The news is shocking though. Not to us because we are on a TV forum. But for most 'normal' people, they'll be shocked when they read about it tomorrow.

They're publishing another charter? Haven't they just finished signing one off???

I don't think Love will do anything if the BBC creates a new Baking show. After all, the Telegraph states the BBC employed lawyers to demonstrate to Love how similar Bake Off is to Masterchef so their claims that everything copies Bake Off is redundant. Love did not pursue the case further but relationships broke down. I take it as Love thinking it is more powerful than it actually is.

News Corp employee is anti-BBC shocker.

No. It was just the draft White Paper that was read out in Parliament. But, surely any major change to that would again be needed to put to parliament? There has been no indication of any major change to what has already been stated has there?

I love how it's taken the Sun two days to work out what we all worked out last night... that a full series can't start until 2018. Deary me - the state of print journalism these days! Wouldn't surprise me if they get all their information from this thread, to be honest.

Agreed. Ironic though because it confesses to the fact that there is nothing especially innovative or unusual about GBBO. It's a standard reality show.

There's a bucket of perspective for Love, 4 and BBC.

Yes, Love haven't got a leg to stand on, basically. It's very easy to prove that the same format existed way before Bake Off (20 years before, in the case of the original Masterchef format) and it's very possible the BBC invented the format in the first place. Of course, I doubt they would do a carbon copy of Bake Off, but they'd be well within their rights to.

After all, why haven't Love gone after SkyArts for their photography competition or ITV for Great British Menu? Or Channel 4 for their Watercolour painting show a few years ago? They know they can't enforce it and were pushing their luck. It wouldn't surprise me if they were breaking down the relationship with the BBC on purpose, knowing that the BBC wouldn't be able to match a commercial network's offer.

I wouldn't even take it with half a pinch of salt lol

Isn't Masterchef a Shine/Ziji format anyway? Some of the non Love shows that are competitions are from indies and not BBC inhouse

Im beginning to think there is more involvement from Murdoch/News International in all this than meets the eye.

Good god, I remember that. I know that money always corrupts, but there are some astonishing moments of stupidity when it comes to talent or programme acquisitions in British TV. This is the latest chapter. Although instead of it being ITV, this time it's C4.


Very interesting. The money is obviously still a factor, but that is interesting. Patrick Foster from The Telegraph has reported that the BBC has come to a financial agreement with Love over the 'Hair' programme, but that after mediation, there is no settlement in regards to 'The Big Painting Challenge'.

The total breakdown in relations between the BBC and Love is a lot deeper than we initially thought.

I think its safe to say the BBC is best as far away from Love Productions as possible, Love seem to think they own the format rights to just about every talent show ever.

Not that I know of though, in the political world Brexit, grammar schools and the NHS are dominating so the BBC may come lower down in terms of headlines.

Does the nurse realise he's out of bed?

Masterchef used to be a Union Pictures format. The BBC axed it after a few years. Then they contracted Shine to produce it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MasterChef_(UK_TV_series)

C4 are deluded if they really think that.

*facepalm*

Tom Newton-Dunn being a bit of a conspiracy theorist there. Murdoch employee of course. He'd poke fun at other "conspiracy theorists" not suiting The Sun's agenda.

I don'the understand how that works anyway, there''s nothing really copyrightable about the Bake Off format, they could maybe have a claim on the phrasing of Technical Challenge etc... but Love Productions have ripped off their own format so many times with the Sewing Bee/Interior Design/Pottery Throw Down that applying a three tiered structure to a popular pastime could be done with anything and anyone- Not to.mention Masterchef being around way before and doing the whole three separate challenges interspersed with chat/advice long before GBBO was anything.

I think as the Beeb own the name- Masterbaker, using that set up (Invention test etc...) with Mel/Sue/Mary/Paul would work nicely and act as a total spoiler to any new GBBO, if it even makes it to air

The BBC can't win either way - if they're seen to be spoiling Channel 4 and Love's fun with a similar show starring Mel, Sue, Mary, Paul, the vultures in the press and government will be all over them. Doesn't matter who is right or wrong, or even if viewers themselves would be delighted with such an outcome, the BBC's future in general is up for grabs and the usual suspects will pick it apart for anything at this pivotol moment.

He is the Sun's Political editor but he admitted on air that he's apolitical!

There's no reason why some or all of the three dramas can't creep up a little bit in the ratings over the next few weeks.

I wonder if all this airtime and column inches will give Bake off a boost in the ratings tomorrow.

Sorry to disturb the thread, but has anyone here been experiencing problems with the ITV Hub recently? I have; disorted audio, freezing, buffering, that sort of thing. I was wondering if it was just my laptop or the ITV hub. I think It's the latter because everything else (BBC I player etc) works fine.

Thanks in advance
(I know this isn't strictly on topic but I saw that the thread was busy so I hope nobody minds )