UK TV

An archive of blog entries about UK TV programmes and production.

News

Hustle to hit the big screen

23 June 2006 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Robert Vaughn in HustleHustle is going to get turned into a movie now, according to the Hollywood Reporter (via Cinematical). Fox 2000 has grabbed the rights to the show, but Kudos, the production company behind Hustle, is still going to have a hand in it, with creator Bharat Nalluri producing and writer Tony Jordan penning the screenplay.

I can’t say I’m thrilled – never watched it for one thing. What I can say is that anything that gets Robert Vaughn back onto cinema screens has to be good. The man is a legend.

ITV’s plans to cut costs

22 June 2006 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

ITV has announced its shiny strategy to deal with the slight revenue shortfall it has. There’s some good, some bad and some ugly.

  • Scale back the number of single or two-part dramas on ITV1 and replace them with cheaper programming (Is that possible?)
  • Reduce the tarriffs it pays producers for programmes (Even more?)
  • Move towards deals with production companies which will cut programme fees – but with the chance to make more money through performance related bonuses (Sure it will)
  • Tender out more major projects and contracts in a bid to get the most competitive prices (you’re not doing that already?)
  • Have less makeover and lifestyle shows in daytime (yey!)
  • ‘Modernise’ PSB (public service broadcasting) commitments (ooh aye? And by modernise we mean ‘get rid of if possible’?)
  • Increase the number of US acquired series shown on ITV1 (Cunning! Cheap but good programming!)
  • ITV Productions is to stop producing domestic 90-minute drama specials and instead concentrate on long running series and high-end period and contemporary programming.
  • The company is to stop making low-margin one off documentaries as well as history, wildlife and kids programming. Instead, it will concentrate on factual entertainment, high end drama and drama series, quiz and game shows and comedy. (oh dear)
News

Alan Sugar regenerates into Greg Dyke

22 June 2006 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Greg DykeChannel 4 have a new Apprentice-style show coming out soon. In Get Me The Producer, Greg “Not at all bitter about the Hutton Report” Dyke will oversee the antics of two teams of TV producers, who will compete to get a lucrative TV production contract. Each week, the teams will have to make a different genre TV show, with Dykey firing the worst-performing candidate at the end of it. No doubt he’ll pick whichever producer drinks the fewest low-fat lattes and talks the least about synergies, brand extension and “the viewer’s journey”.

Channel 4 to start streaming its shows

22 June 2006 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Got broadband? Now here’s a chance to really enjoy it. As of Tuesday, according to Broadcast, Channel 4 is going to simulcast all its programmes on the web. They won’t be streaming any US shows, since they don’t have the rights, but negotiations are under way.

Later in the year, Channel 4 also plans to expand on that nice beginning by offering on-demand programming. By which time, of course, the BBC’s iPlayer will be around, subject to Ofcom and the Governors, of course.

It’s all go on the Web, isn’t it?