Utv

D.A.

yorkie98 wrote: »

and local programs would all but stop.

This is something which is always brought up. However, besides the news (which I agree they make a relatively good job of, even though they might want to check their captions for spelling mistakes), which local programmes exactly does UTV produce these days???

The 7:30 Show? Pleeeeeeaaaasseee! The cheapest pile of dung I've ever seen.

Lesser Spotted Ulster? These are 3 or 4 year old repeats.

Ultimate Ulster? Yes, really high production values there yet again...

RPM? It's actually one which has some kind of value to it, but is an independent production.

Are there any of the above which we couldn't do without?

yorkie98

I agree with what you are saying but IMO the choices are simple, that or nothing, coupled with worse news coverage too.

D.A.

I also forgot to mention that during UTV Live, virtually every ad is for a company owned by UTV itself...

yorkie98

Don't get me started on that... oh you have.. It's very obvious that money gets "moved around" between UTV's various companies but there is one particular glaring example which does not cease to amaze me and that's the adverts for (UTVs) FM104 radio in Dublin.
This advert has zero value as those within the service area of UTV cannot get FM104 and those who can hear FM104, mostly cannot get UTV so exactly who is this advert aiming at? answer.. Nobody, it's just money moving out of one company and into another.

D.A.

...and I'd be more than happy for that child to get his wish of being an astronaut...

almillar

Yorkie - agreed on local HD programming, I'm not bothered about that and realise that would be a huge investment. All I'm after is the national HD programming everyone else gets, just like BBC One HD. We can argue about their financial situation, I was under the impression that they're a big and successful group (UTV Broadband, Talk Radio etc), and the fact is that they have responsibilities too. If a broadcaster won't broadcast, what do they do?! Agreed that it's a great organisation, and we are lucky to have an indie company, which has resulted in better quality programming than the other ITV regions enjoy, but I've absolutely no problem with criticising them for this.

yorkie98

I agree, and I would also like for UTV to make UTVHD available via Sky/Freesat but as usual, it all comes down to money. Satellite carriage is very expensive, especially for HD as are the landline links required to get the HD signal to the satellite uplink stations in England.

Right now the amount of viewers UTV would reach with the HD service is quite small and most importantly, the amount of viewers they would GAIN would be tiny, probably no more than a handful so really there is no incentive for them to do it.

UTV are not shirking any of their obligations, if they were, they'd be in hot water with Ofcom, they are under no obligation whatsoever to provide an HD service (not even the Virgin service currently running) until late 2012 when digital switchover takes place (and they will).
I somehow think we may be waiting much longer than this date for it to appear on satellite for the reasons highlighted above.

I only hope I am proved wrong...

tyronealan

Did the Queen not switch on UTVHD when she paid them a visit or was that a publicity stunt?

yorkie98

smally wrote: »

Did the Queen not switch on UTVHD when she paid them a visit or was that a publicity stunt?

She did but the service was (and still is) only available on Virgin Media Cable.

almillar

And guess who can't get Virgin Media?!!