www.broadcastnow.co.uk


NEWS ANALYSIS What TV wants


INTERVIEW


from Jeremy Hunt Page 10


Page 24


ITV to cut drama repeats to test in-house formats


BY JAKE KANTER


ITV is weighing up cutting drama repeats from ITV1’s daytime schedule to clear space for experi- menting with in-house formats. The channel airs archive dramas


such as Midsomer Murders and A Touch Of Frost at 4pm on weekdays for the majority of the year, and this slot is understood to have been earmarked for the strategy next year. The slot would become a dedi-


cated space where new ITV Studios formats could be tested and established. While the strategy has not been finalised, daytime development teams at ITVS have been alerted to the likelihood of increased opportunities in 2012. A number of projects are already


being worked up by the produc- tion arm, one insider claimed. The move would provide a


boost to ITVS in its goal of creating more internationally attractive formats, particularly in the areas of factual entertainment and pure entertainment. Opening up 4pm would enable


it to build on the success of shows such as May The Best House Win. Produced by ITVS-owned Shiver Productions, it was trialled for a week on ITV1 in February 2010, before going to a full series and being picked up by Spanish broad- caster Antena 3. The Chase is another example of


an ITVS format that was tested in a 5pm slot for two weeks in 2009 and has now grown into a regular ratings winner for the channel. As a result, ITV1 ordered 120 new


The Chase: ITVS format had trial in 5pm slot before ratings success


ITVS in its goal of creating more internationally attractive formats


episodes of the Bradley Walsh- fronted gameshow last month. Drama repeats will not be cut


altogether though, and director of factual and daytime Alison Sharman and head of off-peak scheduling Priya Singh are under- stood to be assessing when during the year is most suitable for the 4pm experiment. It is not thought that the plan to open up space in the daytime schedule has been


The move would boost


communicated to the indie sector at this stage. While the move to reduce drama


repeats is a strategic one, it could also save ITV money. The cost of airing them is thought to some- times top the broadcaster’s daytime tariff of around £30,000 an hour because of the broad caster’s repeat fee agreement with Equity. A similar deal between the BBC and the union effectively derailed the corporation’s Delivering Quality First idea of saving money by airing drama repeats instead of daytime shows on BBC2. The ITV/Equity deal is set to


undergo a standard three-year review later this year, a spokesman for the trade union said. ITV declined to comment.


Davies and Gardner on Torchwood’s US adventure


1 July 2011


of health & safety Page 28


PRODUCTION Staying the right side


Splash and Lime set for reality rivalry


BY BALIHAR KHALSA


Two structured reality shows are set to go head to head in Liverpool, with Splash Media in paid devel- opment on Desperate Scousewives (w/t) for E4 and MTV on the brink of commissioning Lime Pictures to make Mersey Shore. Both projects are still in the


early stages but are understood to already be competing for access to characters and locations. Splash recently held casting ses-


sions attended by 40-50 people at city centre bar Mosquito, which said it had been approached to feature in both shows. Splash is also understood to


have spoken to Liverpool salon chain Voodou, where stylists and clients have been recommended by the staff. Casting is also under way for


the MTV show, which would build on Lime’s Newcastle-based Geordie Shore for the same broadcaster and ITV2’s The Only Way is Essex. Channel 4 was keen to empha-


sise that if Desperate Scousewives is ordered, it would move the structured reality format on. Kate Teckman is the potential commis- sioner for the show.


Geordie Shore: Lime format for MTV


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44