What a totally inaccurate report and thread?
When will DS get their facts right? I'm tired of all the rumours and useless threads around here! This is the latest in a long line! Brian Dowling left sm:tv 2 months ago!
I can gather you are not subscribed to the magazine!
This is the full press release that was issued from Broadcast magazine yesterday at 8.30am and in no way does it state Brian is still a member of its current presenting team! In fact it quite clearly states like former presenters Ant and Dec he will be featured in SM:TV gold
From BROADCAST MAGAZINE
ITV has axed Saturday morning kids show SM:TV Live and handed Carlton a year-long commission for a replacement show, writes Paul Revoir.
The new programme, currently untitled, will replace long-running SM:TV, made by Blaze Television, in spring 2004. Blaze's SM:TV companion pop show, CD:UK, will stay and has been commissioned until the end of 2004.
Carlton, which fought off a number of rival bidders, including Granada, will produce the new offering with Basil Brush producer the Foundation.
The 52 x 120-minute programme will target a four to 12-year-old audience and will include games, sketches, music and acquired programming, with increased interactive elements. Insiders say the new format, which will air in the same 09.25 to 11.30 slot, has been in development for a number of years and includes a lot of location filming in addition to studio coverage.
Discussions are underway about whether the new Carlton show could also adopt some of the best ideas from Granada's failed pitch, in a "spirit of co-operation" in the run-up to the merger decision.
A Granada source said: "We are in negotiation with Carlton about using some of our ideas and some of our people." The deal is the first major commission from ITV's new controller of children's, Steven Andrew. He said: "After five fantastic years of SM:TV we all recognised it was time for a change. We have gone for a show that is all about fun with a team with bags of fresh ideas. I'm confident the new show, teamed with CD:UK, will be a compelling proposition for kids."
It will be series produced by Vanessa Hill from the Foundation and executive producers are Carlton controller of children's and young people David Mercer and Ged Allen from the Foundation.
Insiders said Carlton is poised to poach the presenting team for its new show from CBBC but no names have been confirmed. The decision to cut SM:TV comes after a continual decline in ratings following the departure of original presenters Ant and Dec two years ago. The show used to boast a 48% share but now garners around 15%.
SM:TV executive producer Conor McAnally said: "After such a great run and more awards than any other Saturday morning show, we agreed with ITV that it was time to move on."
SM:TV, which is currently on air, will run until the autumn. It will be followed in the same slot by SM:TV Gold until the end of the year, which will mix the best elements of a live show with the funniest moments from the show's archive. This will include comedy strands such as "Cat the dog" and "Chums" and will feature former presenters such as Brian Dowling.
