I haven't used the general ones, so I couldn't comment on those.

I think the problem is not a question of whether FA is seen as a better product than Pop Idol/Stars, but does the BBC need to be doing this sort of thing when similar already exists.

If ITV had any sense, they take some of the different/good elements of FA (like the tutoring, demonstrating song writing skills) and totally remove the case for FA to exist. Pop Idol can claim that Will Young is an example of young talent that's been nurtured, when we expected the boyband identikit Gareth Gates to win (and Will's got a couple of Brits)

Public service obligations don't just mean unwatchable minority programmes. Stuff like Blue Planent, Austwichz doc are examples of programming that wouldn't be touched by main commercial channels, that have brought in big audiences.

EE gets away with being a deriative of Corrie on the basis (however dubious) that it is a more realist soap ie you see a more diverse representation of Britain. I happen to think that maybe it should have been suggested that an episode or two should be dropped, as all the big 3 soaps are on too much.

PS I never referred to FA or Pop Idol as cheap or tracky

one question is Pop Idol actually coming back on I thought the X Factor had taken it's place as after the last one pete waterman has refused to do any more (something to do with michelle winning)

jacko

I believe to paraphrase Friends "it's on a break"

X-Factor in my opinion is woeful and really shouldn't be on telly (but ITV probably get a better percentage than with the Simon Fuller show )

erm to my knowledge it was cancelled because pete waterman has refused to re-appear on it .

Pop Idol can survive without Pete Waterman, I'm sure Richard Park is free (if he's not too busy name dropping)

I was semi serious about the cut of monies ITV gets from X-Factor compared to Pop Idol, also the last series was a bit underwelming (so 'they' felt it was best to not rush it back)

but yet you want FA to finish I wonder why the way you seem to be sticking up for Pop Idol quite alot.

err ....jacko not one of my posts has said that I want FA to end, all I was trying to do was explain the position the BBC is in regarding canceling it (following review by Department of Culture).

Like I said I work for a media IT company and our news service have done several stories about BBC's charter renewal. All I was doing was explaining why FA was considered to be a deriative of BB and Pop Idol.

My only gripe with FA was the claim that it was more 'worthy' or 'credible' than the Pop series. If you check you'll see I said I think of both series the same.

I think what is actually proposed by the governement & what will actually happen are two different things.

Looking at the success of the series over the last 9 day's shows if the BBC are unwilling or unable to commission the normal 12/13 week run fame academy format.

Event TV like this spread over 10 days be it with celebs or GBP students
with proceeds going to Comic Relief or Children in Need may have a future.

Regardless of the Government giving guidlines, it wouldn't stop the BBC &
Endemol from re-inventing the format like has been done with the 1950's
TV format of 'Come Dancing'.

Tez

Mike Teevee thanks for the insights!

haven't you well your making a lot of posts telling people why it shouldn't be back on and saying that it had been cancelled when the last word to come out of the BBC was that it was been shelved for a year and that was after all the problems with the old academy and the local council but the word from Endemol was they where looking for another location...

There was a delay over the use of the old fame academy
building 'Witanhurst' concerning noise, use of the building, access etc.

The last I heard of plans for a new series of fame academy were

A/ Its being rested for a year.

B/ No decisions have been made on its future

C/ Talks are ongoing

Then as Mike has said the Government has issued the
guidelines on the future of the BBC.

It may be that the BBC will have their hands tied on a future of a new series of fame academy.

Personally as I’ve said what is proposed now & what actually happens are two very different things.

Who would of believed over a year ago that 'Come Dancing' would be a ratings success & BBC1 weapon against 'X Factor'.

It would be sad to think that today would be the last time we’ll ever seen fame academy!

Tez

okay for the sake of clarity I personally have nothing against FA coming back and would happily watch the show.

I was trying to explain why it's felt by 'the powers that be' that BBC should shelve the programme. I honestly didn't know if Endermol said they were looking for another location, I'm only going by what our news team have told me (after they've come back from various press conferences).

I didn't mean to imply that the show has been canceled per se, just trying to inform anybody interested why the BBC has been making changes

If BBC and Endermol have said that FA is on hiatus and is coming back, then I have genuinely missed that (just like I've missed any statements about Pop Idol not coming back because of Pete Waterman)

jacko I don't prefer one series over the other honest

READ TEZZERS post you will see what I am saying instead of what you did yesterday dismiss what people where trying to tell you then!!!

I think the problems over the last 18 months was the ever-changing state of play, it’s on, it’s off, it being rested, it’s axed.

So we'll have to wait & see.

Remember FA2 was only announced after the success of CFA1

Tez

Mike you have a pm

Mike Teevee look I'm sorry if you think I'm in any way getting at you just yesterday tried to give you this info and out of hand you seemed to dimiss it, just think like a lot of people that scrapping FA would be a mistake as I think their is enough room for ITV and BBC to do their own shows and think it's good for up and coming talent whom most of the time get over looked by the music industry.

I agree with you Jacko.

Remember too that ITV1's share of the audience is continuing to fall.

Tez

jacko I'm am truly sorry if my posts yesterday were coming across as dismissive, that wasn't my intention.

I was genuinely trying to inform people re: BBC's charter renewal, as some people may not have known all the reasons for BBC getting rid of stuff like Ground Force etc. Like I've above I was/am aware of any statements by Endermol/ITV re: future of FA/Pop Idol

I may be misreading your posts, but you seem to think I've got some anti FA agenda/pro Pop Idol agenda. All I was trying was let people know the government guideline and once again I'm sorry if somehow I came across as dismissive or arrogant

friends?

I'm not really interested in the viewing figures as i'd like it to go back to the original format (friday night shows that way they are not in direct competition ) just that the singing coaches shouldn't be judges and hopefully new headmaster

Yeah of Course,
I don't think either of us meant offence just two people getting wires crossed that's all these things happen

I'm with you - but maybe, just maybe, PK should be on the list of people not invited back, as well. In my view he's been stirring it up quite nicely, and the relationship failure between him and RP is at least as much his fault as Richard's.
(Dons asbestos suit, sits well back from monitor... )

Steve.

Steve11 you've no problem with me on that one,

I agree, Paddy is not being realistic if he thinks everybody is doing brilliantly. Obviously a lot of the judge's comments aren't constructive, but Paddy seems to change goalposts ("you obviously didn't hear what the rest of us did" "it's about the charity" etc)

In all honesty I know a lot of people don't like him but that's why I like Simon Cowell he's abrupt but what he says is true if something stinks he'll tell you if something is good he'll tell you, just wish he wasn't contracted to ITV.

i thought someone said tha cat deeley is back with FA3 in the autumn?

If memory serves, there was a half-hour highlights show at 7pm every Tuesday and Thursday, rounding up what had gone on since the last one, and these got the highest viewing figures the BBC had got in that slot (up against Emmerdale) for quite some time. These were then occasionally shown late night as 'Uncut', although there wasn't usually much difference. There was more coverage of goings on in the house during the showdowns than there was in FA2 as well iirc.

I was at university for the whole of FA1 so had no access to live streaming on digital, and yet still became completely hooked on the series from the word go thanks to the highlight shows. I enjoyed FA2 to an extent, as it was over the summer months and I could watch the streaming on BBC3, but for people who couldn't, without highlight shows I can't imagine anyone really getting into it. And yet it still drew decent ratings iirc - imagine the potential of the show if some bright spark could combine the best elements of the two FA's and the celeb editions...

The success of CFA2 has slightly raised my hopes that we'll see an FA3, but I shant be holding my breath