Wednesday 27 July 2011

Independent Television Memories of the past

Who remembers the old days of ITV those 17 regions now effectively swallowed up and reduced to 3.

The original list included Associated Rediffusion (London), Anglia (east of England), Granada(North West all week Yorkshire weekends), ABC(Yorkshire weekdays), TWW(West of England and south Wales)ATV(Midlands all week London weekends)Tyne Tees, Teledu Cymru (North Wales) Ulster, Scottish   Grampian,Westward (south west England) Southern Channel and Border.

Although not being born when ITV started in 1955 there are various books and websites which have meant being able to update my knowledge. The idea was simple enough get a group or organisation living in a certain area of the UK and get them to set up and run a TV company for a set region. The better your programming then the more chance of keeping license. Although there were some seeing it as repugnant at the time seeing as a bad influence especially as it was commercial.

Although starting up my post as it being a great time I do wonder from reading the history was it all perfect. Some of the regions did have financial issues notably in the first round of licenses. Teledu Cymru was the first to suffer having the license eventually being taken on by TWW which had the license  for Wales and West England.. Other issues were also emerging especially when the 3rd round licenses were announced in 1967.

Most notably Associated Rediffusion losing there license to ABC who had lost their license to Yorkshire Television Rediffusion were pretty hacked off but in the end were basically told accept what you have or shove off. The companies eventually merged and formed Thames. Meanwhile London Weekend who took over from ATV took on Rediffusions staff who wanted extra money for the fact they were working weekends. The results of this dispute saw London Weekend taken off the air after 15 seconds.

However the two companies eventually got themselves going albeit in the case of London Weekend by a certain R. Murdoch. Murdoch taking over the reigns from Sir David Frost who had wanted London Weekend to be a highbrow channel. Eventually though Rupert was deemed not a fit and proper person by the then Independent Television Authority later the Independent Broadcasting Authority and so was forced to sell his shares. Shame some others have never seen this.

Anyway onto 1979 and the dispute that took ITV (except Channel) off the air. Again this was a result of working hours and basically workers making sure that all work was done at set times not a minute more. Otherwise more pay was demanded. This saw ITV off the air for 2 months.

In 1981 the fourth round of licenses was announced this time more ITV regions were gone This time Westward and Southern although in the case of Westward there were financial issues. TSW the new license holder actually took on operations in August of 1981 some five months before the official start.  ATV also disappeared to be replaced by Central although in this case this was due to renaming as the people behind the company were told to focus on more home grown programming. There was also another new company for the new breakfast time contract tv-am.

And so onto 1991 the fifth round and the biggest this time round. The biggest looser being Thames. The company which along with LWT plus Central Yorkshire and Granada provided the majority of ITV's programming lost it license. Although there have been conspiracy theories about this owing to an investigation into an SAS operation in Gibraltar on three IRA suspects. Thames had there license taken on by Crapton sorry Carlton. Another looser was tv-am also lost out along with TSW taken on by Westcountry and TVS taken on by Meridian. TVS had  taken on the license from Southern. although TVS had sought a review. The licensing criteria was also strange where it was done on blind faith as well as having the money and quality threshold.

What has the last round of licensing done to ITV. there was another round which was also carried out but that seems to have been a formality. Where does ITV stand now in this multi-channel age. Already ITV's regional programming areas have been cut most notably in the south west plus advertising revenues have seen a downturn although there has been a upturn recently. There was also the ill fated  on digital and ITV digital tv service as well as the merger of Carlton and Granada who gobbled up all the other regions except STV  and UTV.

Some can't see a future for ITV past 2014 due to these restraints although under the present chairman there is a slight revival and I feel that ITV does have its purpose. One thing that should be remembered though is that it is easy to look at the past with rose tinted spectacles and that there have always been issues but somehow something has been arranged. At least I hope that happens in the future.

Saturday 23 July 2011

What way is Cricket run in England ?

Is it me or do the ECB seem to run cricket as a private company?

I mean the prices for test matches plus the lack of exposure on terrestrial television, there is going to be a group of youngsters who will have hardly had any exposure to the game.

There was a survey carried out last year among some children and out of the three sports events that day the FIFA World Cup match between France and South Africa,  the Wimbledon tennis match involving Andy Murray and a One Day International between England and Australia guess which one the children didn't know about.

There are repercussions for cricket as a whole, with the lack of exposure and prices being high there are going to be less bums on seats. There are also the fees that have to be paid to the ECB for staging Test matches, they have also been reduced.  All this in addition to the ridiculous scheduling of the T20 matches, cramming in more than necessary. How are families meant to afford this.

At the end of the day Cricket in England is going to have to suffer, when there is less money to distribute among the counties which in return will reduce the schemes and initiatives to future players 

Tuesday 19 July 2011

What is the future of B sky B

I wonder following today's supposed grilling of the Murdoch,s what the future of Sky television will be, will there be another owner? could this be the end of the Murdoch's hold on media in the UK? day

Well with the hope of Sky television being owned by News Corporation now kicked in the dust for now and the impending age of Rupert I wonder if this is the end of things as we know it.  Certainly the negative press and the way in which the answers that were given today doesn't give a good impression to MP's.

Who could be the likely takers for Sky? ESPN? who knows but it does look likely that in the future there will have to be new owners. I should point out the News Corporation  is separate from B sky B before anybody thinks that it is completely owned by Murdoch.  Still mine is only an opinion and I am sure that there things that are missing 

Saturday 16 July 2011

Work Placement Fourth and Final Week

I'm not sure again to make of this week. I was transferred to a different department dealing with produce and it has been much better for me.

However the positive week has been undermined by other events. I am now chasing up a week of welfare payments caused by a mistake in processing, plus I am in a situation where I wasn't able to continue with the placement due to having to be re-referred to my work scheme.

I can just about pay a couple of my bills I nearly lost it the other day as well.  I am hoping this course comes up concerning production.

I will put up another blog later concerning my interests but this is my update for now.

Sunday 10 July 2011

Another Subject

Apologies for the bland name cant think of a thread at the moment.  Anyhow let me roll on with a couple of subjects.

First what is the future of the British media in light of the News of The World closure. I do have sympathy with some of the journalists after all they came in after some of the misdemeanors took place. But what will it mean for future undercover reporting that is in the public interest.  There is a balance that has to be met when asking for a free press.

I have no doubt that a replacement paper will arrive in the fullness of time.

And my second issue is why is it that the Rugby Football Union always seem to put there foot in it. You now have a situation where Martin Thomas  has now had to resign plus there seems to be turmoil in the entire board what does this say for a sporting organisation.

On a personal issue I am still frustrated by the lack of work and getting agitated by the day. Anyhow helped out at the Kilburn Festival today which at least took my mind off things for a while.

Hoping for more blogs soon.

Friday 8 July 2011

Work Placement Third Week

Not too sure what to make of this week. Today seemed fine mind you Wednesday seemed like that as well although I still ended up worrying about wherever I was doing things right.

I tried going to bed early last night hoping to have a decent amount of sleep, but once again I still woke up too early.  

I have been offered an extension on my placement but the environment is what puts me off. Had it been an admin role I would have no hesitation.

I have also had a couple of weird dreams as well one involving a marriage a peace group in a hall removing sand and a visit to a psychiatric hospital.

Anyway preparing for the Kilburn Festival this weekend in addition I have a screening to be a London Ambassador volunteer on Tuesday. Hope I get through.

Will put some more debates on soon but that's all for now.

Wednesday 6 July 2011

Possible new subjects

I am looking into discussing some more of my interests including radio and sport.

One issue that is of concern is the way Olympic tickets were distributed. Surely there should have been a system which allowed residents living in the adjoining areas of the Olympic stadium to get priority tickets maybe limited to 2 per household and to also have these tickets a week before general release.

A second issue concerns what is happening in UK radio especially commercial radio. Are audiences being given a proper choice especially out of the major metropolitan areas.  I sometimes think that the UK may as well go the way of the system in France where there are just local opt outs for adverts  and jingles. Plus 8 minutes per hour of adverts, although it has been a few years since I went through France.

Anyway I'm not sure how to describe things on my placement hope to have more details at the weekend. .

Sunday 3 July 2011

Work Placement Second Week

Things not that great this week trying to solder on  there have been some issues as to the way I am doing things. To make matters worse because I am presently on welfare I am wondering what is going to happen. I have been signed off as it has been assumed that I am getting paid.Cue more chasing up to see if I am back on the system. I do wonder how I am keeping myself going at the moment with loads of panic and  anxiousness.

I hope something turns up, but when ? who knows.