The ITV Thread

iseegirls

I think RTE2 are in serious trouble - when looking at their ratings and the quality (or non-quality) of their shows.

These are the only home produced programmes next week in prime time:
Sat: The Voice ireland (r)
Sun & Thu: Norah's Traveller Academy
Wed: Clubland: Reality Bites

That's all. And to make matters worse, they have Mock The Week on Monday nights. I don't know from which series - but Mock the Week is half made up of English politics regarding the news of that week it was originally broadcast. Seems like they have run out of all their new shows which they talked about when they re-launched back in September.

AwaitYourReply

Elmo wrote: »

It took TV3 a very long time to start producing much of anything hence the hate followed by the over the top mega loan that was written down by the public. I think it's mellowing now that UTV have forced their hand. But leaving it until this year was a huge mistake for TV3.

The figures for coro st and Emmers are much the same as TV3 but the other figures are a good bit below what TV3 get for programming outside the 2 main soaps.

Basically UTV Ireland has split UTVs and TV3s old audience down the middle.

I decided to do some research as I also felt TV3 had got lazy and seemed to do more Irish based shows in the early days. In recent times TV3 have launched a raft of new programmes given the loss of some major staple shows to new Irish terrestrial channel, UTV Ireland. Having done some research just now it seems TV3 has done a lot more that most of us (including myself) ever gave them credit to be fair.

TV3 Shows - Past and Present

The Dunphy Show-2003 Chat show hosted by Eamon Dunphy @ The Helix
Sports Tonight each weeknight
Additional TV3 News 6:30pm weekdays and SAT/SUN/Bank Holidays @5:30pm
The Weakest Link (2001/2002 Irish version) with Eamon Dunphy
Ireland AM still running since 1999
The Apprentice with Bill Cullen (2008-2011)
Deal or No Deal with Keith Barry (Nov 2009-Mar 2010)
Xposé (Irish entertainment/celebrity gossip) since 2007
Tonight with Vincent Browne
Midday (TV3's answer to Loose Women since 2008!)
Take Me Out (Irish version) with Ray Foley 2010-2013
The Morning Show with Sybil Mulcahy
The Lie (Quiz show)
MidWeek (ran until mid 2014)
The Peoples Debate (Studio Audience Q+A format chaired by V. Browne)
The Brendan Courtney Show 2005/2006
Championship Live (since 2008)
The GAA Show (since 2011)
Agenda (1999-2004)
Crossfire (TV Game Show presented by Seán Moncrieff) since 2014
Deception (Irish primetime drama) since 2013
Jack Taylor (Irish TV Series/Private Investigator) since 2010
The Restaurant (new series - previously aired on RTÉ for 7 series)
Late Lunch Live with Martin King and Lucy Kennedy since Sept. 2013
RedRock Wed/Thurs @8:30pm (Irish soap drama) launched on 07/01/2015

Sam Russell

Yes TV3 have done some home produced programmes, but most have been a poor and cheap copy of the original or are full of product placement (paid for) and are little more than informercials for particular products. The worst example of which was the Bill Cullen Apprentice edition which was a continuous advertisement for Cadburys.

I hope UTV do not go down that road. Producing Irish versions of NI programmes will not cut it, but it is early days yet.

AwaitYourReply

Sam Russell wrote: »

Yes TV3 have done some home produced programmes, but most have been a poor and cheap copy of the original or are full of product placement (paid for) and are little more than informercials for particular products. The worst example of which was the Bill Cullen Apprentice edition which was a continuous advertisement for Cadburys.

I hope UTV do not go down that road. Producing Irish versions of NI programmes will not cut it, but it is early days yet.

I think we all fear this alright - That silly theme music for Ireland Live at 10 and the very poor graphics display on screen during their news programming is sloppy. I cannot understand why they do not modify as it would reflect much better on this home produced output. They may seem like small things but the visual image presentation is also important. I think they probably should just develop it as an Irish orientated channel rather than trying to also appeal to former UTV(NI) viewers as right now they will end up with a confused identity - The name is UTV Ireland but there is a strong Northern Ireland influence with it's style and themes and some out of place programmes like: Rare Breed, Lesser Spotted Ulster Journeys, James Nesbitt's Ireland and so on.

I have not seen much of the UTV Ireland Continuity Announcers on screen in person the odd time I have tuned in over recent times. Is there a set time that they appear or has the idea been dropped altogether? They made a big deal about this style pre-launch but it's not high profile or a regular occurrence from what I've seen to date.

onethreefive

How do you make the UTV Ireland player full screen? All I can do is play and pause it

AwaitYourReply

onethreefive wrote: »

How do you make the UTV Ireland player full screen? All I can do is play and pause it

Where you see the word PLAYER towards lower end of the UTV Ireland homepage, once you click on PLAYER and open a show from it - you should then place the arrow/cursor over the icon which is just to the left-hand-side of the volume icon and click on it and Full Screen image opens. I tried it a second ago and it was fine at my end.

onethreefive

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Where you see the word PLAYER towards lower end of the UTV Ireland homepage, once you click on PLAYER and open a show from it - you should then place the arrow/cursor over the icon which is just to the left-hand-side of the volume icon and click on it and Full Screen image opens. I tried it a second ago and it was fine at my end.

Thanks but it wont work with me I can only watch the video in a small box on the screen

AwaitYourReply

onethreefive wrote: »

Thanks but it wont work with me I can only watch the video in a small box on the screen

Do you have your Caps Lock key on in error ?
Make sure CAPS is not on just to be sure!

Go back into a show in the UTV Ireland Player
IF the Caps key was NOT on then

Try to press the ESC key (Top Left of Keyboard)

Other than that, shut down and restart computer
Mine works fine as I tried it after you sent the query

lertsnim

onethreefive wrote: »

Thanks but it wont work with me I can only watch the video in a small box on the screen

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JCX BXC

The news man on UTV makes me laugh. His facial expressions are just priceless. It looks like a cheap comedy.

formerly scottish paddy

Carnacalla wrote: »

His facial expressions are just priceless

He has facial expressions?.............did this robot person actually do a screen test?.........if he did who watched it..........and still gave him a job!

JCX BXC

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

He has facial expressions?.............did this robot person actually do a screen test?.........if he did who watched it..........and still gave him a job!

Not really facial expressions, he looks (and sounds) like a cheap robot. Really funny:P

formerly scottish paddy

Carnacalla wrote: »

Not really facial expressions, he looks (and sounds) like a cheap robot. Really funny:P

Actually not a cheap robot but a very expensive robot (because it almost looks human!)

Elmo

http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4287927&tpl=archnews&force=1

Interesting that UTV Ireland have no imports or international news

I also have Elementary and The Blacklist in the Sky+ and when I find time, I think they are both fabulous. I'm also a news fan and along with UTV Live and Ireland Live, I normally watch a cross section of two or three other national/international programmes across an evening.

lertsnim

Elmo wrote: »

http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4287927&tpl=archnews&force=1

Interesting that UTV Ireland have no imports or international news

The schedule is 90% imported from the UK.

iseegirls

Elmo wrote: »

http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4287927&tpl=archnews&force=1

Interesting that UTV Ireland have no imports or international news

I think they have a Canadian show called Republic Of Doyle on Sunday nights at 11pm. However the series finished after 6 seasons last month in Canada. A strange purchase.

Elmo

lertsnim wrote: »

The schedule is 90% imported from the UK.

Sorry I mean US imports

icdg

Ireland Live have showed at least one international news story any time I have watched.

irishfeen

icdg wrote: »

Ireland Live have showed at least one international news story any time I have watched.

Yes in fact any time I have watched they have had maybe two or three on a given night.

Elmo

icdg wrote: »

Ireland Live have showed at least one international news story any time I have watched.

I assume he means ITN, BBC News Channel, Sky News, CNN etc.

irishmusicfeed

Anyone see the ITV promos which accidentally came on UTV Ireland at 19:00 prior to Stars In Their Eye's? Ooops

irishmusicfeed

irishmusicfeed wrote: »

Anyone see the ITV promos which accidentally came on UTV Ireland at 19:00 prior to Stars In Their Eye's? Ooops

No, what was on it?

lertsnim

irishmusicfeed wrote: »

Anyone see the ITV promos which accidentally came on UTV Ireland at 19:00 prior to Stars In Their Eye's? Ooops

I saw an ITV promo about losing weight one of the mornings I had it on.

CorkMartin

irishmusicfeed wrote: »

Anyone see the ITV promos which accidentally came on UTV Ireland at 19:00 prior to Stars In Their Eye's? Ooops

Couldn't believe they lasted for so long. A full promo for an ITV show with Dermot O'Leary on next week and then the ITV indent with a girl and a hula hoop. So UTVI are relaying directly from the ITV network and not UTV NI. In all the years watching UTV I don't think they ever showed main ITV graphics in prime time accidentally.

AwaitYourReply

CorkMartin wrote: »

Couldn't believe they lasted for so long. A full promo for an ITV show with Dermot O'Leary on next week and then the ITV indent with a girl and a hula hoop. So UTVI are relaying directly from the ITV network and not UTV NI. In all the years watching UTV I don't think they ever showed main ITV graphics in prime time accidentally.

This is interesting alright. In bygone years, RTÉ used often get caught out in the same way when they used take live feeds of certain shows such as: BBC tv: Top Of The Pops and if the show was delayed on BBC One, RTÉ 2 used have to fill the space looking ahead to programmes coming up later on in the evening but occassionally if transmission on BBC One was delayed for a long period, then RTÉ 2 might eventually cut away and the then ident for BBC tv, the BBC1 globe would end up appearing on RTÉ 2 as well!

Also when Top Of The Pops would play out at the very end BBC One used often cut away before the end of the closing video/performance and up would come a promo of their Saturday morning young people's programme such as "Saturday Superstore" with Mike Reid & Co. or "Going Live" with Philip Schofield & Co. would be seen on RTÉ 2 before someone would cut away and run a promo for "Anything Goes" with Aonghus McNally, Dave Heffernan, Mary Fitzgerald & Kathy Parke on Saturday mornings on RTÉ One instead!

I can't remember if the same happened when RTÉ2 used also take feeds for "THIS IS YOUR LIFE" or "Coronation Street" from ITV.

AwaitYourReply

The complete lack of any form of NEWS programming on UTV Ireland over the whole of the weekend is very disappointing but not surprising given that their primary aim is to be entirely commercial.

However; I would seriously question why the Minister for Communications and various broadcasting authorities like the BAI/ComREG had not sought additional assurances from UTV Media plc/UTV Ireland about their future plans with regards to News & Current Affairs programming output across Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays? When UTV came knocking on the Minister's door seeking an Irish PSB licence this would have been the perfect opportunity to look for a favour from UTV in return with regards to their committments towards devoting similar amount of time to News & Current Affairs programming across the week-end days (same amount of time as UTV NI does)

I sometimes wonder if broadcasters in Ireland in general are required to have a minimum % or a minimum number of hours/minutes of News & Current Affairs across a week/month/year which the broadcaster is permitted to rotate in any way shape or form which in theory may explain why we have absolutely zero coverage of news on Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays. If I am not mistaken, it's sister commercial channel UTV(NI) in Northern Ireland has managed to broadcast a few news programmes on each day of the weekend! They are probably required to do so under their UK Channel 3 licence terms across UK I suspect?

Elmo

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

The complete lack of any form of NEWS programming on UTV Ireland over the whole of the weekend is very disappointing but not surprising given that their primary aim is to be entirely commercial.

However; I would seriously question why the Minister for Communications and various broadcasting authorities like the BAI/ComREG had not sought additional assurances from UTV Media plc/UTV Ireland about their future plans with regards to News & Current Affairs programming output across Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays? When UTV came knocking on the Minister's door seeking an Irish PSB licence this would have been the perfect opportunity to look for a favour from UTV in return with regards to their committments towards devoting similar amount of time to News & Current Affairs programming across the week-end days (same amount of time as UTV NI does)

I sometimes wonder if broadcasters in Ireland in general are required to have a minimum % or a minimum number of hours/minutes of News & Current Affairs across a week/month/year which the broadcaster is permitted to rotate in any way shape or form which in theory may explain why we have absolutely zero coverage of news on Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays. If I am not mistaken, it's sister commercial channel UTV(NI) in Northern Ireland has managed to broadcast a few news programmes on each day of the weekend! They are probably required to do so under their UK Channel 3 licence terms across UK I suspect?

TV3 argued that UTV Ireland should not appear on Saorview as it is not a PSB. The minister with the advice of his civil servants under the broadcasting act took it to announce they UTV Ireland was public service in nature to allow it go on Soarview however the act also allow the PSB mux to carry channels should space be available for their broadcast, and it would be unlikely that Irish Law could prevent UTV Ireland going on Saorview as such a move would go against the EU's AVWF directive. Also the question of how 3e is a PSB would have to be considered.

As UTV Ireland has a different licence to TV3 under the act (though there is nothing to suggest that it could have the same licence as TV3). It seems the only reason not to give them the same licence as TV3 is purely because the BAI don't accept such application.

TV3 and radio stations do have minimum Current Affairs and News from the BAI. Though TV3 have moved to reduce those targets.

BTW RTÉ and TG4 have no such requirements, more worrying it the near complete dropping of news from RTÉ2.

But you are right the minister gave them PSB status without any requirements, UTV could always drop all Irish programming from its schedules tomorrow and it still doesn't pay the BAI the Broadcasting Levy that its sister radio stations do.

AwaitYourReply

Elmo wrote: »

TV3 argued that UTV Ireland should not appear on Saorview as it is not a PSB. The minister with the advice of his civil servants under the broadcasting act took it to announce they UTV Ireland was public service in nature to allow it go on Soarview however the act also allow the PSB mux to carry channels should space be available for their broadcast, and it would be unlikely that Irish Law could prevent UTV Ireland going on Saorview as such a move would go against the EU's AVWF directive. Also the question of how 3e is a PSB would have to be considered.

As UTV Ireland has a different licence to TV3 under the act (though there is nothing to suggest that it could have the same licence as TV3). It seems the only reason not to give them the same licence as TV3 is purely because the BAI don't accept such application.

TV3 and radio stations do have minimum Current Affairs and News from the BAI. Though TV3 have moved to reduce those targets.

BTW RTÉ and TG4 have no such requirements, more worrying it the near complete dropping of news from RTÉ2.

But you are right the minister gave them PSB status without any requirements, UTV could always drop all Irish programming from its schedules tomorrow and it still doesn't pay the BAI the Broadcasting Levy that its sister radio stations do.

I think it is outrageous that stations get away so lightly - UTV Ireland, TV3, 3e, RTÉ2, TG4, RTÉ One and all future Irish PSB designated channels must be obliged to carry adequate News & Current Affairs programming as specified by the Minister for Communications/BAI/ComREG. The terms and conditions would need to be quite specific and enforced to ensure we are not left with the current status quo as this is completely unacceptable - it would even need to indicate when broadcasting of these type shows must take place such as between certain hours on all relevant days which include SAT/SUN/Bank Holidays so that broadcasters cannot abuse the situation and stick on a repeated current affairs/news programme in 30min slots such as during graveyard shifts - just to get around any directives issued.

Certain exceptions may be permitted in terms of reduced coverage of (e.g.) 15 mins per News bulletin is allowed from Christmas Eve up to New Year's Day inclusive and between Good Friday and Easter Monday inclusive or other exceptions as announced by the Minister for Communications office.

ftakeith

http://www.independent.ie/business/media/utv-blames-weak-ratings-on-sky-and-upc-s-price-hikes-30915637.html

the ratings are down because their content is mostly crap

I predict UTV ireland will buy TV3, UTV ireland will take over 3e place on EPG places

Elmo

ftakeith wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/business/media/utv-blames-weak-ratings-on-sky-and-upc-s-price-hikes-30915637.html

the ratings are down because their content is mostly crap

I predict UTV ireland will buy TV3, UTV ireland will take over 3e place on EPG places

No mention of other ratings UTV aren't going to be worried about either news show if they have 300,000 viewers for the soaps.

lertsnim

A poor excuse if ever I heard one. They will want to cop onto themselves very quickly and start showing programming at the same time as ITV and buying in much more content that isn't ITV.

Showing older series of tv shows because they haven't been seen here on an Irish channel before is a rather stupid approach as the more up to date episodes are freely available to anyone with a satellite dish and anybody who wants to watch it on cable will more than likely have already seen the older episdes on UTV from Norhtern Ireland.

ftakeith

lertsnim wrote: »

A poor excuse if ever I heard one. They will want to cop onto themselves very quickly and start showing programming at the same time as ITV and buying in much more content that isn't ITV.

Showing older series of tv shows because they haven't been seen here on an Irish channel before is a rather stupid approach as the more up to date episodes are freely available to anyone with a satellite dish and anybody who wants to watch it on cable will more than likely have already seen the older episdes on UTV from Norhtern Ireland.

most people feel that way

formerly scottish paddy

Their news programmes are too wooden, with everyone looking as thought they are s**t scared to make a mistake, they need to relax more.
I think that UTV management are beginning to realize that starting a TV station "down south" is not the walk in the park they thought it would be......expect to see changes!

mikom

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

Their news programmes are too wooden, with everyone looking as thought they are s**t scared to make a mistake, they need to relax more.

Was the news set designed by Jor-El?

JCX BXC

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

Their news programmes are too wooden, with everyone looking as thought they are s**t scared to make a mistake, they need to relax more.

Maybe news should be like that! RTE certainly are not afraid to make mistakes (Aengus). There has been some good comedy moments on RTE news over the past years.

Also, are the RTE news people told what to wear? Im not a lover of the weather woman in her banana dress.......

irishmusicfeed

Had a good laugh at the Sunday Independent article on UTV, they blame both Sky and UPC for their inept ability to operate a channel. I never watched UTV NI so it makes no difference to me but I am suprised at how UTV Ireland news programming is receiving such low figures. It's definitely worthy of more viewers. I am also glad to see TV3 are beating them in the ratings they're programming is still not great but at least they have invested in Irish programming in the last few years... UTV Ireland don't have the opportunity to take Xfactor etc from TV3 until at least 2016/2017 by then the channel will be lucky to even have viewers....I think UTV rushed their launch in the republic and should have given it another year to sort out broadcasting contracts and looked at what the Irish TV market is really missing... Some programming is just repetitive and already available for example Rare Breed isn't needed as RTÉ, TG4 and the Satillite channel Irish TV already air such rural programming... UTV Ireland seems like a huge mistake at this stage it wasn't planned out well from the start.

channelsurfer2

It does seem they put all their eggs in the one basket with only buying itv studios programming. And then they dont even show the latest series of some of it. A serious rethink is needed if they are to succeed in their business plan to be number 2. They arent even showing Paul O Grady's animal orphans programme on Tuesday night, which one would have thought is extremly popular and an ITV studios programme!

EdmondShiels3

I only watch a few programs on it, Coronation street and the news some nights. Also I watch the chase because it is over at half six and I can then watch home and away. If it was not there I would have continued to watch it on itv +1 at six for the chase. I would not miss it if it was gone. The only thing I thought it would do is make tv3 a better channel but this has not happened yet. At least they are trying to make more Irish programming unlike utv which are using the ni programs they have made for the that channel on utv Ireland.

Elmo

1 Coronation Street 360
2 Coronation Street 330
3 Coronation Street 315
4 Coronation Street 303
5 Coronation Street 277
6 Emmerdale 275
7 Emmerdale 262
8 Emmerdale 244
9 Emmerdale 234
10 Emmerdale 233
11 Emmerdale 226
12 Surprise Surprise 110
13 Rare Breed: A Farming Year 109
14 Birds Of A Feather 108
15 James Nesbitt's Ireland 95
16 Midsomer Murders 83
17 The Cruise Ship 80
18 Doc Martin 78
19 Undeniable 67
20 The Kyle Files 61

hotmail.com

I am missing ITV News.

CorkMartin

Elmo wrote: »

1 Coronation Street 360
2 Coronation Street 330
3 Coronation Street 315
4 Coronation Street 303
5 Coronation Street 277
6 Emmerdale 275
7 Emmerdale 262
8 Emmerdale 244
9 Emmerdale 234
10 Emmerdale 233
11 Emmerdale 226
12 Surprise Surprise 110
13 Rare Breed: A Farming Year 109
14 Birds Of A Feather 108
15 James Nesbitt's Ireland 95
16 Midsomer Murders 83
17 The Cruise Ship 80
18 Doc Martin 78
19 Undeniable 67
20 The Kyle Files 61

Those top 10 ratings are probably way higher than RTE2's average top 10, and not far off TV3's. UTVI can't be too unhappy after such a short time on air.

monkeysnapper

sorry for being lazy but what channel on sky is this utv ?

Elmo

CorkMartin wrote: »

Those top 10 ratings are probably way higher than RTE2's average top 10, and not far off TV3's. UTVI can't be too unhappy after such a short time on air.

It's about the same as RTÉ2. The only difference is Coro St and Emmers but that's to be expected.

The only channel that Coro St has yet to appear on is TG4.

Saorview 6
UPC 110
Sky 116
E-vision 108

zeebre12

Why didn't they call the channel UTV 5..?is it meant to be our 5th channel?, like channel 5 in the UK (because news on the channel)?

JCX BXC

zeebre12 wrote: »

Why didn't they call the channel UTV 5..?is it meant to be our 5th channel?, like channel 5 in the UK (because news on the channel)?

I think someone needs a quick look at the old tv menu.

Utv were the 9th channel to launch on saorview.

The channels that launched before it are:
RTE ONE
RTE TWO
TV3
TG4
3e
RTE ONE+1
RTE JUNIOR
RTE NEWS NOW.

Even if you exclude the last 3 who don't have wide coverage, Utv was the 6th channel to launch with coverage on most major tv platforms.. UTV Ireland is also a far better name IMO.

Sam Russell

A better name might have been Ireland TV or just ITV, because that is what they show.

twinklerunner

Sam Russell wrote: »

A better name might have been Ireland TV or just ITV, because that is what they show.

Or UTVR. The R could stand for both Republic of Ireland and Repeats

channelsurfer2

the NTA decision is a strange one. They seem to have been outbid by tv3 for it by all accounts, yet werent even going to show it until people asked them on Twitter to show it.

twinklerunner

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

the NTA decision is a strange one. They seem to have been outbid by tv3 for it by all accounts, yet werent even going to show it until people asked them on Twitter to show it.

It makes you wonder if they really know their audience 'down south'.

ftakeith

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

the NTA decision is a strange one. They seem to have been outbid by tv3 for it by all accounts, yet werent even going to show it until people asked them on Twitter to show it.

NTA awards means nothing to most TV viewers

'whale rider' was the only thing I recorded on UTV ireland on my sky box as it was shown on saturday 3/1/15
The soaps repeats takeover that timeslot now

UTVI is a terrible TV channel

UTVI will merge or buy TV3 in a panic around 2016 than all the ITV content will then be on UTVI that will replace 3e on EPG placement
TV3 will show all the homemade TV content in the future