The UTV Ireland Thread

Muahahaha

More trouble for UTV Ireland
http://www.independent.ie/business/media/utv-news-at-530-gets-just-7000-viewers-31296693.html

UTV Ireland's news bulletin has suffered a turbulent time since moving to its 5.30pm slot, with just 7,000 people tuning in on Wednesday.
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Figures show that since moving to an earlier schedule time from the original 6.30pm slot, UTV Ireland's news programme has had an average viewership of just 17,500 a day.
This is in comparison to 'TV3 News: The 5.30', which has had on average 108,000 people watching the news bulletin every day.

Puddle Q

UTV Ireland will be gone by the end of the year. It's been a disaster.

Thargor

7000 people is shocking, you could give Galway/Cork/Limerick etc their own news and more people would tune in to watch.

There really is something a bit off about that UTV Ireland news though. Also where are TV3 getting 100k viewers for their news? I gave up on it years ago it was so amateur hour.

Harry Palmr

The station really will have to have one hell of an Autumn schedule cos this summer is clearly going to offer no respite.

lertsnim

5.30 is an incredibly stupid time for news.

Larbre34

UTV Ireland issues profit warning, expected to lose £11.5m in Y1. Daytime and weekend viewing figures "disappointing"

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/utv-issues-warning-on-profits-for-new-irish-station-1.2260064

Surely that's completely unsustainable? They must have made more money when region specific advertising from the Republic paid to be on 'old' UTV?

Keep up the not watching folks, UTV NI will be back for Crimbo at this rate!!


As an aside, I was listening to Yates and Donoghue on Newstalk yesterday morning. Donoghue was slagging Yates for becoming a bit more dapper since his TV show was announced. "At least it won't be an unmitigated disaster like your TV career" says Yates!

FloatingVoter

Larbre34 wrote: »

UTV Ireland issues profit warning, expected to lose £11.5m in Y1. Daytime and weekend viewing figures "disappointing"

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/utv-issues-warning-on-profits-for-new-irish-station-1.2260064

Surely that's completely unsustainable? They must have made more money when region specific advertising from the Republic paid to be on 'old' UTV?

Keep up the not watching folks, UTV NI will be back for Crimbo at this rate!!


As an aside, I was listening to Yates and Donoghue on Newstalk yesterday morning. Donoghue was slagging Yates for becoming a bit more dapper since his TV show was announced. "At least it won't be an unmitigated disaster like your TV career" says Yates!

Yeah, I reckon whatever scam they're running won't outlast the current government - so Christmas or mid next year at the latest.
Do they pay UPC to put them on their EPG ? Otherwise, UPC would drop them once any contracts are up.
As always, any shows available on UTV proper can be downloaded 30-60 minutes after they air. Or you can wait 3 months to never to see them on ITV spud.

Clitheroekid

The news for UTV irel and goes from bad to worse.Utv Media must be trying to burn up surplus reserves.The company is playing a blinder.

Muahahaha

The viewing figures are woeful, there's nothing there to even be optimistic and to build an audience its that low currently. Can't see it lasting which is a shame but the blame must liewith poor decision making by ITV management thinking they could foist out of date TV on Irish audiences and actually make money out of it

Dodge

Muahahaha wrote: »

The viewing figures are woeful, there's nothing there to even be optimistic and to build an audience its that low currently. Can't see it lasting which is a shame but the blame must liewith poor decision making by ITV management thinking they could foist out of date TV on Irish audiences and actually make money out of it

It's a UTV decision, not an ITV one. And the distinction is important

FloatingVoter

UPC (Liberty Global) are in the running for buying TV3. Given that TV3 is the benefactor of the failure channel - it makes sense now that they rammed it down our throats. This was all about share price manipulation - ITV spud investors lose money, TV3 / Liberty Global stock goes up. Someone somewhere with a pocket calculator is making a fortune.
UPC will put UTV proper back on the EPG once the takeover is complete and relegate ITV spud to the back of beyond until it goes the way of Sky Arts 2.
If someone can tell me when the rights to Coronation Street lapse, that will be the last day of UTV Ireland.
Once again, commiserations to all the lower paid employees of the channel - it was better than JobScam for experience and a cruel intoduction to someone elses wicked game.

Skid X

Most of their scheduling and promotion has been terrible. It's hard to believe this is an offshoot of a company which has been running a successful TV station for years.

- Huge advertising campaign around "UTV Ireland - the new home for Graham Norton". Did they think viewers would forget they could watch Graham on BBC1 days earlier, or do they think their are untapped legions of viewers in the South who only have Saorview (but want to see Graham Norton?

- Pat Kenny being signed up for big money, and then only used on a dull overlong talk show which nobody noticed (when he should be doing Current Affairs)

- An obsession with Jeremy Kyle, sometimes four programmes a day

- Moving the early news to compete directly with TV3, thereby losing the handful of viewers they had.


etc etc.

Simon2015

Skid X wrote: »

Most of their scheduling and promotion has been terrible. It's hard to believe this is an offshoot of a company which has been running a successful TV station for years.

- Huge advertising campaign around "UTV Ireland - the new home for Graham Norton". Did they think viewers would forget they could watch Graham on BBC1 days earlier, or do they think their are untapped legions of viewers in the South who only have Saorview (but want to see Graham Norton?

- Pat Kenny being signed up for big money, and then only used on a dull overlong talk show which nobody noticed (when he should be doing Current Affairs)

- An obsession with Jeremy Kyle, sometimes four programmes a day

- Moving the early news to compete directly with TV3, thereby losing the handful of viewers they had.


etc etc.

Its like they deliberately want the station to fail. Maybe its some sort of tax scam.

I'm still waiting for UTV player on UPC on horizon box what is the hold up

Go Harvey Go

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Yeah, I reckon whatever scam they're running won't outlast the current government - so Christmas or mid next year at the latest.
Do they pay UPC to put them on their EPG ? Otherwise, UPC would drop them once any contracts are up.
As always, any shows available on UTV proper can be downloaded 30-60 minutes after they air. Or you can wait 3 months to never to see them on ITV spud.

FloatingVoter wrote: »

UPC (Liberty Global) are in the running for buying TV3. Given that TV3 is the benefactor of the failure channel - it makes sense now that they rammed it down our throats. This was all about share price manipulation - ITV spud investors lose money, TV3 / Liberty Global stock goes up. Someone somewhere with a pocket calculator is making a fortune.
UPC will put UTV proper back on the EPG once the takeover is complete and relegate ITV spud to the back of beyond until it goes the way of Sky Arts 2.

Why "ITV spud"?

Worth pointing out that the division of ITV Studios that produces The Chase and other entertainment shows is called Potato...

http://potatotv.co.uk/

Clitheroekid

John Malone paid 16 billion us dollars for Virgin Media Cable in Britain 2 years ago.Deutche Telecom was purchased around the same time,8 M suscribers.Liberty Global can afford to invest in TV3 which will add to UTV Irelands problems.Utv Ireland has to suffer until existing contracts end.

FloatingVoter

Clitheroekid wrote: »

John Malone paid 16 billion us dollars for Virgin Media Cable in Britain 2 years ago.Deutche Telecom was purchased around the same time,8 M suscribers.Liberty Global can afford to invest in TV3 which will add to UTV Irelands problems.Utv Ireland has to suffer until existing contracts end.

Exactly....once the rights to Corrie are up for grabs again, TV3 will have the cash to splash and its goodbye to UTV Ireland. There'll probably be enough left over to hire Pat Kenny as he'll be looking for work.

lertsnim

How long is the contract for ITV Studios content? 10 years?

FloatingVoter

lertsnim wrote: »

How long is the contract for ITV Studios content? 10 years?

It'd never be that length. Even if it was, UTV Ireland will fold long before a decade is out. You can't run a station on the back of one imported soap.

Dodge

FloatingVoter wrote: »

It'd never be that length. Even if it was, UTV Ireland will fold long before a decade is out. You can't run a station on the back of one imported soap.

TV3 did....

Muahahaha

More bad news, Mondays 5.30 news attracted just 4,700 viewers. Plus a senior employee at TV3 had a swipe at them

Director of content, Lynda McQuaid said the rival station's ratings only peak when Emmerdale and Coronation Street are on and that viewers switch off afterwards.
"UTV Ireland literally do a peak when the two soaps are on and I wouldn't say the world over there is a graph that falls so staggeringly," she told the Herald.
"It's unfortunate but that is what happened. They have failed to hold on to the audience after those programmes play.

More here
http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/utv-irelands-viewers-fall-staggeringly-after-corrie-and-emmerdale-says-tv3s-new-content-boss-lynda-31328766.html

FloatingVoter

Dodge wrote: »

TV3 did....

TV3 as crap as it is cornered the morning TV market (due to RTE leaving a gap). They've invested in homegrown product albeit sensationalist documentaries. And were forced to make an attempt at a soap.
ITV Ireland hasn't even made an effort.
There is a whiff of sulphur from the entire ITV Ireland venture ... nobody no matter how stupid or ignorant could have come up with this concept expecting it to be a success. Now if a smart person were to design a failure so they could short the markets.....well, maybe.

Richard

Simon2015 wrote: »

Its like they deliberately want the station to fail. Maybe its some sort of tax scam.

It's not a very good tax scam, if they are losing that sort of money.

Richard

FloatingVoter wrote: »

UPC will put UTV proper back on the EPG once the takeover is complete .

It's not their call. UTV don't want them to broadcast UTV NI.

ITV wouldn't let them broadcast one of their regions.

FloatingVoter

Richard wrote: »

It's not their call. UTV don't want them to broadcast UTV NI.

ITV wouldn't let them broadcast one of their regions.

That's strange business on the part of UTV. Assuming UTV Ireland goes to the wall, UTV proper turns down extra viewers ? Are their advertisers aware that they're so choosy ?
Frankly, I just want to see the mess end. It will serve as a warning to future cowboys that there is no free money in TV and viewers are not dumb cattle who will stay with any old dross once they have their soap.

J_E

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Exactly....once the rights to Corrie are up for grabs again, TV3 will have the cash to splash and its goodbye to UTV Ireland. There'll probably be enough left over to hire Pat Kenny as he'll be looking for work.

Pat Kenny is a bit like The Simpsons - he was good once but it's just time to tell him no and move on...

Infoanon

Richard wrote: »

It's not their call. UTV don't want them to broadcast UTV NI.

ITV wouldn't let them broadcast one of their regions.

As has been stated many times it was UPC that pulled UTV NI according to UTV officials.

UTVI are going through the same teething issues that all new TV channels go through - its unfortunate for them that as a Plc they must publicly disclose their issues.

It will be interesting to look back on this thread in 2 years time.

Richard

FloatingVoter wrote: »

That's strange business on the part of UTV. Assuming UTV Ireland goes to the wall, UTV proper turns down extra viewers ? Are their advertisers aware that they're so choosy ?
Frankly, I just want to see the mess end. It will serve as a warning to future cowboys that there is no free money in TV and viewers are not dumb cattle who will stay with any old dross once they have their soap.

It isn't just about viewers. Advertisers can target viewers on location. It's no good UTV NI getting loads of viewers in the south if advertising aren't giving them more money.

Of course if UTV I doesn't break even then their strategy won't work, but give it time.

Skid X

Infoanon wrote: »

As has been stated many times it was UPC that pulled UTV NI according to UTV officials.

Can you give a link to that statement? Thanks.

Infoanon

Skid X wrote: »

Can you give a link to that statement? Thanks.

6th Jan UTV Ireland twitter account - also up on FAQs on UTV.ie last time I checked, UPC have never responded directly to it on their 'talk to' section but IIRC there was mention of possible future legal issues which its assumed to be a reference to TV3 allegedly.

Skid X

Infoanon wrote: »

6th Jan UTV Ireland twitter account - also up on FAQs on UTV.ie last time I checked, UPC have never responded directly to it on their 'talk to' section but IIRC there was mention of possible future legal issues which its assumed to be a reference to TV3 allegedly.

Thanks, I suspect the reality is a lot more complex than UPC just deciding to drop the old UTV.

UTV plc wanted the new station available across the Republic, with the old station largely confined to the North (outside of Freesat and Sky 'other channels'. They would have negotiated a deal with UPC which made it far more favourable to carry UTV Ireland.

Mr.Nice Guy

Infoanon wrote: »

UTVI are going through the same teething issues that all new TV channels go through - its unfortunate for them that as a Plc they must publicly disclose their issues.

It will be interesting to look back on this thread in 2 years time.

Unless Jeremy Kyle surges in popularity over the next two years, then the verdict will be the same: this station stinks.

Go Harvey Go

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Unless Jeremy Kyle surges in popularity over the next two years, then the verdict will be the same: this station stinks.

And given that Jeremy Kyle has been on for ten years already, it's probably not very likely that it can get any more popular.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Vic_08

Skid X wrote: »

Most of their scheduling and promotion has been terrible. It's hard to believe this is an offshoot of a company which has been running a successful TV station for years.

No it isn't. UTV are and always have been amateurs. The Ulster ITV franchise, like the other minor franchises practically runs itself, even those fools couldn't manage to eff it up. Run the big name network content produced by the big franchisees morn to night, add in your local news bulletins (which in NI wrote themselves for 30 years "more sectarian conflict today"), produce a handful of dreadful, cheaply made local nonsense and bury it in late evening slots, collect advertising revenue, done.

Skid X

Vic_08 wrote: »

No it isn't. UTV are and always have been amateurs. The Ulster ITV franchise, like the other minor franchises practically runs itself, even those fools couldn't manage to eff it up. Run the big name network content produced by the big franchisees morn to night, add in your local news bulletins (which in NI wrote themselves for 30 years "more sectarian conflict today"), produce a handful of dreadful, cheaply made local nonsense and bury it in late evening slots, collect advertising revenue, done.

Not true. Only one ITV franchise ever beat their BBC competitor regularly in the main regional news slot - that was UTV. They knew their audience and delivered popular programming.

UTV ran a very successful Television Station in the North. Sadly, their expansion to the south has been a disaster.

Dodge

Skid X wrote: »

Thanks, I suspect the reality is a lot more complex than UPC just deciding to drop the old UTV.

UTV plc wanted the new station available across the Republic, with the old station largely confined to the North (outside of Freesat and Sky 'other channels'. They would have negotiated a deal with UPC which made it far more favourable to carry UTV Ireland.

And added to that, they possibly would have offered UTV Ulster at an increased rate with plenty of 'blacked out' programmes ITV4 style.

Logically speaking there is NO way UPC decided to remove a popular channel (and one of their advantages over sky) without UTV effectively forcing their hand

So while UTV may say it was UPC's decision, I think it's far more likely that UTV made it almost impossible for them

I know UPC take a lot of stick on these forums but surely no one can honestly believe they'd remove a channel for no reason at all

Infoanon

Dodge wrote: »

I know UPC take a lot of stick on these forums but surely no one can honestly believe they'd remove a channel for no reason at all

There is always a reason - normally financial, sometimes legal letters etc

Fr Tod Umptious

Looks like changes are a foot at UTV Ireland

 http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2015/0628/711174-utv-ireland/

UTV Ireland is planning to rebrand in the coming months with changes to the channel's onscreen identity and schedule as it seeks to increase its audience share.

Last week, UTV Media announced that it expects to incur a loss of £11.5m (€16.2m) in 2015 on UTV Ireland, citing weaker-than-expected daytime and weekend audience figures.

It is reported that job losses are not part of the review of the channel, which began broadcasting in January.


Speaking to the Sunday Business Post, UTV Ireland Managing Director Michael Wilson said: "We've gone under the bonnet, what's working, what's not working. We're looking at branding, we're looking at our strategies, our programme acquisition, our news, almost everything we are doing."

He continued: "We are the second-biggest channel in peak time. We are delivering bigger audiences for Emmerdale and Coronation Street than when they were on another TV channel only six months ago and our local programming is actually rating."

On the subject of rebranding UTV Ireland's onscreen identity, he told the paper: "The name is not turning the audience off. What I think the issue is at the moment with our brand in the South is we haven't quite got the curve of modern Ireland.

"We've got lots of beautiful scenic pictures of Donegal and Cork and Roscommon but Ireland has moved on and is moving out of recession. It's a successful country, it has character, it has people and places that are much more modern and relevant to the brand than beautiful shots of harbours and bridges."

lertsnim

If the rebrand means a change to that awful DOG then go ahead. If a DOG is a necessity then why not copy what they use in Northern Ireland.

Fr Tod Umptious

I think the rebrand will be removing the UTV part.
So folks will not expect the same content as UTV NI.

Mr.Nice Guy

On the subject of rebranding UTV Ireland's onscreen identity, he told the paper: "The name is not turning the audience off. What I think the issue is at the moment with our brand in the South is we haven't quite got the curve of modern Ireland.

"We've got lots of beautiful scenic pictures of Donegal and Cork and Roscommon but Ireland has moved on and is moving out of recession. It's a successful country, it has character, it has people and places that are much more modern and relevant to the brand than beautiful shots of harbours and bridges."

Wait, is he saying that numerous shows about Jeremy Kyle, coupled with English soaps in 'peak time', and the Good Morning Britain breakfast show is not quite capturing the spirit of modern Ireland? Surely not!

icdg

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I think the rebrand will be removing the UTV part.
So folks will not expect the same content as UTV NI.

If anything they will remove the "Ireland" bit. However they are saying the name isn't an issue.

FloatingVoter

If they're just going to splash out on a new name, a new logo and some graphics of hipsters on Grafton street hoping that saves their bacon they're more deluded than I thought.
Nobody has ever watched a TV station because it has a cool logo or a clever name. A free hint for UTV bosses - its about the stuff that goes on between the ad-breaks.

Content wise - Pat Kenny needs to put his current affairs hat on once Autumn arrives. A proper morning TV show will capture the TV3 viewers and Jeremy Kyle will be there waiting for them afterwards. Apparently, TV3 are getting more for Jeremy Kyle reruns than UTVI for his new season. I wouldn't know the difference myself but there's a clue in there.

Scrap the news altogether - the 4,500 viewers will find alternatives elsewhere and spend that budget on homegrown fare. As least then they can sink with heads held high.

expectationlost

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Looks like changes are a foot at UTV Ireland

http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2015/0628/711174-utv-ireland/

so he is admitting there were trying to hard to be Oirish, seriously did nobody working there shout stop.

"We are the second-biggest channel in peak time. We are delivering bigger audiences for Emmerdale and Coronation Street than when they were on another TV channel only six months ago."

has that got anything to do with what UTV are doing? or just by chance or other factors?

expectationlost

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Wait, is he saying that numerous shows about Jeremy Kyle, coupled with English soaps in 'peak time', and the Good Morning Britain breakfast show is not quite capturing the spirit of modern Ireland? Surely not!

first run jeremy kyle, do the people watching that show really care?

FloatingVoter

....the defence that the soaps are doing better on UTVI than on the "other channel" falls apart when we remember that both soaps had their viewership split between UTV and TV3. I often tuned in a bit late on UTV and caught up on TV3 or vice versa.
Another useful thing UTV Ireland could do is employ people who actually watch television.

Or just get the rights to the ITV prime time schedule so that we get the shows the same time as ITV!

Larbre34

Its inevitable that this will end with the demise of UTVI and a return to the screens in the Republic of UTV NI. Only some pen pusher's pride is preventing this from happening right away. From day one it has been good money after bad.

Hopefully push will come to shove in time for the Rugby World Cup.

hotmail.com

They should have news programmes at the weekend if they are really committed to news. Their presenters and reporters need more training for the 'live' parts. Alison is cringe and just seems nervous and out of her depth when not using the autocue.