Wow. Channel 4 has an interesting and incredibly timely programme on next Monday. I assume it’ll detail how to survive on the Gaza Strip when you’re being bombed daily by the Israelis.
Wait a minute… My mistake.
It’s actually called “Surviving Gazza“, and is about the famously off-the-rails footballer.
Of course this is scheduled after an episode of the returning Celebrity B** B******. The fact is that Channel 4 can’t survive without the ratings that this garbage gives them. We all know that they’re in trouble, and are desperately short of cash. BB doesn’t rock my boat. The people they sign up are “celebrities” in the loosest sense, largely doing it to reignite their waning careers (there’s no other real reason to go on). But as I’ve said before, the downside is that C4 is effectively off limits for me for the next x-weeks – I neither know nor care how long it lasts.
So what’s the answer? C4 needs BB to at least attempt to balance the books. E4, More 4 and even Film Four are appreciated by their respective audiences, but overall the station is haemorrhaging cash, and has recently made quite a large proportion of its staff redundant. It’s unable to really benefit from international sales or DVD revenues because it doesn’t its own programming – it’s all made by independent production companies. And its news is facing problems as ITV cuts ever back, perhaps even leaving news behind altogether. As it is, the channel relies on ITV’s regional news divisions.
Is it time for the end of Channel 4? I’m not sure that its is, but I worry that the direction it’s headed is doing it no good in the long term.
Surviving Gaza
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7 responses to “Surviving Gaza”
Is it time for the end of Channel 4?
This would be a real shame, as Channel 4 despite some of the gatrbage that you mention, i think still is the best terrestial channel. Their news i still find to be far beter and more interesting than BBC’s or Sky’s
I think for people with non-digital televisions (there are still some), Channel 4 News offers a credible alternative to the other two providers.
I look to Channel 4 News for the comment it offers, its live four-ways and such. I don’t believe, if Channel 4 were to disband, ITN news would incorporate this comment over at ITV.
While they offer this credible alternative, I think Channel 4 can be forgiven for chasing-ratings with ‘garbage’. You don’t have to watch it, but millions will.
I think for people with non-digital televisions (there are still some), Channel 4 News offers a credible alternative to the other two providers.
I look to Channel 4 News for the comment it offers, its live four-ways and such. I don’t believe, if Channel 4 were to disband, ITN news would incorporate this comment over at ITV.
While they offer this credible alternative, I think Channel 4 can be forgiven for chasing-ratings with ‘garbage’. You don’t have to watch it, but millions will.
I love Channel 4 News. It’s on a little too early for me to see regularly, but it’s the highlight of the channel.
And it’s for that reason that I’m concerned about the channel’s future. I’m not at all sure that Channel 4 should shut down, or be sold off, which is another talked about option. But there is a very real danger than ITV which owns ITN might get out of public service broadcasting altogether. C4 News retains its own correspondents, but can’t provide the service it does without the backing of a large news organisation.
We’re entering a tough economic time, and any media that relies heavily on advertising is going to feel the belts tightening.
I’d love to see a return to the slightly higher-minded fare that the channel used to provide. It’s always had things like The Word or even TFI Friday. They’re fine. I just don’t like series taking over the channel as Big Brother does twice a year. Yet I understand too that its survival requires them. It feels like we’re trying to square the circle.
This is an argument that isn’t going to go away. The channel has serious funding issues, and it’s going to need to solve them one way or another.
i have watched the documentry and i wish i could speak to mason.I have a drink every night,i have had a drink now,his dad is not a lost corse.i split with my wife but it was her what asked me to see my son of 2yrs and now he has lived with me 15 yrs and he is now 17yrs.before that i got a girlfriend so i sort, and convinced me i was crule me taking him from his mum every weekend and then a she was ill and wanted me to give up my weekend with her to go and see her, and my son said to me it is ok she needs u more than i do,and that is when it hit me she would never say that,so i undid all my wronges and now we are happy.the bond between paul and mason seems the same ,i did not like tht doctor she just pushed natural bonds away and does not see that family is family
mason i hope u see this because i have seen a really good bond with father and son and wht people don’t see tht never leaves you.if you can contact me johnbennion@btinternet.com p.s i left the post before
mason i hope u see this because i have seen a really good bond with father and son and wht people don’t see tht never leaves you.if you can contact me johnbennion@btinternet.com p.s i left the post before