Channel 4

What do you think about the Channel 4 sell off?

  • Support it

    Votes: 1 3.7%

  • Appose it

    Votes: 19 70.4%

  • Unsure

    Votes: 7 25.9%
  • Total voters
    27
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Yel

Yel

Chatty Member
Moderator
Creating a thread about the government sell off.

I'm a bit unsure about it, I can't remember the last good thing on the channel I watched - maybe the peep show? I've seen some disappointing dispatches, but most of the mainstream documentary stuff is pretty low quality these days.

I kinda think the government shouldn't own media companies, but at the same time it gives lots of funding to the arts anyway.

I haven't watched Channel 4 news in ages, but I believe they swerved things like Jack Monroe's rice up 344% fake news which they are to be commended for, even if it was because the head of news (Louisa Compton) is her ex.

Is it really the home of quality content? I think of location location location and naked attraction when I think about the channel.
 
I do think there are good shows on Channel 4, like Derry Girls. But I think some shows have had their day, like Great British Bake Off. That show either needs to be scrapped or have a massive overhaul, was so bored watching the recent Stand Up to Cancer one. However I think Junior Bake Off is superb.
I’ve never gotten in to Channel 4 news, I could never gel with the hosts, same with channel 5.
I’m not sure what selling this off will mean to the viewer in practical terms?
 
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thegirlscout said:
I’ve never gotten in to Channel 4 news, I could never gel with the hosts
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Same. They do seem to have had far more car crash interviews than ITV or C5 news have had.

This is a good example


It's being sold as the channel won't take chances on new stuff, but as it's already commercially funded I'm not sure that argument stacks up. I was well over bake off before it moved channels.
 
They used to do some great documentaries but I think they lost their nerve with them after some backlash. All a lot tamer now. Only recent stuff I like from their output is Fresh Meat (not so recent now) and Derry Girls.
 
Warpaint said:
They used to do some great documentaries but I think they lost their nerve with them after some backlash. All a lot tamer now. Only recent stuff I like from their output is Fresh Meat (not so recent now) and Derry Girls.
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What was the backlash they faced?
 
The last thing I watched was It's A Sin, and I can't picture that being made by any other major UK broadcaster tbh? Same with Cucumber/Banana/Tofu. (I'm not just a Russell T. Davies fan, I promise). Also I have a sentimental attachment to Location, Location, Location. I do think it's good having BBC as the more traditional public-funded broadcaster and C4 as the alternative which can pump money into the arts. I'm surprised they're raising a sell-off and not, maybe, cutting the channels down. Out of all the C4 entities, I mostly watch 4, E4, 4OD, and Film4. IMO the channel should be downsized (who's watching More4?) and given a stricter remit from the gov funding in terms of supporting new British broadcasting talent.
 
f0xmulder said:
The last thing I watched was It's A Sin, and I can't picture that being made by any other major UK broadcaster tbh?
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Not trying to be annoying and haven't seen it; but apparently it was the most popular show for channel 4 in three years, 8.7 on IMDb, 97% on rotton tomatoes, loads of awards, sold to other countries. It seems like it made a lot of money, so is the kind of thing the channel would still do in private ownership? Especially as it was made by a known team with a track record rather than a gamble on someone new.

I wonder what are the shows that aren't commercialy successful that would be lost? The ones mentioned on this thread seem to be hits.
 
Yel said:
Not trying to be annoying and haven't seen it; but apparently it was the most popular show for channel 4 in three years, 8.7 on IMDb, 97% on rotton tomatoes, loads of awards, sold to other countries. It seems like it made a lot of money, so is the kind of thing the channel would still do in private ownership? Especially as it was made by a known team with a track record rather than a gamble on someone new.

I wonder what are the shows that aren't commercialy successful that would be lost? The ones mentioned on this thread seem to be hits.
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oh dw it's not annoying and those are all really good points - i was leaning more into the image i guess? c4 has always seemed like the challenger/envelope pusher and my concern would basically be that being lost under privatisation.
 
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Looking at this in the news, it seems that channel 4 have and continue to make some great things. They pushed the envelope with Brookside and they had the tv series of This Is England plus It’s a Sin. But a lot of their output is such dross. It seems to be property shows with a tired format, ‘Brits doing things abroad’ (New Life in the Sun, Escape to the Chateau DIY), programs like Four in a Bed which should have been cancelled and Steph’s Packed Lunch which is dire.
I think a major issue is that channels like Channel 4 run 24/7 so they end up repeating a lot of dross. Looking at their All 4 catalogue they have some great shows - why aren’t they repeated instead? Another thing I’m wondering is does every channel need a news channel? Would they save money axing the channel 4 news and focus on investigative documentaries and shows?
I don’t think Channel 4 is the only one with these issues.
 
Not a Channel 4 production as such, but I enjoy the foreign dramas on Walter Presents, some gems on there. Apart from that I don't watch much ch4, it lost its ability to shock years ago, the likes of Naked Attraction and the other countless programs about sex and nudity are rubbish.
 
The channel went way down in my estimation, when they commisioned the series about Katie Price's mucky mansion. They ignored the indignation of the majority, and broadcast the show anyway. A real low point.
They used to be a really cutting edge channel, producing groundbreaking shows like Brookside, and making great films for Film4. Those days seem a distant memory.
 
There is TV movie called pleasureland on the 4od app. If you haven't seen it I recommend this! It's really 2000's nostalgia and has a story. I remember watching it when I was 14 and it was a bit contraversial at the time when they showed it. That and peep show. I don't enjoy anything on that channel now. Don't even get me started on naked attraction!
😫🙄
 
I don’t have a TV or licence so I occasionally try to watch channel 4 catch up on my laptop and it always takes ages to load? They need an app that works to keep up with Netflix etc
 
soph30 said:
I don’t have a TV or licence so I occasionally try to watch channel 4 catch up on my laptop and it always takes ages to load? They need an app that works to keep up with Netflix etc
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All4 is so slow. Also, I understand the need to put ads into the service, but do they have to show the same three adverts over and over? Trying to binge watch is awful.
 
Does anyone else have issues with 4od constantly buffering? 😴 they won’t be able to compete with Netflix at this rate
 
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