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itvs next evil deed 2: Neighbours


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Old 11-04-2007, 19:23
Charnham
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The BBC is facing a three-way battle to keep Neighbours, with ITV and Channel Five considering bidding for the Australian daytime soap.

It is understood the BBC has a period of exclusivity in negotiations for a new contract for the long-running show, but has said it would only commit "if the price was right".

ITV and Channel Five would be keen to get their hands on the soap, with sources confirming they had both run the rule over it.

The soap's current contract with the BBC ends later next year and discussions about a new deal have already begun.

ITV is understood to be considering making a play for the show.

Neighbours would plug a hole in ITV1's afternoon schedule, which has struggled since the loss of Home and Away to Five and the defection of Paul O'Grady to Channel 4.

Neighbours could also be used on ITV2, which is also currently looking for a "teen-oriented soap".

ITV chief operating officer John Cresswell was quoted as saying last week that a teen soap would bring a "habit-forming, young audience" to peak on ITV2.

ITV could follow the lead of Five, which plays Home and Away on its main network at 6pm, then gives viewers a first look at the next episode immediately afterwards on digital channel Five Life.

An ITV spokeswoman said the channel was looking to commission a home-grown series.

Five is also interested in bidding for Neighbours, which it would air alongside Home and Away in a soap hour from 6pm.

The channel has long been interested in acquiring the soap, made by Australian production company Grundy - which is owned by Five's parent company RTL.

The BBC has said it is "committed" to Neighbours, but has denied reports it is preparing to shell out £13m a year to keep it - over three times what it currently pays.

BBC director of acquisitions George McGhee told MediaGuardian.co.uk the corporation wanted to keep the show "but only if the price was right".

He said: "This figure [of £13m a year] is a lot of nonsense. That amount of money would be absolutely ridiculous.

"The BBC is committed to Neighbours but only at the right price."

Negotiations over Neighbours are continuing, although one source said a deal was "still quite some time off", with the BBC holding the rights until well into next year.

Despite its ratings falling from the days of Scott and Charlene's romance and wedding in the late 80s, Neighbours is still a ratings banker for BBC1, pulling in around 3 million viewers for its 1.35pm lunchtime repeat and around 2.6 million for its 5.35pm episode.

Meanwhile, Five has reportedly held on to the rights for hit American drama House despite interest from ITV.

It has been reported that the broadcaster has been forced to shell out £500,000 an episode to keep the Hugh Laurie drama, which regularly pulls in 2 million viewers.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadca...2054715,00.html

and you have to figure ITV will get its way at least once sooner or later.

I figure this belongs more here than the TV forum
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Old 11-04-2007, 19:27
JonnyCool
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Sure it was reported a few weeks ago that the BBC kept the rights and some head office people were annoyed as it was after they had pledged to put more money into UK drama rather than international imports or something like that.
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Old 11-04-2007, 19:29
Charnham
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I dont recall that happening, but I could be wrong.

media guardian is right must of the time.
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Old 11-04-2007, 19:33
JonnyCool
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I think i read it in the sun/notw or something. Doubt BBC would let go of it though... hope not anyway.
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Old 11-04-2007, 19:35
5 a day
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If Grundy and five are both owned by RTL, then I think there's a good chance it will move to five.
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Old 11-04-2007, 19:38
Charnham
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it sounds like this part of the story

The BBC has said it is "committed" to Neighbours, but has denied reports it is preparing to shell out £13m a year to keep it - over three times what it currently pays.

BBC director of acquisitions George McGhee told MediaGuardian.co.uk the corporation wanted to keep the show "but only if the price was right".

He said: "This figure [of £13m a year] is a lot of nonsense. That amount of money would be absolutely ridiculous.
as to the BBC letting it go, well whilst im sure they dont want to lose it, the way ITV are acting at the moment, I wouldnt be a bit suprised to see this being the one which happens.
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:07
Dancc
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Originally Posted by pconno1
If Grundy and five are both owned by RTL, then I think there's a good chance it will move to five.
I agree. And a pairing with H&A could be very successful for them so I hope they do get it.

This would lead with a soap clash with Hollyoaks though unless they keep Neighbours in its 5.30 slot and air H&A straight after. But from what I've read it will go out at 6.30 and will be the replacement they've been waiting for to fill the old Family Affairs slot. (if they are successful in getting the rights)

Last edited by Dancc : 11-04-2007 at 20:08.
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:08
tonystamp
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Why are ITV constantly trying to poach other channels programmes?
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:10
mj_32510
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Originally Posted by tonystamp
Why are ITV constantly trying to poach other channels programmes?
becuase they cant make any good programmes themselves.
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:13
Dancc
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Originally Posted by tonystamp
Why are ITV constantly trying to poach other channels programmes?
Teatime is getting more competitive and everything ITV have tried recently has flopped. You can't say they haven't tried to do something original because they have, but they still haven't recovered from losing Paul O' Grady.

Neighbours is a highly successful show, they know it has potential to do well for them.
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:17
Andy23
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Originally Posted by mj_32510
becuase they cant make any good programmes themselves.
Well they won't have a hole in the schedule if Channel 5 and Channel 4 hadn't done the same
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:21
Pete Callan
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This can never happen, it just can't. Neighbours should forever remain on BBC, the ratings it get's over here are the one thing that's keeping it from the axe over in Oz, and on another channel they'd obviously go down, especially directly against Hollyoaks since both shows are aimed at the same audience.

Neighbours with adverts would be wrong, just plain wrong.
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:32
yohinnchild
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I think if Neighbours moved to Five it would probably mean the end of the show... If ratings were to get worse in Oz and if it were move to a channel which is often ridiculed and not watched by many then I can't see how Ten could justify making the programme.

A move to ITV probably would'nt do the show too much damge in the UK or therefore in OZ. However it seems silly for ITV to do this as they already have about 12 hours a week dedicated to soaps. Two Showings of Neighbours a day would see the number rise to over 20 hours. I think ITV need to take a serious look at their output and stop trying to either poach other programmes show and copy other channels programmes with dire imatations

I hope Neighbours stays with the BBC, I think it would be best in the long term for the show
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:46
I ♥ Brodie
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Neighbours will be staying on the BBC. Not only do they have first refusal over the show they also invest money in it. The BBC are infact the reason the show has not been axed in Oz. As others in the thread have mentioned.
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:50
JDave12
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We ned to e-mail the BBC for our support and tell them to do everything their can to keep Neighbours, i don't want the ads ITV and channel 5 will put on!
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Old 11-04-2007, 20:53
I ♥ Brodie
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Well it if did ever move channel the BBC can stop them showing it for a full year.

ITV did the same thing with Five over Home & Away back in 2000.
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Old 11-04-2007, 23:23
dan2007
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ithink its time the bbc let it go
five would be nice just to annoy itv
Ithink the bbc should be looking at some new uk made shows
they should

have the news as normal
then at 140 to replace neighbours some new uk drama
till 240
240 maybe a quiz show or some kind of daytime comedy
325 cbbc as normal
530 doctors to replace neighbours
and then news at 6pm as normal

That way Docotrs could get the audiance it deserves
and their won't be all these reapts

and five should fit neighbours at 630pm and an ominibus sat or sun afternoons
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Old 11-04-2007, 23:34
stud u like
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Originally Posted by pconno1
If Grundy and five are both owned by RTL, then I think there's a good chance it will move to five.
I hope not. You cannot get it in Kent.
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Old 11-04-2007, 23:38
Dancc
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Originally Posted by stud u like
I hope not. You cannot get it in Kent.
Not even on Freeview?
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Old 11-04-2007, 23:54
nhdut
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Do five really want Neighbours? I'm sure i read on here not too long ago that five had commissioned there own 'teen' soap. Any1 remember reading this?

Obviously ITV would be very keen to get there hands on it but they dont need anymore soaps! I'm a huge soap fan and even i think there are far too many hours of soap on ITV already. IMO thats 1 of the reasons why Crossroads and Night and Day failed a few years ago because there was soap overload.
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Old 12-04-2007, 00:36
boltonjon
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Originally Posted by Pete Callan
This can never happen, it just can't. Neighbours should forever remain on BBC, the ratings it get's over here are the one thing that's keeping it from the axe over in Oz, and on another channel they'd obviously go down, especially directly against Hollyoaks since both shows are aimed at the same audience.

Neighbours with adverts would be wrong, just plain wrong.

In Oz Neighbours has at least 2 ad breaks.

Having backpacked there for a year, you really notice where they are obviously slotted in when you come back

No ads is just a luxury these days
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Old 12-04-2007, 03:03
BeatJunkie
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The article posted is very sensationalist, but we shouldn't be quick to write off the possibility of Neighbours moving to another network.

That scenario is, however, quite unlikely at this stage. The programmes producers, Grundy, have had a long and illusterous partnership with the BBC. IMO, neither party would want to forfit this very fruitful relationship. Grundy and Ten (It's Australian broadcaster) would be especially eager to stay at the BBC right now, given that Neighbours will be going through some very turbulant times over the next year. The show's going through a massive and complete overhaul amidst bad ratings in Australia.

All that said, money talks as we all know. The BBC won't spend a fortune; frankly they aren't as desperate as ITV. As the article points out, the ITV afternoon and evening schedules are in dire need of breakout hits. Neighbours would be a dream aquisition to fix that situation and would pull in large audiences immediatley. It depends how much ITV are willing to pay for that, but I'm willing to bet it could be a huge ammount of money.

For what it's worth, I would absoloutley hate to see Neighbours move to ITV. I don't think they would treat the programme very well. Ad breaks are annoying, but that's not my only problem. Something just doesn't sit right with me about Neighbours airing on ITV. It would have a very damaging affect on the show's ratings in this country too, IMO.

I am less opposed to the show going to Five. It wouldn't be a great situation, but looking at Home and Away I think they know how to treat such an aquisition properly. The Five Life first-look episodes are a great idea and I'm a bit bemused as to why the BBC haven't taken up this idea before now with Neighbours.

But I very much want to see Neighbours remain at the BBC. Any different outcome would be very dissapointing for viewers of the show. And yes, there would most likely be a period of about 12 months where nobody would be able to air the show if it were to change networks - really bad news.
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Old 12-04-2007, 07:19
Charnham
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dan2007 your right Doctors does deserve that time slot.
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Old 12-04-2007, 08:51
ZoeMcCallister
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When will find out who has won the battle?
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Old 12-04-2007, 09:21
JonnyCool
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BBC is commited with neighbours with BBC3 showing a sneak peak of the next episode (for a week at least) starting with a future storyline....

Spoiler
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