"Not Scotland" - What are STV Playing At? - Broadcasting

BIDIE-IN · 18-07-2009, 10:18

Browsing the listings for the coming week, I was pleased to see a new Midsummer Murder was being shown on Wednesday - but then I saw the dreaded (and all too common) phrase "not STV" in brackets beside it.

We are getting a repeat of 'Foyles War'. A good programme, yes, but it has been shown before - so are we going to ever see the final episodes of MM?

I am doubtful having already asked STV when they intend to show us series 3 of 'Kingdom' and 'Lewis' - only to be told that these programmes will not be shown on STV and instead they are buying programmes from other regions of the UK.

That'll be CHEAPER programmes presumably?

Having seen series 1 & 2 of both 'Kingdom' and 'Lewis' it is unfair to make us buy the dvd's if we want to continue watching - now I read that 'The Bill' is also to be dropped from the STV schedules. Is 'Coronation Street' safe?

(And yes, I know, if I have Sky I can tune to ITV and see these shows, but at present I don't have Sky - and I am not sure that I should have to buy it to enjoy series that have previously been available to me!

)

Perhaps if enough people contact STV and complain they will have a rethink, but I am inclined to think only a withdrawal of advertising revenue is likely to make them change their minds.....

JAS84 · 18-07-2009, 10:21

Bastards. Glad I don't live in Scotland.

AMacSteaphain · 18-07-2009, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIDIE-IN

Perhaps if enough people contact STV and complain they will have a rethink, but I am inclined to think only a withdrawal of advertising revenue is likely to make them change their minds.....

I doubt it will make any differance, even if they were to change their mind, the damage done to the STV brand is too great. Judging by most of the comments concerning stv dropping the bill and then boycotting STV, it would appear that STV have sealed their death by not listening to their viewers.

Servicetech 1 · 18-07-2009, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMacSteaphain

I doubt it will make any differance, even if they were to change their mind, the damage done to the STV brand is too great. Judging by most of the comments concerning stv dropping the bill and then boycotting STV, it would appear that STV have sealed their death by not listening to their viewers.

I have every sympathy,for viewers in Scotland,who are suffering from 'opt out' hell.

This sort of thing happens in Wales as well and has driven many viewers away from the four Welsh tv channels,instead directing their aerials to non-Welsh transmitters.

It seems the broadcasters are not interested in what viewers want to see. Instead,they appear to want to satisfy their political masters desire for complete separation from England.

gerrymartin981 · 18-07-2009, 12:01

(And yes, I know, if I have Sky I can tune to ITV and see these shows, but at present I don't have Sky - and I am not sure that I should have to buy it to enjoy series that have previously been available to me!

)

You could invest in freesat which would give you the option of other ITV regions.I know you would have the initial outlay for equipment and installation but at least you would have the choices STV are denying you without a monthly subscription.Just a thought

G.

JAS84 · 18-07-2009, 14:48

Another example of their stupidity here: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1075271

Basically, they've messed up the moon landing coverage.

Ramsay Ladders · 18-07-2009, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerrymartin981

(And yes, I know, if I have Sky I can tune to ITV and see these shows, but at present I don't have Sky - and I am not sure that I should have to buy it to enjoy series that have previously been available to me!

)

You could invest in freesat which would give you the option of other ITV regions.I know you would have the initial outlay for equipment and installation but at least you would have the choices STV are denying you without a monthly subscription.Just a thought

G.

Another option is the "Pay once, watch forever" package from Sky which gives you the full Sky set up and 2 months subs for £70. (sometimes less). After the 2 months you then have a fully working FTA receiver. Cheaper than freesat too.

Nelad · 18-07-2009, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAS84

Bastards. Glad I don't live in Scotland.

Yep me too - and it's got nowt to do with what they show on tv!

Thistle74 · 18-07-2009, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelad

Yep me too - and it's got nowt to do with what they show on tv!

Don't think you'd qualify to live in Scotland with an IQ as low as yours to be honest

Koala · 18-07-2009, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelad

Yep me too - and it's got nowt to do with what they show on tv!

We're glad you don't live here as well Nelad.

Jaycee Dove · 18-07-2009, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Servicetech 1

This sort of thing happens in Wales as well and has driven many viewers away from the four Welsh tv channels,instead directing their aerials to non-Welsh transmitters.

I have lived in Wales for several years and I do not recall whole series being dropped like in Scotland.

Yes, there are excellent local opt outs but these usually just push back an English show to a later slot but they still get screened. And even that is not happening with any of the major series that have effected STV.

The Bill. Lewis, Kingdom, etc have all been screened in the same slots as in England.

Not saying this has not occurred in the past but I am certainly not noticing it as a problem personally despite watching s lot of TV.

EleanorRigby · 18-07-2009, 15:58

Get a secondhand Sky receiver for a tenner and get a dish and install it yourself. You get all the BBC regions and can use add channels to put in the ITV regions and then don't have to worry if STV are not showing what you want to see.

solarflare · 18-07-2009, 16:04

As far as I'm concerned dropping the network programme makes some sort of sense if there's something worthwhile in its place.

But I don't think a repeat of Foyle's War is, and it seems odd that they take one network programme and not another - a bit "wanting to have your cake and eat it".

But like I always end these STV posts with, if it makes economic sense for them then they'll do it, in terms of viewers per money spent per episode.

C14E · 18-07-2009, 16:08

They only seem to drop drama and whatever gameshow ITV show at 5pm. They never seem to drop a cheap factual programme!

I wish STV would just sell out to ITV. If it wants to keep doing this then it would be better pi*sing off to the specialist section of the EPG. Then again, for all the talk about Scottish programming, the most promoted decision was the one to buy South Park!

Does STV pulling out of shows like Kingdom have an effect on ITV?

Glamour Girl · 18-07-2009, 16:23

Thankfully I can get ITV1 London on Sky so it's not a huge deal but the decisions by STV are sometimes baffling. Is it all just about saving money? Why on earth are we getting Fitz, the American version of Cracker, on Sundays at 9pm. It's about 15 years old, advertised as new despite being aired on ITV back when it was first made, and it bombed in America and was cancelled after 12 episodes or something. This is supposed to be a quality alternative to Kingdom. Is STV really that desperate for some crazy Scottish connection to programing that they are showing this because Robbie Coltrane is of course Scottish? When STV did that Scotland at the Movies series in favour of Lewis it got some shocking ratings. You would think they would learn we'd rather see quality then cheap old repeats with a tenuous Scottish link.

lotty27 · 18-07-2009, 16:42

STV seem more interested in taking a political stance rather than thinking about what their viewers actually want to see.

I really feel for viewers of Kingdom, The Bill, Lewis and now Midsommer Murders who are no longer getting these programmes north of the border

Why should Scottish people have to pay for expensive equipment or have extra monthly bills just to see programmes they've been watching for years? Absolutely baffling

The only thing that may make STV see sense is a massive drop in advertising revenue. They are a company like any other and have to make money.

Toxteth O'Grady · 18-07-2009, 16:42

Having been on this forum and others for a few years, I thought that everyone wanted things to go back to the old days of ITV when each region was independent and would do their own thing. I thought everyone disliked having a national network where everything was the same all where-ever you are in the country...

Kevin1960 · 18-07-2009, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxteth O'Grady

Having been on this forum and others for a few years, I thought that everyone wanted things to go back to the old days of ITV when each region was independent and would do their own thing. I thought everyone disliked having a national network where everything was the same all where-ever you are in the country...

Only when it suits them

Nelad · 18-07-2009, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thistle74

Don't think you'd qualify to live in Scotland with an IQ as low as yours to be honest

Correctemundo - I would be overqualified!

Nelad · 18-07-2009, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIDIE-IN

I am doubtful having already asked STV when they intend to show us series 3 of 'Kingdom' and 'Lewis' - only to be told that these programmes will not be shown on STV and instead they are buying programmes from other regions of the UK.

What a load of crap. Buying programmes from which other regions of the UK? There's only Channel TV and UTV and they don't make any network programmes.

GeorgeS · 18-07-2009, 17:14

UTV manage to do regional opt outs without making a dogs breakfast of the schedule. I think STV either have a death wish or are seriously short of cash.

Ramsay Ladders · 18-07-2009, 17:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thistle74

Don't think you'd qualify to live in Scotland with an IQ as low as yours to be honest

He thinks an IQ is where you wait to get seen by the optician.

Anyhoo.....the whole thing is all about saving money, any other reason given is just insulting the viewer.

BIDIE-IN · 18-07-2009, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelad

What a load of crap. Buying programmes from which other regions of the UK? There's only Channel TV and UTV and they don't make any network programmes.

Can we try and stick to the topic........thanks!

"Fitz" as someone pointed out is ancient - I'm surprised they did not just rerun 'Cracker' So and be done with it. They clearly do not have money to buy the latest series of previously aired shows - heaven knows what they spend their money on, it doesn't show up on screen that's for sure. So they give us "another chance to see" something they have usually shown at least twice already. It would not be so bad if we had never had these programmes, but when we have enjoyed previous series it is rotten to take them off air now.

We are even getting the latest Taggart one day after the rest of the UK - so no one tell me who commits the murrddeerrr.....

Thistle74 · 18-07-2009, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelad

Correctemundo - I would be overqualified!

Oh aye

Cash in your 3 or 4 pieces of bog-roll, i mean GCSE's, and that will fast-track you into a Scottish nursery placing

Heebie Geebies · 18-07-2009, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thistle74

Don't think you'd qualify to live in Scotland with an IQ as low as yours to be honest

Hey it was offensive rubbish like this that got the previous 'bill' thread deleted, if you wish to make childish remarks then i suggest you do so via the IM system , do not clog threads up with comments intended to cause arguments.

18-07-2009, 10:18	#1
BIDIE-IN Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 410	"Not Scotland" - What are STV Playing At? Browsing the listings for the coming week, I was pleased to see a new Midsummer Murder was being shown on Wednesday - but then I saw the dreaded (and all too common) phrase "not STV" in brackets beside it. We are getting a repeat of 'Foyles War'. A good programme, yes, but it has been shown before - so are we going to ever see the final episodes of MM? I am doubtful having already asked STV when they intend to show us series 3 of 'Kingdom' and 'Lewis' - only to be told that these programmes will not be shown on STV and instead they are buying programmes from other regions of the UK. That'll be CHEAPER programmes presumably? Having seen series 1 & 2 of both 'Kingdom' and 'Lewis' it is unfair to make us buy the dvd's if we want to continue watching - now I read that 'The Bill' is also to be dropped from the STV schedules. Is 'Coronation Street' safe? (And yes, I know, if I have Sky I can tune to ITV and see these shows, but at present I don't have Sky - and I am not sure that I should have to buy it to enjoy series that have previously been available to me!) Perhaps if enough people contact STV and complain they will have a rethink, but I am inclined to think only a withdrawal of advertising revenue is likely to make them change their minds.....

18-07-2009, 12:01	#5
gerrymartin981 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Armagh Services: Sky+ Talktalk Posts: 11	(And yes, I know, if I have Sky I can tune to ITV and see these shows, but at present I don't have Sky - and I am not sure that I should have to buy it to enjoy series that have previously been available to me!) You could invest in freesat which would give you the option of other ITV regions.I know you would have the initial outlay for equipment and installation but at least you would have the choices STV are denying you without a monthly subscription.Just a thought G.

18-07-2009, 10:21	#2
JAS84 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hull, UK Posts: 2,246	Bastards. Glad I don't live in Scotland.

18-07-2009, 14:48	#6
JAS84 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hull, UK Posts: 2,246	Another example of their stupidity here: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1075271 Basically, they've messed up the moon landing coverage.

18-07-2009, 15:58	#12
EleanorRigby Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Somewhere on planet earth Posts: 9,551	Get a secondhand Sky receiver for a tenner and get a dish and install it yourself. You get all the BBC regions and can use add channels to put in the ITV regions and then don't have to worry if STV are not showing what you want to see.

18-07-2009, 16:04	#13
solarflare Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,605	As far as I'm concerned dropping the network programme makes some sort of sense if there's something worthwhile in its place. But I don't think a repeat of Foyle's War is, and it seems odd that they take one network programme and not another - a bit "wanting to have your cake and eat it". But like I always end these STV posts with, if it makes economic sense for them then they'll do it, in terms of viewers per money spent per episode.

18-07-2009, 16:08	#14
C14E Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 19,814	They only seem to drop drama and whatever gameshow ITV show at 5pm. They never seem to drop a cheap factual programme! I wish STV would just sell out to ITV. If it wants to keep doing this then it would be better pi*sing off to the specialist section of the EPG. Then again, for all the talk about Scottish programming, the most promoted decision was the one to buy South Park! Does STV pulling out of shows like Kingdom have an effect on ITV?

18-07-2009, 16:23	#15
Glamour Girl Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 249	Thankfully I can get ITV1 London on Sky so it's not a huge deal but the decisions by STV are sometimes baffling. Is it all just about saving money? Why on earth are we getting Fitz, the American version of Cracker, on Sundays at 9pm. It's about 15 years old, advertised as new despite being aired on ITV back when it was first made, and it bombed in America and was cancelled after 12 episodes or something. This is supposed to be a quality alternative to Kingdom. Is STV really that desperate for some crazy Scottish connection to programing that they are showing this because Robbie Coltrane is of course Scottish? When STV did that Scotland at the Movies series in favour of Lewis it got some shocking ratings. You would think they would learn we'd rather see quality then cheap old repeats with a tenuous Scottish link.

18-07-2009, 16:42	#16
lotty27 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North East England Services: Sky+HD, BT internet, Orange Posts: 3,638	STV seem more interested in taking a political stance rather than thinking about what their viewers actually want to see. I really feel for viewers of Kingdom, The Bill, Lewis and now Midsommer Murders who are no longer getting these programmes north of the border Why should Scottish people have to pay for expensive equipment or have extra monthly bills just to see programmes they've been watching for years? Absolutely baffling The only thing that may make STV see sense is a massive drop in advertising revenue. They are a company like any other and have to make money.

18-07-2009, 16:42	#17
Toxteth O'Grady Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 7,016	Having been on this forum and others for a few years, I thought that everyone wanted things to go back to the old days of ITV when each region was independent and would do their own thing. I thought everyone disliked having a national network where everything was the same all where-ever you are in the country...

18-07-2009, 17:14	#21
GeorgeS Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Services: NTL, BT Broadband Posts: 7,537	UTV manage to do regional opt outs without making a dogs breakfast of the schedule. I think STV either have a death wish or are seriously short of cash.