A round-up of the week’s stories and observations.
- MON 10TH APR (11.15PM)
Channel 5 replaces overnight live casino programme with Teleshopping - TUE 11TH APR (9.30PM)
“Technical issue” prevents new edition of Springtime on the Farm airing - FRI 14TH APR (11.45AM)
RTÉs long wave 252 service due to close today - SUN 16TH APR (7.05PM)
Early evening Sportsday fails to appear on BBC News Channel - SUN 16TH APR (10.45PM)
BBC website promoted in preference to BBC News Channel
Monday 10th April
11.15pm Channel 5 replaces overnight live casino programme with Teleshopping
Channel 5 has replaced a long-running fixture in its overnight schedule with a number of Teleshopping segments.
The final live casino programme to be carried on Channel 5 aired in the early hours of Sunday morning.
At 1.20am this morning, the first of the new Teleshopping segments was broadcast.
Tuesday 11th April
9.30pm “Technical issue” prevents new edition of Springtime on the Farm airing
The first edition of the new series of Springtime on the Farm failed to appear at the planned time on Channel 5 this evening.
The announcer introduced the programme, as expected, at 8pm. A sponsorship sting then played. This was followed by a still image of a Channel 5 ident, which remained on screen for just over 40 seconds.
After almost ten seconds of black and silence, a repeat of a previously aired edition of the programme began playing.
Channel 5 posted an apology online, assuring viewers that the new series would begin tomorrow evening instead.
“Apologies, we’ve had a technical issue with today’s planned Springtime on the Farm. It will be back tomorrow at 8pm as planned, all new.”
Channel 5
Our thanks to The Ident Gallery for flagging the issue.
Friday 14th April
11.45am RTÉs long wave 252 service due to close today
RTÉ is due to close the LW 252 service today.
But as reported in today’s Irish Times, the UK Media Bill 2023 (published last month) contains a clause allowing RTÉ to broadcast on DAB+ in the UK. Will RTÉ pursue this?
EXTERNAL LINK: Cutting RTÉ Radio 1 longwave is a slap in the face for elderly emigrants.
Sunday 16th April
7.05pm Early evening Sportsday fails to appear on BBC News Channel
The scheduled edition of Sportsday at 6.30pm on the BBC News Channel was replaced by an edition of Click, without explanation or apology.
10.45pm BBC website promoted in preference to BBC News Channel
A small but yet very telling sign…
BBC One news no longer points viewers to the BBC News channel – but to the website.
Be in no doubt about the direction of travel here.
RELATED ARTICLE: Timeline: 2023 Week 14.
RELATED ARTICLE: Timeline: 2023 Week 16.
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: Channel 5 ident. COPYRIGHT: Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd.