THE ITV massacre is possibly the worst decision bosses could have made for viewers and stars on TV.
Sadly, all it proves is that telly execs may not care about good content, indeed they only care about one thing – money.
Yesterday, I chatted to a number of my former colleagues at and it was heartbreaking to hear a general consensus of .
Working on the show back in 2022, I can personally attest to seeing the fantastic and dedicated team first hand.
This was a hub of creativity, determination, drive and a passion for making brilliant.
What makes Good Morning Britain so special as a show is the light and shade it provides.
In recent weeks, we could see topical and specialist reporting on world events like Trump’s deals and the conclave election of the new pope.
A few minutes later, we would see on ‘s new sibling.
ITV is a fantastic and well produced operation and without a doubt, there is always a place for news.
However, GMB is a very different operation and might rid the very soul of what makes the show so brilliant in the first place.
A programme like that needs light and shade and I fear that without the fun elements, even more viewers might switch to Sally and Jon on .
While it’s been reported that some of the main talent like and , the same cannot be said for those behind the scenes.
I cannot help but think this is almost a representation of the entire industry.
While the talent in front of the camera who are paid thousands are well looked after, it’s those slaving away for 10 hours (or more) behind the scenes that are cast out into the cold, even though it is mainly them that make the magic happen.
And it shows with the rest of the schedule... being must feel like an insult to a presenter that has given years of her life to the industry.
Her brilliant team produce a lifestyle based show which has been a staple of the breakfast offering for the last four decades – a beloved tradition that steps back all the way to TV-AM.
It is also the most popular and inoffensive show out of the whole roster of programmes.
By cutting back both the time and the amount of shows that will air, it suggests that ITV is ready to diminish the importance of popular content like that.
It reminds me of the approach of , culling just for short term storylines that might not even work – and viewers won’t be happy.
Then there’s , where there was absolutely no need to cut back on the amount of shows at all, especially after it was just .
I cannot help but think this is almost a representation of the entire industry.
The team over at White City’s TV Centre still pulls in hundreds of thousands of viewers every day and is one of the most popular shows on daytime.
Where am I going to get my daily fix of , , and if it’s only being shown ‘seasonally.’
Of course there is the point that at a time is four times the salary of what the lineup of a show like would cost.
Meanwhile, if the plans are what they seem to be, and ‘s offering will be the only show that would still be recognisable.
But arguably, this is the show that faces the most competition as BBC continues to be on the rise – is anything to go by.
Many think that the studio in the old BBC headquarters is still haunted by the ghost of the lost partnership of and .
If they want to win viewers back, they may need to take a more consumer-based approach.
Keep the staple segments like fashion, food, showbiz and advice, and if they focus less on astrology and more on consumer-based segments then they might be onto a winner.
If they are going to win the audience back over, their participation is important and it might be a good idea to get viewers more involved in the ‘Morning View’ news review segments.
These shows need cultivating, not cutbacks and I fear that the bosses will save in the short term, whilst crippling the offering in the long term.
Speaking of which, there could be an unexpected potential other winner in this saga, and that is (now known simply as 5) with its brilliant daytime offering.
The other commercial channel has really upped the ante on their own topical daytime offering.
If This Morning wants to win viewers back, they may need to take a more consumer-based approach
Veteran broadcaster usually takes to the airwaves for a brilliant show of news debates with big name political personalities.
follows with more of a topical feel with subjects that focus on useful life hacks.
Then we have the brilliant with her hard-hitting human interest debates and .
But what 5 does so well is the fact that all of its programmes are focused on the viewer and the audience is invited to have their say live on air.
It’s the perfect mixture of traditional linear television done well combined with the uncensored and approachable feel of live .
You could easily call up and speak to a national treasure like Vanessa and her gang of friends on a topic that you really care about which has a direct effect on your life.
Channel 5 is in its daytime output just at the right time, just as ITV has exposed its Achilles heel.
There is still a home for viewers on one channel, but the question is ... where?
