Although it’s not the best argued piece I’ve ever read, it’s certainly true that Channel 4 is dropping its standards quite badly just now.
Yes they broadcast suff like The Deal, and Tony Robinson’s historical pieces, but their mass market stuff is getting worse and worse, with a real common denominator at the bottom their programming fraction. (OK that was a terrible pun).
With their upcoming Pornography: The Musical, and last week’s totally worthless and tasteless Teen Big Brother, I really don’t see how they can maintain their public service remit.
I was even disappointed by last week’s Cutting Edge which addressed the atrocities resultant from attempting to run the Miss World competition in Nigeria last year. It just wasn’t seriously or properly addressed. They seemed to love having lots of models around taking video of one another, and didn’t take a proper look at the issues. It was simplistic.
So while there is Channel 4 News, we get more of The Salon (soon to be replacing the lamentable RISE?), Fashion House and yards and yards of Graham Norton messing up their 10.00pm slots.
Lets see some proper drama, that wouldn’t look better on Sky One (Teachers), some comedy that comes round a little more frequently than every couple of years, and a few less sex documentaries.
Frankly BBC Four and even Five are better at the moment, with much smaller budgets.