"If it aint broke, don't fix it" = a saying which the British government at the time never understood. Their idea was "If it aint broke, let's break it anyway and see what happens".
After John Howard Davies came from the BBC to Thames he spitefully ran it down with lousy programmes and fired 300 staff including Benny Hill in 1989 who was bringing in 15-20 million pounds a year in export profits from his globally in demand show so there was little left at Thames so the gov was right here.
I think Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are the only ITV regions who produce a significant amount of local programming due to the nature of their areas of the UK. English regions are really only considered one region, and regional news is nearly the only local programming they produce. Also many local news programmes in England on the ITV network are now merged local news programmes with many pre-recorded elements, something unheard of in the 70s and 80s.
It"s not even true now John King. As of Monday 19th October 2015 ITV plc has bought out ALL 100% shares of Ulster Television. Meaning of the old Regional ITV Structure only ITV CUMRY/WALES and Scotish Television are left. But at least ALL ITV programmes can be seen across the whole of the UK at the same time. This was never the case between ITV between 22nd September 1955 and October 29th 2009. A former disabled carer. From the New Forest GOD BLESS!
To think of all those LWT executives who received millions for winning that franchise, and yet they'd have won it anyway seeing the competition was an absolute joke. In some respects it's good those days are gone
TheEllawayShow It was a stitch up. The second Carlton were awarded a franchise the plan was for them to work with Granada to wipe all the other companies out. They then merged together and both their chief execs made millions from it. Do not be surprised to see regional franchises again soon. I predict BBC will eventually be privatised and broken up into regional franchises until two of them swallow up the rest.
Border, Scottish and Central were all unopposed and bid only token amounts. * Central bid £2,000 a year, plus 11% of its annual ad revenue. * Scottish bid £2,000 a year, the same as Central, but only 2% of its annual ad revenue, in a way faring even better. * Border bid £52,000 a year and got to keep all of its ad revenue.
Now, as of August 2017, all of ITV excluding Scotland are part of ITV plc. How long will STV in Scotland hold out as the only truly independent franchise?
"If it aint broke, don't fix it" = a saying which the British government at the time never understood. Their idea was "If it aint broke, let's break it anyway and see what happens".
After John Howard Davies came from the BBC to Thames he spitefully ran it down with lousy programmes and fired 300 staff including Benny Hill in 1989 who was bringing in 15-20 million pounds a year in export profits from his globally in demand show so there was little left at Thames so the gov was right here.
I think Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are the only ITV regions who produce a significant amount of local programming due to the nature of their areas of the UK. English regions are really only considered one region, and regional news is nearly the only local programming they produce. Also many local news programmes in England on the ITV network are now merged local news programmes with many pre-recorded elements, something unheard of in the 70s and 80s.
when itv went shite
"The viewers will win." Oh how wrong he was.
He wasn't.
It"s not even true now John King. As of Monday 19th October 2015 ITV plc has bought out ALL 100% shares of Ulster Television. Meaning of the old Regional ITV Structure only ITV CUMRY/WALES and Scotish Television are left. But at least ALL ITV programmes can be seen across the whole of the UK at the same time. This was never the case between ITV between 22nd September 1955 and October 29th 2009. A former disabled carer. From the New Forest GOD BLESS!
To think of all those LWT executives who received millions for winning that franchise, and yet they'd have won it anyway seeing the competition was an absolute joke. In some respects it's good those days are gone
Miss Thames and LWT
Once Granada got their claws in, ITV officially died
TheEllawayShow It was a stitch up. The second Carlton were awarded a franchise the plan was for them to work with Granada to wipe all the other companies out. They then merged together and both their chief execs made millions from it. Do not be surprised to see regional franchises again soon. I predict BBC will eventually be privatised and broken up into regional franchises until two of them swallow up the rest.
i remember picking up other itv channels on my sega game gear granada land htv central and yorkshire
sad lost local itv stations
Border, Scottish and Central were all unopposed and bid only token amounts.
* Central bid £2,000 a year, plus 11% of its annual ad revenue.
* Scottish bid £2,000 a year, the same as Central, but only 2% of its annual ad revenue, in a way faring even better.
* Border bid £52,000 a year and got to keep all of its ad revenue.
@steve02045 When you say ALL do you mean UTV/STV/Channel as well?
Now, as of August 2017, all of ITV excluding Scotland are part of ITV plc. How long will STV in Scotland hold out as the only truly independent franchise?
Both ITV and STV seem happy with the current situation. With ITV saying they have no plans to takeover STV
Carlton was evil
Um no.
@Anthony Pond It should be rather obvious, from the very start they were wrongly villainized
What. A. Joke.