Channel 5 Transmission Discussion/Updates

[Dan F]

1 hour ago, hapitoby said:

That seems really early. Has it been this early in recent years? I remember it used to go to mid/late December.

Yes the date is correct (we noted it on the site earlier this week in an Oz paced story), it's been ending in mid-November in the UK for the past seven years or so.

[James Martin]

Incidentally, since the joined-up thinking meaning Seven write in a major cliffhanger for when the UK comes off-air, does this mean we now get exactly 230 episodes per year, in effect staying a fixed distance behind Australia (haphazard Australian scheduling notwithstanding?)

[Red Ranger 1]

2 hours ago, James Martin said:

Incidentally, since the joined-up thinking meaning Seven write in a major cliffhanger for when the UK comes off-air, does this mean we now get exactly 230 episodes per year, in effect staying a fixed distance behind Australia (haphazard Australian scheduling notwithstanding?)

In essence, yes. We tend to start a new season six weeks behind Australia.

[James Martin]

I wonder if they'll drop back a week rather than come back on New Year's Eve (Channel 5 pace?)

Also worth noting some changes to the UK network by owners Paramount.

Channel 5 are rebranding back to Five once more next year; the streaming service will follow Channel 4's lead in also being called Five.

I just hope this means they'll finally get their streamer in HD; even 720p would be an improvement. (Although the My5 feed of 5 Star is nevertheless a serious improvement on the linear feed.)

I say this every year but the other thing I'd like to see happen is 5 Star's 6:30pm transmission air the blocks "correctly", with Channel 5 being "a day behind" ie. Episodes ending in "1" or "6" are shown on Monday night.

Hollyoaks' changes (which include the 7pm E4 "first look" becoming the main event, with the show taken off Channel 4 proper entirely) from what I understand, have yielded results and I wonder if the idea of a "first look" is a bit outdated in the era of early streaming releases.

[Red Ranger 1]

My preference continues to be to have the proper blocks be the lunchtime/6pm showing, although I accept that's mainly down to me sticking to a broadcast model from 30 years ago! I only watch the 6.30pm "First Look" showing in special circumstances but I know some people see it as the main broadcast. I think there's still quite a few soaps that haven't moved over to early streaming and those that have can be a bit controversial: Channel 5 makes the episodes available online after the 6.30pm showing, which I guess is a reasonable compromise.

[James Martin]

I don't think Corrie or Emmerdale do it routinely, but episodes do go on ITV X at the "intended" time during football tournaments.

[James Martin]

Well, my last comment aged well.

ITV are following the BBC's lead from Monday, and ITV X will have Corrie & Emmerdale from 7am.

I just find the whole "First Look" thing a product of a bygone age. The idea was blatantly copied from Hollyoaks when Five Life first went to air 18 years ago but Hollyoaks have now dropped that model.

I know My5 drop each episode at 7pm now, after the 5 Star showing has concluded, but I wonder if now's the time to give Home & Away some proper "digital first" treatment?

I'm assuming, by the way, that 7+ don't do early drops like the British networks are doing/starting to do?

Edit: there is an argument that the more targeted advertising (as streaming can be at user level rather than, at-best, regional level) means that an ITV X viewer is now worth more than an ITV1 one. Channel 5, with less regional splits, may choose to leverage the advertising advantages of IP.

Edited October 12 by James Martin

[Bri1231]

This year they are wrapping up for the UK winter break on Thursday. Did they do this in previous years? I can't remember. 

[630si]

15 minutes ago, Bri1231 said:

This year they are wrapping up for the UK winter break on Thursday. Did they do this in previous years? I can't remember. 

Yeees the repeat of Thursdays First Look will be Friday Lunchtime still

[Red Ranger 1]

The usual lunchtime/6pm showings continue until Friday. They don't tend to show the resolution of the UK cliffhanger until after the Christmas break, hence no First Look episode on Friday.