digital/online era and without a Corrie/EE it's very hard to keep it going. Those soaps (and the news for BBC) ensure a regular audience always coming back to the channel in particular slots.
They've done a good job with E4 on the imports front. And they've managed to find some good high volume returnable ob doc series (following on from 24 Hours in A&E) for Channel 4 in an era when formatted features and fact ent hits haven't been all that common anywhere.
Primetime drama needs some work. There's too much Charlie Brooker type stuff that nobody wants to watch. I think running some drama and sitcoms at 9pm rather than 10pm would work as well providing they choose the right slots. It's not like BBC1/itv drama grabs the 16-34 demographic very often.
I think The Voice was a massive miss for them. Would have suited C4 down to the ground. Now that Million Pound Drop is pretty much over, they need to find that next entertainment series that will be a bit of an event and, most importantly can churn out 20+ hours a year.
Daytime is a far harder task. When Deal burst onto the scene both their big rivals were showing kids TV. It's hard to see how they can turn daytime around, there's no real place to build from and BBC1/Itv are leaving precious few opportunities.
). It's the gymnastics version on Dancing Ice. Although, time will tell if that's circa 2007 (on fire!) or circa 2014 (bit tired.)
