The UTV Ireland Thread

20-05-2015 12:22PM

Larbre34 wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/pat-kennys-utv-ratings-slump-to-less-than-half-launch-show-as-chris-hadfield-fails-to-take-off-31237763.html

Things do not go well.

Losses also revised upwards yet again from €8million in March to a projected €12million now.

Time to bury the stillborn I would suggest, and Im sure shareholders will agree. Return UTV NI to the airwaves in the Republic before the current monstrosity drags UTV Media down the drain

If UTV Ireland goes (it wont though),Sky viewers will lose out as UTV was not on the Sky epg previously!

channelsurfer2 · 20-05-2015 12:24PM

they are in it for the long haul. the first year although dreadful is never going to make a station. They need to learn from the audience that showing shows 2 months after they appear on the original ITV is a non-runner. I suspect that the schedule will change substantially to cheaper programming if the original irish programming rates badly though.

20-05-2015 12:30PM

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

they are in it for the long haul. the first year although dreadful is never going to make a station. They need to learn from the audience that showing shows 2 months after they appear on the original ITV is a non-runner. I suspect that the schedule will change substantially to cheaper programming if the original irish programming rates badly though.

They need to keep it close to the UTV/ITV schedule, which is what most people want!

A Disgrace · 20-05-2015 12:55PM

UTV Ireland are failing miserably to engage with their audience, with whatever attempts to do so, falling spectacularly flat. Any ‘local’ programming that they have attempted has had a very weird anglicized slant – Christine Beakley’s Wild Ireland, Terry Wogan’s Ireland, Amanda Byram - all popular UK-based Irish personalities. It simply reeks of an office of executives in London drawing up a list of Irish celebrities that they’ve heard of. Even Pat Kenny is subjecting us to an hour long interview with Lulu next week..

Dreadful, derivative rubbish

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 21-05-2015 01:03PM

They're going to have to undertake a fundamental review of their strategy if they want to remain on air. Their attitude to their Irish audience is derogatory to put it mildly. Expecting people who have had ordinary UTV for years to put up with repeats, instead of new series of long running programmes, and then producing the insulting excuse that it 'gives people who haven't seen them a chance to catch up' is not going to win viewers over.
I agree with a previous poster. They really seem to think we have little alternative here in Ireland and that they almost have a captive audience. I hope their abysmal viewing figures and huge losses are now telling them different and that they will start to provide a proper service to their Irish audience.

iseegirls · 21-05-2015 01:12PM

Their Pat Kenny chat show is getting less figures what was previously there - Doc Martin which was shown originally in 2013.

They'll have to get out that wonderful audience research team back in, whom gave them this great nugget of info when they decided to move the news back to the exact same time as TV3's:

We carried out significant research with our audience which indicated the desire for an earlier teatime news and we are, therefore, moving Ireland Live to meet those demands.

brian_t · 21-05-2015 01:25PM

A Disgrace wrote: »

Even Pat Kenny is subjecting us to an hour long interview with Lulu next week..

I thought the Chris Hatfield interview might have done better for them. I can't see Lulu improving things.

I see the Mickey Harte interview is been shown on UTV proper (not Ireland) on Monday next in what they call a 'one-off special'.

mikom · 21-05-2015 01:30PM

Watching tv3 and Irish TV more than this channel.
Now that's really saying something........

FloatingVoter · 21-05-2015 05:18PM

Their predicted first year losses have doubled or trebled in the first twelve months. That would involve a stern meeting with the bank manager for any start-up. Its an obvious fact that they have failed the viewing public - so what ?...we switch provider or download what we want. No great hassle. However, some people out there who invested in this have been had. I'm still guessing nobody sensible would have gone into this as a major shareholder for a profit - therefore a very predictable loss resulting in some sort of tax dodge is my best guess.

May it sink soon....my sympathies to anyone who left another job in the hopes that this would lead somewhere. If it means anything, Pat Kenny didn't pass the audition for Bosco back in the day and it led to other things for him.

JONJO THE MISER · 21-05-2015 05:38PM

To have nothing on after 12 is a bloody joke, it would remind you of RTE back in the 80's.

icdg · 22-05-2015 07:31AM

ITV in the 1990s and much of the 2000s once ran a full Nightime schedule and many of the programmes had a cult following. But it abandoned it a few years ago. Many of the sort of programmrs ITV Nightime ran would now be seen on BBC Three, ITV2, or any of the numerous cable channels that didn't exist back then.

gordongekko · 22-05-2015 07:35AM

Surely having programs on throughout the night doesn't cost that much. Even 3e manage it.

iseegirls · 22-05-2015 09:58AM

icdg wrote: »

ITV in the 1990s and much of the 2000s once ran a full Nightime schedule and many of the programmes had a cult following. But it abandoned it a few years ago.

Some great shows in the night time - The Haunted Fishtank and Jerry Springer were perfect telly during the school holidays

Go Harvey Go · 22-05-2015 11:22AM

icdg wrote: »

ITV in the 1990s and much of the 2000s once ran a full Nightime schedule and many of the programmes had a cult following. But it abandoned it a few years ago. Many of the sort of programmrs ITV Nightime ran would now be seen on BBC Three, ITV2, or any of the numerous cable channels that didn't exist back then.

I'm reminded of Granada's Night Time service...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND4Gj140Co8

...and HTV's Night Club.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL71L3Ttq8k

gordongekko wrote: »

Surely having programs on throughout the night doesn't cost that much. Even 3e manage it.

It looks like they've stopped showing the Babestation ladies, though.

Which is actually no major loss - Babestation's target audience is stoned men and insomniacs, plus the ladies aren't really all that attractive.

Skid X · 23-05-2015 08:31PM

I see UTV Ireland running trailers for Safe House (the Christopher Eccleston Mini series which was on ITV last month), saying it is "coming soon"

Better than nothing, but not nearly good enough. Most people who are interested will have found alternative ways to view it by then.

24-05-2015 08:35PM

Skid X wrote: »

I see UTV Ireland running trailers for Safe House (the Christopher Eccleston Mini series which was on ITV last month), saying it is "coming soon"

Better than nothing, but not nearly good enough. Most people who are interested will have found alternative ways to view it by then.

Great, I missed it after ep 1 as I couldn't record it from ITV. It starts next Saturday night at 9.30.

iseegirls · 27-05-2015 01:14PM

The Ireland Live News at 5.30 got 21,300 this week so far. Down around 10,000 on what the 6.30 bulletin would get.

TV3, 3e, RTE1, RTE2, BBC1 all beating it at that time.

serfboard · 27-05-2015 02:14PM

iseegirls wrote: »

The Ireland Live News at 5.30 got 21,300 this week so far.

Jaysus - even if only one third of the population of Galway City was watching it you'd have more numbers than that.

Those numbers are shockingly bad.

The backers better add some extra depth to their pockets ...

channelsurfer2 · 27-05-2015 02:17PM

so most of their budget was targeted at news as original audience builders. I guess its now officially in the realms of Sky News Ireland disaster territory with little prospect of gaining new audience. they are now showing Safe House on a Saturday Night - a full month after it started. I would hazard a guess that Paul O Grady at 5 PM if it was on UTV IRL at 5pm would get at least double the news audience as he is very popular.

iseegirls · 27-05-2015 03:04PM

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

so most of their budget was targeted at news as original audience builders. I guess its now officially in the realms of Sky News Ireland disaster territory with little prospect of gaining new audience. they are now showing Safe House on a Saturday Night - a full month after it started. I would hazard a guess that Paul O Grady at 5 PM if it was on UTV IRL at 5pm would get at least double the news audience as he is very popular.

I'm sure any show would rate more successfully than the news in the current timeslot. They should be providing an alternative to what RTE and TV3 are showing. The News at 10pm seems to be doing ok - as it's not clashing with other news items, but placing their evening news at the same time of TV3's makes no sense.

FloatingVoter · 27-05-2015 05:20PM

They needed to target TG4 and soak up the Irish documentary market. Show short films. Invest less and gamble on local talent. Instead they went for a quick buck and failed. I don't know how many animation studios we have producing output that is Oscar nomination worthy. Give John Waters a conspiracy show (just tell him it's investigative). He'd do it and I have popcorn.
Anyone who invested in this with the intent of making money deserves to lose their cash as they needed a lesson. Anyone who took them for what they were worth (PK etc.), I salute you.
Now can we please have UTV Proper back and forget this embarrassment ever happened.

A Disgrace · 28-05-2015 12:10PM

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Now can we please have UTV Proper back and forget this embarrassment ever happened.

A country of this size really can’t sustain (nor does it require) FOUR indigenous networks (and their various compartments) – especially when you consider the amount of foreign channels we have here too. The three main players cover off everything that’s need in my opinion and UTV Ireland was just trying to replicate what we already have RTE: Public Service, News & Current Affairs, Culture, Sports TG4: Irish language, Niche interest, Documentary TV3: Light entertainment, Women’s interest, Reality TV There was nothing left for them to go for, other than attempt to diminish one of the other lots share – instead, they simply helped distribute the old UTV audience around the other channels – a total disaster

Thargor · 28-05-2015 01:43PM

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Give John Waters a conspiracy show (just tell him it's investigative). He'd do it and I have popcorn.

Dont give that pr1ck a cent :mad:

FloatingVoter · 28-05-2015 06:22PM

Thargor wrote: »

Dont give that pr1ck a cent :mad:

..in the interests of fairness and balance Mick Wallace can have a "25 things to do with a stepladder" show directly following.
...and Joan Collins can interview Joan Collins.

Bible Readings from David Quinn instead of sexlines.

Instead of Pat Kenny, we'll poach Marty Morrissey to do GAA Greatest Moments of Violence and male grooming tips.

I could knock that channel into shape with homegrown turnips in no time flat.

Clitheroekid · 28-05-2015 06:30PM

Advertising on UTV Direland is a total waste of money.Companies probably aware of the total lack of interest of viewers.I know many people have escaped this rubbish channel by having free to air tv reception installed.Some tvs have built in satellite tuners.Xoro HD satellite receiver has a recorder which records programmes onto a USB flash drive.ITV has gained a huge audience in ROI,thanks to the mediocrity offered by UTV Direland.

Galwayguy35 · 28-05-2015 06:47PM

I would have thought the viewing figures would be a bit better since they moved the news to 5.30 instead of worse!

There must be a lot of head scratching at Head Office wondering how they can turn things around for the channel.

NormanNicetouch · 28-05-2015 09:02PM

Surely the obvious place for the bulletin would be 5pm to get on ahead of the competition? They would be the go-to channel on busy news days.

Stillhouette · 28-05-2015 11:15PM

Clitheroekid wrote: »

UTV Direland

How witty of you.

todolist · 30-05-2015 11:33PM

Why was this chage made? Who's behind it? I pay UPC for ITV yet I get this bull****.

Clitheroekid · 31-05-2015 09:52PM

I was reading about the melee after the Motherwell Rangers playoff game online when an add for this stupid channel appeared showing Pat Kenny.What a waste of money,who cares whats on this rubbish channel?

The UTV Ireland Thread

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