Spike TV has a number of interesting shows in the US that may appear on the UK version, don't write it off yet. And if it's going to be housing original content and have its own channel manager, then clearly it is going to be adding a lot more to Freeview than the vast majority of channels on the platform.

I think it's a really clever strategic move by Viacom launching Spike in the UK and I can't wait to see how it plays out.

Can someone enlighten me, what is a "dude food" format?

Makes sense for Viacom to re define some of their channels after acquiring C5, no point having too many channels after the same audience. I imagine 5* could take some of Viva's programming that won't fit Spike TV.

Very good for EastEnders last night, good planning to hook the audience on another story following on from last weeks big storyline. The Pride of Britain awards doing well again too, thats a similar rating its had for the last 3 years.

Perennial BBC-2 ratings topper Dad's Army is to be made into a film starring Bill Nighy (presumably as Captain Mainwaring) and Catherine Zeta Jones (as, er, surely not Mrs Fox?!!)

Production starts this month:

http://deadline.com/2014/10/universa...-jones-847928/

It might be just me but Nighly strikes me as more of a Wilson than a Mainwaring.

According to BBC Radio Miss Zeta Jones plays a journalist sent to Walmington to write about the platoon; Michael Gambon will play Godfrey. Rather a relief from the version originally mooted with an all-female Dad's Army (presumably Mum's Army ?)

Dont England games do well in Scotland and NI ?

Of course the coverage starts at 7:15pm, so expect ED to be dented significantly by a 6:45pm start.

ronant reports 3.36m (25.6%) and it ran to time, so the above appears to be an incorrect Tweet. Still the best for a weekday edition since May, and up from 3.27m (23.2%) on Monday. The repeats are rating very well.

But so what if it doesn't? I generally tune in to the BBC News at 10pm but the fact it came on two minutes late was neither here nor there. I wasn't going to catch a train straight after it or anything. I know for a fact both BBC2 and C4's 9pm programmes always run a few minutes past ten so starting at ten o'clock on the dot is of no importance for people watching those. I'm sure the same is true of other channels. And at the weekend it never starts dead on the time it says in the listings.

You may have a point with the news at breakfast time where people are busy and any change to the schedule can actually cause inconvenience - if you leave straight after the weather to get the bus and the weather's on five minutes late - but at 10pm, what does it matter?


But you can't have every drama on BBC1 aimed at the same audience. My parents have mainstream tastes and have watched and enjoyed The Driver - they're big fans of David Morrissey and like that kind of thing. I don't think it was anything particularly challenging or out of the ordinary for BBC1. If you start aiming at a notional BBC1 viewer you'll get a lot of bland programmes that don't engage anyone.


ITV put a popular programme on Tuesday and win the slot. It's not the day that's the problem. Nor are dramas flopping on Thursdays down to it being Thursday.

Looks good and anything with Winstone is worth watching a bit like Morrisey in The Driver, it was ok but he was the best thing in it.

Repeats are rating better than the last few new ones arent they ?

So if BBC1 tried something different to The One Show could they do even better and win the slot?

More or less yes, but it continuous to show that the audience don't stop watching because its a rpt. Its the same for The Chase.

True. But I'm only interested in how EastEnders will do against the football. When it was in a poor state EastEnders would lose viewers to football build up when a match started at 8pm on a Tuesday. It has been more robust in recent weeks though.

More information from BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29536370

not sure if this has been posted yet?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/lat...nce-pack-aug14


BIB - which showed the importance of a good catchup service in supporting a new show, as its audience increased across its run, IIRC...

K

The match kicks-off at 7.45 pm. I suspect even the most loyal San Marino fan would probably concede that England should win it.

And there will still be a fair few watching from the start. EastEnders should get a decent audience but I think it could be dented in the last 15 minutes.

EARLY BREAKING US NEWS:

According to household ratings, The Flash on CW was the highest rated CW show since 90210 on the 2nd September 2008. Holy crap

Channel 5 owner wants to overtake Channel 4


http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...l-4?CMP=twt_gu

—
Question mark over BB.

Guessing over 5m, Arrow launched really well for The CW so no surprise that The Flash debuted well. WB and DC have had done well with Gotham and now The Flash, don't have high hopes for Constantine though.

It's unlikely to happen but I do wonder if CBS would consider a new Star Trek series for The CW? The 50th anniversary is coming up and it would good to see the show return to TV.

I wonder if the launch of Spike will mean changes content wise for both 5* and 5USA? I could see 5* getting the MTV reality shows and American sitcoms while 5USA getting more US drama, the likes of Falling Skies, Walking Dead would be a better fit for either 5USA or Spike.

Woah, that's amazing. And the pilot has been online for a few months now.

You are right. I think I can remember reading that Toby Jones is to play Mainwaring.

That Dad's Army casting is pretty inspired.

Bill Nighy as Wilson and Daniel Mays as Walker were obvious and seem unbeatable in these roles.

Bill Paterson as Frazer also could work.

This might actually be very good - or terrible - entirely dependent on the script. As with this cast a decently written film should not fail.

As a film, though, not sure it will translate far beyond the UK too well as the TV show didn't inspire the US in their remake.

Though as a one off it should have a chance.

Would be amazing if the film worked and they could bring this cast back as a TV version.

Though it would probably bankrupt the BBC and ITV combined if they tried I suspect.

Best bet is the BBC screening the movie at Christmas in a couple of years time where it could do really well.