ITV pull Viewpoint

[Stuart]

I saw a comment earlier on Twitter that ITV were damned if they do, damned if they don't.

I always think that's a tired an over-used meaningless phrase.

Every decision made by people throughout their lives, or business decisions by companies, requires them to weigh up options and choose the one that best suits them. Nobody has EVER made a decision which was supported by everyone on the planet.

[Whataday]

I'd generally say a smart move - removes the flak from continuing to air it on the main channel while still allowing people to find it if they want. Interesting use of "limited time" too. Almost like they just want to bury it now it's tarnished.

I think that's a fair assumption. If I were ITV I'd be hoping that all the attention turned to BAFTA. In which case it makes sense to bury Viewpoint as quickly as possible.

[Inspector Sands]

The first trans newsreader on UK TV, former ITV regional reporter, I believe. Who later went on to appear in Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother. Now some sort of political commentator.

Ahhhhh that's who I thought she was, but was surprised how come she became a commentator on everything. I'm surprised GB News haven't signed her up yet

[bfgarmy]

I know this is getting into the theoretical/hypothetical but you do wonder that if Clarke had been on a megahit series like say Line of Duty if the action taken would be different (though that's obviously a BBC show so maybe not the best show to pick). You'd imagine broadcasters want to be seen to take action but it's probably easier to pull a show from linear broadcast and make it Hub for a moderate hit like Viewpoint than a flagship show like Line of Duty is for the BBC.

[Jon]

I think the fact it very much seems to be his vehicle, is also very much part of the reason. Had he been a secondary character or part of wider ensemble, it’s possible they’d have let it play it out.

I can’t see his episodes of Doctor Who being pulled from BritBox or iPlayer for example, as he’s was much smaller clog in that machine. If he’d have been playing the Doctor it would be a different matter.

[Brekkie]

I think it's fairly unprecedented that a programme has been bumped to the Hub, isn't it?

I'd say so, and fairly unprecedented for a programme to be pulled in these circumstances too.

More generally though it is surprising the on demand services are not used more when programmes are pulled from the schedules at the last minute due to news or sports events - the soaps on the day Prince Phillip died for example. I think C4 have pulled a couple of series due to rating poorly and then stuck the remaining episodes on All4, but other than that it doesn't happen very often.

I guess though despite the increase in making a boxset available after episode 1 some shows probably still have deals which means regardless of circumstances they have to air on TV first.

[Humphrey Hacker]

Let's just bear in mind that no-one has been charged yet. In my opinion ITV had no choice but to pull Viewpoint. If they hadn't then they would have faced a huge backlash.

[Brekkie]

I think the fact it very much seems to be his vehicle, is also very much part of the reason. Had he been a secondary character or part of wider ensemble, it’s possible they’d have let it play it out.

I can’t see his episodes of Doctor Who being pulled from BritBox or iPlayer for example, as he’s was much smaller clog in that machine. If he’d have been playing the Doctor it would be a different matter.

Worth noting that despite axing him from series 4 and now looking to rework it that Sky haven't pulled Bulletproof from on demand.

Just an observation aswell on the replacement of choice - I guess It'll be Alright On The Night has probably been doing that job for 30+ years. ITV don't really have much else for a one hour slot - they haven't really got one-hour dramas like New Tricks or Death in Paradise which can slot into the schedule for a random one-off repeat and make sense from recent years as they're pretty much all serialised. A different matter though if they've two hours to fill.

[iloveTV1]

I think the fact it very much seems to be his vehicle, is also very much part of the reason. Had he been a secondary character or part of wider ensemble, it’s possible they’d have let it play it out.

I can’t see his episodes of Doctor Who being pulled from BritBox or iPlayer for example, as he’s was much smaller clog in that machine. If he’d have been playing the Doctor it would be a different matter.

Worth noting that despite axing him from series 4 and now looking to rework it that Sky haven't pulled Bulletproof from on demand.

Just an observation aswell on the replacement of choice - I guess It'll be Alright On The Night has probably been doing that job for 30+ years. ITV don't really have much else for a one hour slot - they haven't really got one-hour dramas like New Tricks or Death in Paradise which can slot into the schedule for a random one-off repeat and make sense from recent years as they're pretty much all serialised. A different matter though if they've two hours to fill.

If they really need to, an episode of The Chase can always slot in!

[octothorpe]

I think it's fairly unprecedented that a programme has been bumped to the Hub, isn't it?

I'd say so, and fairly unprecedented for a programme to be pulled in these circumstances too.

More generally though it is surprising the on demand services are not used more when programmes are pulled from the schedules at the last minute due to news or sports events - the soaps on the day Prince Phillip died for example. I think C4 have pulled a couple of series due to rating poorly and then stuck the remaining episodes on All4, but other than that it doesn't happen very often.

I guess though despite the increase in making a boxset available after episode 1 some shows probably still have deals which means regardless of circumstances they have to air on TV first.

Am I right in saying that episode 5 of Viewpoint is the first ever ITV Hub exclusive programme that isn't factual (e.g. those Britain Get Talking shows they've done recently, and the Capitol insurrection follow-up)? Reminds me of when C4 dumped the last episode of a flopping three-part documentary about teenagers on All4 when they changed the brand from 4OD, and bigged such a move up as being rather prestigious, given it was to be All4's (technically) first 'original'.

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Also something interesting, is that ITV2 now have their name attached to Viewpoint's finale according to the ITV Hub; I'd imagine they're so used to uploading content that comes from ITV2 for boxsetting purposes (e.g. Love Island, and more recently the "ITV Comedy Heroes" programmes) - with those odd times attached as well - they didn't bother to change what channel it was listed under or something:

[Ash101]

Am I right in saying that episode 5 of Viewpoint is the first ever ITV Hub exclusive programme that isn't factual (e.g. those Britain Get Talking shows they've done recently, and the Capitol insurrection follow-up)?

They’ve had a few ITV Hub exclusive entertainment show over the last 12 months. Extra bits of Takeaway & BGT. Plus spin offs for Masked Singer & I’m A Celeb.

[Steve in Pudsey]

I saw a comment earlier on Twitter that ITV were damned if they do, damned if they don't.

I always think that's a tired an over-used meaningless phrase.

Every decision made by people throughout their lives, or business decisions by companies, requires them to weigh up options and choose the one that best suits them. Nobody has EVER made a decision which was supported by everyone on the planet.

Point taken but I think this was more of a judgement call than most situations where there tends to be an obvious right thing to do (but it will upset some folk) there's a lot of nuance to this one with a whole range of conflicting factors:

• Innocent until proven guilty
  Risk of audience backlash if transmit as planned
  Risk of advertisers wanting to distance themselves
  Risk of social media or tabloid pile on
  Audience invested in the programme
  Rest of cast, crew and production deserve to have their work seen
  

The solution they came up with keeps everyone content.

[JAS84]

Apparently US network The CW has pulled Noel Clarke's other show Bulletproof off their catch up app.

[Col87]

I don’t know if it because they showed all the episodes but Drama where showing the BBC version of auf wiedersehen pet the last few weeks which starred Noel Clarke but yet it not listed this afternoon. I wonder if we are seeing broadcasters pulling programs what feature Clark off their channels but in the short term leaving them on the streaming service. I do think this is his career over with though.

[soupie]

I don’t really think it was THAT difficult for ITV...and they’ll be thankful this scandal didn’t break last week (when they would have had 5 slots to fill plus an expensive drama that can never be shown). Losing one hour of drama is the least worst option for them.

Also filling a Friday night schedule at the last minute seems par for the course these days given all the disruption COVID and news events like the Duke’s death have caused recently.