Channel 4 has to be one of the world's worst TV networks. The companies main goals seem to be get rid of any good shows they have and waste money on a number of failed morning shows such as RI:SE! In this high detailed report I look at Channel 4: The Curse Of The Network.
Channel 4 was the last channel to be launched which doesn't require anything but a normal TV. Soon after the launch of ITV channel 4 was launched. It offer a range of new shows such as "Count Down". But over the past few years the network has had little ratings success and continues to show non-stop repeats of Friends & Cheers.
6am-12am - Good Morning and welcome to Channel 4. It's 1996 this is "The Big Breakfast". The show soon became a hit and was watched by millions of viewers every morning. But after a number of years on air the show started having problems. A number of the presenters decided to quit the show and the lack of new idea's meant viewers turning over to ITV for GMTV. Channel 4 soon decided it was time for a change and spent money on a brand new show "RI:SE". Four unknown presenters sat at a desk for over an hour talking about the mornings news and the events from the past nights Big Brother. The show failed to a hit and quickly had to be redesigned. After less then two years on air it was axed. Now channel 4 has gone back to basics and it looks more like 1980 then 2004. Repeats of Bewitched and Cheers fill the morning slot. Also the odd episode of Friends if it's a weekend.
1pm-6pm - For the afternoon Channel 4 have signed up Cricket. For me this is not a problem. It's in a perfect place. Instead of moving a show that people watch off the air to show cricket all the network has to do is move "Friends" back an hour or two. Countdown has recently be resigned till at least 2010. This same old format seems to be a ratings hit for the time slot. Other shows such as Location,Location,Location provide a filler for the the rest of the afternoon seen as quiz shows have never been popular on channel4. At six o'clock you can tune in for more "Friends" repeats or Big Brother's Little Brother, depending on the time of the year. Hollyoaks seems to be the only really popular thing on Channel 4. It;s doing well and a recent number of late night shows attracted new viewers. But later this year a total of 14 cast members are to be axed in a huge fire...
6.30-10pm - How clean is my house, Super Nanny and Wife Swap are just a few of the good shows to come out of Channel 4. They are real ratings winners and provides a change from BBC 1's boring Drama's and ITV's "It shouldn't happen to a ....."
Yet the network cotinues to have problems getting new viewers. The non-stop Friends repeats and shows like Big Brother aren't for everyone. They recently showed a show called "Who Killed Saturday Night TV" I found this very funny seen as the show was on Saturday night! Didn't they answer their own question by putting on that show? Anyway this has been just a brief look at the rubbish Channel 4 show. But I do agree some of their shows are good. This review isn't putting Channel 4 or any of it shows down because everyone likes different things... Just not enough people like them to tune in every week! Thanks for reading this review.
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Advantages: Well there were some good moments.. Disadvantages: But the whole point of showing PITP is for the performances, cutting them out is like showing a football match without the goals.
brianjarvis 11.07.2000 ·
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Review of Channel 4
Aug 13th, 2004
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