Why is the format so "tacky" ?

bylromarha

Was just about to come on here and post the same.:D

We've just shared a holiday cottage with another family...wednesday night I switched on (need to reduce petrol bills) and the other couple sat down to watch too. They got up 5 minutes later as they said they just couldn't put up with the format.

Last week, was in the pub with a friend I see about once every 6 months. OH bought up my sad coupon fetish, which led onto an MSE chat, which led onto the programme. Turned out my friend had tried to watch it twice, but had given up as it looked too much like a gameshow. She said she wanted to listen to the financial advice, but it didn't feel serious enough. She also said she loves the radio slots Martin does when she hears them, so she is used to his super speed style, but the 80s game show TV style has really put her off watching.

Her loss AFAIC, but thought it interesting to have the same conversation twice in a fortnight.

john_s_2

I don't know. I think the people Martin's trying to appeal to would be put off if it was too formal. He's not trying to appeal to people who listen to Moneybox after all! (Or at least, I assume he isn't...)

Similarly, I don't think he's targeting it at people who already read this website or receive his email. What would be the point of that? And the fact that he always mentions pen & paper suggests to me that he's very conscious of not excluding people without web access.

lilac_lady

Martin tries hard to educate about money but sometimes he tries so hard it's difficult to watch without wincing. The project is good but the presentation needs changing.

manic_saver

I have watched the show a couple of times and to a point you get the jist of things. I think its aimed at beginners guide to money saving.

Maybe why topics are rushed is because they only have 20mins.

sparrer

I have to agree with the majority, the show comes across as tacky and unprofessional..why all those people standing around trying to look over other people's shoulders so the camera (and their friends at home) will see them? With Martin and the rather unnecessary co-host dashing all over the place, and getting members of the public to perform certain tasks it's all strangely reminiscent of the Generation Game! And what was with the peculiar arm movement every time someone said 'forward slash'? Is it some sort of ritual or initiation that we lesser mortals are yet to be versed in ?

IMHO it all detracted from the topics so I gave up watching as it began to grate on me...better I turned off than threw something at the box. I appreciate that the programme isn't aimed at financiers but nor is this site - and I know which I prefer!

MSE_Martin

Wow talk about a 'critique'

Thanks for the notes everyone. I thought you may appreciate some discussion.

1. This is a prime time show on terrestrial television. Be aware a straight money discussion show may just have a chance of getting commissioned on a minor TV channel at 3am. Our job is to make it entertaining. I'm very lucky to be able to add this to my portfolio - which covers a range of styles - from News of the World, to GMTV, Radio 1, Radio 2 to Moneybox Live and Moneywise magazine - each has a different tone and requires the story telling differently.

2. The presentation style. The idea is to make it interesting and paced. Sometimes we go to far on that, and have been working very hard to pace the show correctly. We had five week's over Christmas to build a show format something that normally takes three months - and was an incredible achievement to get it on air.

In many ways as we develop the show it's a work in progress. This week's programme on petrol, was the first I actually think we paced correctly and would urge those who've not watched for a while to check it again - and see what you think; its a very tough balance

3. THe Gameshow format. I don't see it as a game show, nor do i think its tacky, its an early evening audience driven set. Yet the aim is to show people the real, practical, achievable savings that can be made with ease. The show is about enthusing people to look after their money. Of course it can never compete with the site for depth and detail; but that isn't what TV is for.

We've had lots of feedback from people who say things like "I knew I could do that, but never bothered, until I saw it on the TV, and finally it made me do it."

4. Ruth. For those commenting on my "irrelevant co-presenter"; I'm afraid you don't understand TV. If you find it fast paced already, try and imagine it without anyone else's voice to break up mine; wihtout any other mainstream presence on the screen. Ruth's role is a difficult one, and one I think she performs admirably.

5. The 'its easy its recorded'. For all intents and purposes this is a live show. We have to do that so the info can be contemporaneous. We do it a couple of hours before broadcast, primarily to help the channel secure the legal checks. There's very limited opportunity to re-record or edit the show. It's what's known in the business as an 'As-live'.

Overall I do take your feedback, though it isn't that easy to read, much as I must balance it against the large amount of positive feedback we receive too. For example the 'celeb slot' is a marmite moment - people either think its the best bit of the show - or they hate it.

At the end of the current run (five weeks) we will for the first time, have the chance to analyse what we're doing and see what changes can be made for the third series (in Sept-Nov).

Im incredbily proud of what we've achieved in a short space of time. While for regular moneysavers the programme is of course basic; no other media can compete with the web dor delivering the detail (and me doing the programme helps bring people to find the find the info gere)

This programme is about making money saving mainstream and entertaining; to simply have it on at prime time is something I'm very very proud of.

Martin

Snaggles

I really like Ruth....I think she's a good combination of attractive, funny and willing to laugh at herself, and I don't see many presenters who have all those three qualities. Oh yeah, sorry, Martin's good too...lol.

I agree it does seem rushed on occasion, but generally it's just fast paced and energetic.

I avoid the 'serious' money programmes because I find them dull, but look forward to IPTW, because it IS entertaining, and it IS lighthearted. But there's some good stuff in there too, particularly if you don't have a lot of time to trawl through websites etc and just want a quick rundown of where there's money to be saved.

It would be great if it could be an hour long though....

jo_b_2

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Wow talk about a 'critique'

Thanks for the notes everyone. I thought you may appreciate some discussion.

Overall I do take your feedback, though it isn't that easy to read, much as I must balance it against the large amount of positive feedback we receive too.

This programme is about making money saving mainstream and entertaining; to simply have it on at prime time is something I'm very very proud of.

Martin

Well done, Martin, for responding to negative feedback in such a positive way! :T (I think most people would be inclined to put something less considered and likely to end in -off!)

melancholly

i guess the format might not suit all the MSErs who really know a lot of the content already. i've finally managed to get my parents to watch it and they are now pretty happy with their savings following the mobile phone show and are going to use lots of the info from the cars/driving one. i really did try to get them to come onto the website on my own last year, but that didn't work. having things explained to them on tv has - something with some gimmicks that is a bit entertaining was what they apparently needed!! i can see that it's not everyone's cup of tea, but that's inevitable to some degree, isn't it?

Zebedee69

I think the show is pretty good, its aimed at the types of people who dont have the interest in coming to the website or havent thought about saving money.....Its not designed to be Money Saving Expert.com but on the telly as most people would be put off straight away. We all know the stereotype..... tight !!!!, moths in wallet its a post that crops up all the time on here lmao!I think the show has a thin line to follow. Enough info to perk peoples interest in the subject matter. Enough fun, games and celebrity to keep joe public from switching over..... Never forget what on ITV at the same time too!Always remember not everyone is that interested in saving money. For lots of people its hard work they cant be arsed to do. If Martin can keep the program interesting enough to change just a handfull of these people's outlooks then jobs a guddun!