Peter Fincham to join ITV - Broadcasting

Lukey37 · 28-02-2008, 08:08

He is replacing Simon Shaps as Director of Television.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008...itv.television

GeorgeS · 28-02-2008, 08:10

Wow. Didnt see that coming!

mikw · 28-02-2008, 08:20

Good signing, Peter is a decent guy who had to, unfairly, resign due to the crowngate issue.

Hopefully he can commission some "non-braindead" programmes for ITV!

GH Online · 28-02-2008, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikw

Good signing, Peter is a decent guy who had to, unfairly, resign due to the crowngate issue.

Hopefully he can commission some "non-braindead" programmes for ITV!

Hold on a minute. I'd like to share your hope that Peter Fincham joining Monkey TV could be a good thing.

Unfortunately we had the same hopes when Michael Grade joined them and sadly he ended up kowtowing to shareholders. Why should Mr Fincham be any different?

mikw · 28-02-2008, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by GH Online

Hold on a minute. I'd like to share your hope that Peter Fincham joining Monkey TV could be a good thing.

Unfortunately we had the same hopes when Michael Grade joined them and sadly he ended up kowtowing to shareholders. Why should Mr Fincham be any different?

Well, it depends on if the ITV bosses mantra actually allows Mr Fincham to do his thing, but he might be shackled by commercial constraints and the need to make a profit.

GH Online · 28-02-2008, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikw

Well, it depends on if the ITV bosses mantra actually allows Mr Fincham to do his thing, but he might be shackled by commercial constraints and the need to make a profit.

Which ITV won't do, if they continue churning out the rubbish they are. He must be allowed to do his job, and we know he's good at it.

28-02-2008, 12:40

BBC ex-executives should really not be in demand by commercial TV, the idealogy of ITV-BBC should be so far apart that no cross-over is possible.

BBC should serve. Commercial TV will always exploit.

Even if Peter Fincham did have the service mentality (he does'nt) it would just be absorbed into the blob. Organisations are like the Borg, with it's own dominant idealogy.

To change the ideology requires a mass personnel change, at the same time. Like a change of political parties in power changes the idealogy of government overnight.

Join a new firm and you will take on board that firms idealogy, not the other way round.

Corin · 28-02-2008, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blast Cookie

Like a change of political parties in power changes the idealogy of government overnight.

But even though ministers come and go, the senior Civil Service remains steadfast ...

28-02-2008, 13:21

There is an idealogy within the civil service that really does not change, for the same reason.

Ministers are not part of the civil service after all.

The EU, BBC, Royalty and Civil Service don't really change because there is never a mass personnel change.

miles19740 · 28-02-2008, 14:06

This is interesting. I have one question:

Did he know he was going to leave the BBC at the time when he withdrew from the 'Neighbours' negociations last year?

I am very suspicious about it all. Was it all a plot to help ITV in the long run?

GeorgeS · 28-02-2008, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by miles19740

This is interesting. I have one question:

Did he know he was going to leave the BBC at the time when he withdrew from the 'Neighbours' negociations last year?

Did he deliberately insult the Queen in order to get fired?

Not likely.

Corin · 28-02-2008, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeS

Did he deliberately insult the Queen in order to get fired?

Did the real story of his motivation for doing that ever get revealed?

GeorgeS · 28-02-2008, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corin

Did the real story of his motivation for doing that ever get revealed?

He was misled by RDF wasnt he but he didnt check his own facts. Plus he let the story run for 24 hours before correcting it.

Corin · 28-02-2008, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeS

He was misled by RDF wasnt he but he didnt check his own facts. Plus he let the story run for 24 hours before correcting it.

Thanks for the information -- I thought he was not directly responsible.

So it would look like he exhibited qualities of incompetence and laziness, so I guess he will fit in well with the corporate culture at ITV management.

ftv · 28-02-2008, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corin

Thanks for the information -- I thought he was not directly responsible.

So it would look like he exhibited qualities of incompetence and laziness, so I guess he will fit in well with the corporate culture at ITV management.

He was the controller of the channel and thus responsible for everything broadcast on it. He failed in that role and that in itself would raise questions about his ability to discharge a similar job on another channel.

GH Online · 28-02-2008, 15:57

Whilst it was very noble of Peter to fall on his sword, it was a needless parting of the ways. The real people to blame for Queengate were the dopes in the press office who surely should have realised how manipulative the gutter press are and how they would have interpreted the mis-cut footage of the Queen.

ITV need all the help they can get - Peter is available for the work and with his track record at BBC1 he could really be an asset to them. But he must be allowed to do his job and not pander to the shareholders.

realwales · 28-02-2008, 18:09

I'm not a fan of Peter Fincham.
He's a total snob when it comes to boxing. The BBC had several opportunities to purchase the rights to big-time boxing at a resonable price when he was in charge of BBC 1. Frank Warren offered the BBC's Head of Sport, Roger Mosey, the Amir Khan contract on a plate. Mosey agreed it, but Fincham over-rode the decision.
Within a few weeks of Fincham leaving BBC1, they had shown full, delayed coverage of fights involving Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton. Says a lot about the man.
ITV have 2 more fights involving Amir Khan to show, as well as Carl Froch's next fight in a few weeks. Mark Sharman appears to be on the verge of signing a contract with Mick Hennessy. I wonder if Fincham will now over-ride him as he did to Mosey.

Cent · 28-02-2008, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by realwales

I'm not a fan of Peter Fincham.
He's a total snob when it comes to boxing. The BBC had several opportunities to purchase the rights to big-time boxing at a resonable price when he was in charge of BBC 1. Frank Warren offered the BBC's Head of Sport, Roger Mosey, the Amir Khan contract on a plate. Mosey agreed it, but Fincham over-rode the decision.
Within a few weeks of Fincham leaving BBC1, they had shown full, delayed coverage of fights involving Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton. Says a lot about the man.
ITV have 2 more fights involving Amir Khan to show, as well as Carl Froch's next fight in a few weeks. Mark Sharman appears to be on the verge of signing a contract with Mick Hennessy. I wonder if Fincham will now over-ride him as he did to Mosey.

BBC1 couldn't take the boxing! They have a contract with the FA that states premiership highlights must be shown before 10.30pm except on special occassions, e.g. Eurovision.

Peter Fincham had no choice but to turn that down.

ITV have made it clear they are not interested in signing a new contract unless they get it for a lot less money, because they aren't making much - if anything - as it is.

Regardless of Peter Fincham's return I doubt ITV will be signing up for more.

realwales · 28-02-2008, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by centrino04

BBC1 couldn't take the boxing! They have a contract with the FA that states premiership highlights must be shown before 10.30pm except on special occassions, e.g. Eurovision.

Peter Fincham had no choice but to turn that down.

ITV have made it clear they are not interested in signing a new contract unless they get it for a lot less money, because they aren't making much - if anything - as it is.

Regardless of Peter Fincham's return I doubt ITV will be signing up for more.

So why did they sign the Carl Froch contract a few weeks ago then?
When Fincham took over at BBC1, the BBC had a fairly decent boxing portfolio (shown mainly on Friday nights) which included the likes of Carl Froch and Clinton Woods (as well as rubbish like Audrey Harrison).
Fincham wasted little time in axing boxing from the BBC1 schedule completely. He did not even allow them to bid for delayed rights to show the likes of Ricky Hatton. Notice the way this was put right within days of him leaving.
Michael grade has picked a loser in this guy.

Germany bound · 29-02-2008, 07:23

two questions about peter fincham

1)when does he take up his new role
2) does he like football?

29-02-2008, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Germany bound

two questions about peter fincham

1)when does he take up his new role
2) does he like football?

I don't know when he begins work but all the signs are that he is not keen on "manly pursuits", pursuing men maybe.

He turned BBC1 into female friendly panto tosh that it's just starting to recover from.

GH Online · 29-02-2008, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastcookie

He turned BBC1 into female friendly panto tosh that it's just starting to recover from.

Really? From where I'm standing, he produced some great entertainment on the channel, taking a huge risk in commissioning Life On Mars that was to pay off handsomely and developing the relaunched Doctor Who.

He also took PSB risks such as The One Show and restoring Panorama back to prime time.

Oh, and he got rid of the dancer idents.

29-02-2008, 10:19

Having a different opinion does not make it fact.

GH Online · 29-02-2008, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastcookie

Having a different opinion does not make it fact.

Life On Mars was a runaway success - FACT.

The One Show has built up a steady audience given that it is up against a supersoap - FACT.

Viewers much prefer the current BBC1 idents to what they replaced - proven by the fact that last year's Christmas symbol was so popular it has now been reworked for year-round use.

Cent · 29-02-2008, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastcookie

He turned BBC1 into female friendly panto tosh that it's just starting to recover from.

That is rubbish.

Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Inside Sport, Doctor Who, Robin Hood...

BBC1 was female friendly panto tosh until he came along.

28-02-2008, 08:08	#1
Lukey37 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Services: Freeview, Virgin Media Broadband Posts: 4,159	Peter Fincham to join ITV He is replacing Simon Shaps as Director of Television. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008...itv.television

28-02-2008, 14:06	#10
miles19740 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,098	Peter Lets 'Neighbours' Go, And Then Moves To Rival Channel This is interesting. I have one question: Did he know he was going to leave the BBC at the time when he withdrew from the 'Neighbours' negociations last year? I am very suspicious about it all. Was it all a plot to help ITV in the long run?

28-02-2008, 08:10	#2
GeorgeS Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Services: NTL, BT Broadband Posts: 7,596	Wow. Didnt see that coming!

28-02-2008, 08:20	#3
mikw Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 13,838	Good signing, Peter is a decent guy who had to, unfairly, resign due to the crowngate issue. Hopefully he can commission some "non-braindead" programmes for ITV!

28-02-2008, 12:40	#7
blastcookie Posts: n/a	BBC ex-executives should really not be in demand by commercial TV, the idealogy of ITV-BBC should be so far apart that no cross-over is possible. BBC should serve. Commercial TV will always exploit. Even if Peter Fincham did have the service mentality (he does'nt) it would just be absorbed into the blob. Organisations are like the Borg, with it's own dominant idealogy. To change the ideology requires a mass personnel change, at the same time. Like a change of political parties in power changes the idealogy of government overnight. Join a new firm and you will take on board that firms idealogy, not the other way round.

28-02-2008, 13:21	#9
blastcookie Posts: n/a	There is an idealogy within the civil service that really does not change, for the same reason. Ministers are not part of the civil service after all. The EU, BBC, Royalty and Civil Service don't really change because there is never a mass personnel change.

28-02-2008, 15:57	#16
GH Online Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,097	Whilst it was very noble of Peter to fall on his sword, it was a needless parting of the ways. The real people to blame for Queengate were the dopes in the press office who surely should have realised how manipulative the gutter press are and how they would have interpreted the mis-cut footage of the Queen. ITV need all the help they can get - Peter is available for the work and with his track record at BBC1 he could really be an asset to them. But he must be allowed to do his job and not pander to the shareholders.

28-02-2008, 18:09	#17
realwales Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 777	I'm not a fan of Peter Fincham. He's a total snob when it comes to boxing. The BBC had several opportunities to purchase the rights to big-time boxing at a resonable price when he was in charge of BBC 1. Frank Warren offered the BBC's Head of Sport, Roger Mosey, the Amir Khan contract on a plate. Mosey agreed it, but Fincham over-rode the decision. Within a few weeks of Fincham leaving BBC1, they had shown full, delayed coverage of fights involving Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton. Says a lot about the man. ITV have 2 more fights involving Amir Khan to show, as well as Carl Froch's next fight in a few weeks. Mark Sharman appears to be on the verge of signing a contract with Mick Hennessy. I wonder if Fincham will now over-ride him as he did to Mosey.

29-02-2008, 07:23	#20
Germany bound Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 928	two questions about peter fincham 1)when does he take up his new role 2) does he like football?

29-02-2008, 10:19	#23
blastcookie Posts: n/a	Having a different opinion does not make it fact.