Since my posting on ITV and the Footbal League, a deal has, of course, been struck and the clubs, having been kicked out of the banquet, went straight round to the kitchens to beg for a few crumbs. I can't decide which party makes my flesh crawl the most.
Now we are told the main proponents in the original ITV football debacle (Carlton and Granada) want to join forces and virtually run "Independent"(?) Television. In my posting about ITV I wrote
ITV had the world at it's feet some while back but, for some reason, lost its way completely. Now it's a second-rate, wall-to-wall soap station and losing money by the second. |
Now I see that the Daily Mail has taken up this theme. Yesterday's editorial said:
So the money-obsessed nabobs who run ITV have got their way. Carlton and Granada have struck a £2.5biliion deal and intend to become a single broadcasting giant capable of fighting back against an all-powerful BBC.
How ripe. The bean counters in charge haven't a clue about creativity or good television. They have presided over a depressing slump in standards, destoyed News at Ten and virtually every decent documentary programme, lost viewers by the million, wasted billions on the digital fiasco and made a laughing-stock of once great broadcasting organisations.
Their proposed media monolith may be good for the share price but will it contribute one iota of imagination or flair to television? Will it add to cultural diversity? Will it benefit political freedom and pluralism?
The answers are sadly obvious. This is an exercise in money-making by people who understand everything about the bottom line and nothing about the needs of viewers. It would be an outrage if this merger were allowed through on the nod. |
I'm pleased the Mail decided to take up and expand my theme but why no mention of BskyB?
Jimbo
