Season 7 of 24 on C4

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lchiu7

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# 30175 31-Jan-2009 00:28

I see while Mediaworks will be showing season 7 of 24, it's going to be on C4. Yet another lost opportunity to present a very popular (and from I have read the best season so far) in HD, unless all of sudden C4 is going HD.

What sort of decision is this? I would have thought that the very people who are HD fans are the same demographics as 24 fans - well I know I am!

Very disappointing. I might have to get my 24 fix another way :)

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# 193031 31-Jan-2009 07:07

Yeah C4 has some great shows on, It's long coming to be broadcast at the same quality as TV3.

Wiseacre

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# 193032 31-Jan-2009 07:49

"What sort of decision is this? I would have thought that the very people who are HD fans are the same demographics as 24 fans"

Ridiculous isn't it! I'd imagine BSG fans fall into that HD demographic too. It seems all the good shows are being shifted to low definition C4 while TV3 redefines itself as the 'Reality + CSI' channel. Like you say, I've already sourced these shows elsewhere; would have been all too happy to sit and watch them again, if they were in High Definition - but I'll be damned if I'm going to waste my time on C4's low definition offerings.

By the way, I've seen the first 6 episodes of season 7 of 24 - it's an AWESOME season!

lchiu7

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# 193040 31-Jan-2009 08:49

This sort of contradicts an email I received from TV3 saying their policy is to source HD versions of any show they plan to show in Prime time. But then that could have applied only to TV3, not C4 which doesn't show HD anyway (well I don't think it is at the moment though there is nothing to stop them from doing it)

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lchiu7

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# 193507 2-Feb-2009 19:49

I have had further communication from Mediaworks who say they made the decision to put 24 on C4 because its ratings from last time (I guess) didn't warrant it being shown in Primetime on TV3 (and presumably in HD). So they put it on C4 in Primetime rather than late at night on TV3. For my part I would have preferred late at night on TV3 so at least it has the potential to be in HD 5.1.

Also I do find it hard to believe that its ratings are poor and that the US version of Life on Mars, which has been struggling in the US and will face further challenges here since those who are interested in the show would have seen the definitive UK version, warrants Primetime.

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openmedia

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# 193555 2-Feb-2009 23:07

lchiu7: I have had further communication from Mediaworks who say they made the decision to put 24 on C4 because its ratings from last time (I guess) didn't warrant it being shown in Primetime on TV3 (and presumably in HD). So they put it on C4 in Primetime rather than late at night on TV3. For my part I would have preferred late at night on TV3 so at least it has the potential to be in HD 5.1.

Also I do find it hard to believe that its ratings are poor and that the US version of Life on Mars, which has been struggling in the US and will face further challenges here since those who are interested in the show would have seen the definitive UK version, warrants Primetime.

The ratings for the last couple of seasons of 24 have been below prime time for TV3.

Odds are Life on Mars will move slots in 2-3 weeks if the numbers don't work for them

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC a Technology Evangelist and Product Manager. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Wiseacre

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# 193592 3-Feb-2009 07:26

openmedia:
lchiu7: I have had further communication from Mediaworks who say they made the decision to put 24 on C4 because its ratings from last time (I guess) didn't warrant it being shown in Primetime on TV3 (and presumably in HD). So they put it on C4 in Primetime rather than late at night on TV3. For my part I would have preferred late at night on TV3 so at least it has the potential to be in HD 5.1.

Also I do find it hard to believe that its ratings are poor and that the US version of Life on Mars, which has been struggling in the US and will face further challenges here since those who are interested in the show would have seen the definitive UK version, warrants Primetime.

The ratings for the last couple of seasons of 24 have been below prime time for TV3.

Odds are Life on Mars will move slots in 2-3 weeks if the numbers don't work for them

Perhaps if they used some common sense when it comes to scheduling their programming. The scheduling of the last season of 24 was ridiculous - play it for a couple of weeks on a Friday night with no promoting it, decide it's not rating, move it to the middle of another night, without promoting that they're doing it, take it off for a while, bring it back at another time - how's is anyone supposed to know when it's on?? And yet we now get 3 repeats in a row of 'The Simpsons' on a Sunday night, and 3 repeats of Two & a Half Men each week - wtf? I'm sick of being treated like I'm just an 'irrelevant viewer' by the networks - I'm not going to waste my time getting caught up in a show so that they can chop and change their scheduling, probably remove it altogether just to bring it back months later without advising anyone - how do they expect anything to rate with that sort of treatment. I source my media elsewhere, and only return to network TV for High Def programming; of course, that's been a bit ridiculous of late - no Heroes, no House; now no 24.... gotta hope that Lost will be in HD, but the advertising gives no such indication.

Don't ya just love having the programming being dictated by an accountant!!

lchiu7

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# 193594 3-Feb-2009 07:42

..

Perhaps if they used some common sense when it comes to scheduling their programming. The scheduling of the last season of 24 was ridiculous - play it for a couple of weeks on a Friday night with no promoting it, decide it's not rating, move it to the middle of another night, without promoting that they're doing it, take it off for a while, bring it back at another time - how's is anyone supposed to know when it's on?? .. I source my media elsewhere, and only return to network TV for High Def programming; of course, that's been a bit ridiculous of late - no Heroes, no House; now no 24.... gotta hope that Lost will be in HD, but the advertising gives no such indication.

Don't ya just love having the programming being dictated by an accountant!!

Last season's 24 was probably the worst one so far and so it's not surprising given that plus its erratic schedule, the ratings were low.

TV3 is doing somewhat better in the HD front with Bones, Numb3rs, Life on Mars and Cane(!) in HD. They are advertising new seasons of Boston Legal and CSI but it's not clear from the advertising if they will be in HD or not. Of course as Openmedia has noted, if if a show tanks, it will be moved - witness the fate of 90201; heavily advertised and shown in Primetime and then moved/cancelled after a few shows.

As for Lost, even if it's in HD, it will stereo, in keeping with TVNZ's unfathomable policy of not broadcasting any 5.1 content.

At the risk of going slight OT, having watched Life on Mars last night I thought Harvey Keitel was miscast as Sam's boss. Perhaps they wanted a name star in the role but I felt he is too old to play a tough, physical cop and looks so frail that nobody would be afraid of him! Sam certainly should have no fear!

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Wiseacre

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# 193650 3-Feb-2009 11:41

lchiu7:
As for Lost, even if it's in HD, it will stereo, in keeping with TVNZ's unfathomable policy of not broadcasting any 5.1 content.

Interestingly, I got this response from TVNZ re:5.1 audio

'Thank you for your email.

TVNZ fully intends to broadcast surround sound on those TV ONE and TV2
programmes that provide it however is not currently able to do so until
its associated broadcast systems infrastructure is upgraded (which we
are in the process of doing).

I hope this answers your question.

Regards'

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't TVNZ broadcast the Olympics in AC3? 5.1? Wouldn't that indicate that the 'associated broadcast systems infrastructure' is already in place?

lchiu7

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# 193676 3-Feb-2009 12:53

..Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't TVNZ broadcast the Olympics in AC3? 5.1? Wouldn't that indicate that the 'associated broadcast systems infrastructure' is already in place?

I am guessing that the Olympics was produced entirely in China using the latest and greatest broadcast gear and a feed came back to TVNZ that they just passed on. However for programming on tape or whatever, they need local infrastructure to re-encode and mux the feed for transmission?

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Wiseacre

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# 193704 3-Feb-2009 14:56

Hmmm, that sounds like it makes sense

Still, I gotta say, considering all the taxpayer dollars given to TVNZ to effect the transition to digital, it's been a pretty lacklustre effort by them - almost a year on and still no 5.1!

1gkar

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# 194132 4-Feb-2009 22:22

One thing I haven't seen mentioned about C4's low-def broadcast is their continual insistance on playing that poxy logo right near the middle of the action. I'll watch the first couple to judge, but will probably try to access elsewhere as others on this thread have said. Don't forget, because we don't watch their adds, we DON'T rate ANY consideration.

Re. life On Mars: please, give me a break. I watched the entire Brit series & what a complete BS finale. If that's the best TV series' writers can manufacture, then its no wonder reality TV cr*p is taking hold. You could see the ending coming after just a few porgrammes, & totally banal. I was SOOOO disappointed as I enjoy that type of genre. I haven't watched the USA version, & won't, but from the shorts, its seems a near straight copy.

Please, I don't mean to any flame wars here. If anyone takes offense, just '

' me.

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openmedia

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# 194143 4-Feb-2009 22:50

1gkar: One thing I haven't seen mentioned about C4's low-def broadcast is their continual insistance on playing that poxy logo right near the middle of the action. I'll watch the first couple to judge, but will probably try to access elsewhere as others on this thread have said. Don't forget, because we don't watch their adds, we DON'T rate ANY consideration.

Afraid C4 put their logo in a 4:3 safe zone rather than a 14:9 safe zone which certain broadcasters elsewhere in the world do.

I'm hoping they might start making their DOG less obvious for their new headline TV shows.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC a Technology Evangelist and Product Manager. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

lchiu7

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# 194171 5-Feb-2009 07:33

1gkar: One thing I haven't seen mentioned about C4's low-def broadcast is their continual insistance on playing that poxy logo right near the middle of the action. I'll watch the first couple to judge, but will probably try to access elsewhere as others on this thread have said. Don't forget, because we don't watch their adds, we DON'T rate ANY consideration.

I barely watch C4 but given that it is starting to show interesting shows I looked a bit more and was struck by how in your face their logo is. It should be 50% transparency and placed in a less obstrusive location

1gkar:

Re. life On Mars: please, give me a break. I watched the entire Brit series & what a complete BS finale. If that's the best TV series' writers can manufacture, then its no wonder reality TV cr*p is taking hold. You could see the ending coming after just a few porgrammes, & totally banal. I was SOOOO disappointed as I enjoy that type of genre. I haven't watched the USA version, & won't, but from the shorts, its seems a near straight copy.

..

The first show does mirror the first brit show. But after that it has to diverge since the Brit show (which I did like) only was designed to last 16 episodes and conclude (no matter how you view the conclusion) whereas a US show has 20+ shows/season. I bet the show doesn't last more a few weeks in Primetime before TV3 moves it :-)

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Quidam

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# 194205 5-Feb-2009 09:52

On a slightly more positive note, even SD channels (eg C4) look a lot better in digital than analog. But yeah, 24 in HD and (native) 5.1 DD would be 24 nirvana. Oh well, at least we've still got Prison Break...

Also, I've got agree about the C4 Logo -give me a break. Even the way they advertise programs -it's like the Channel that refuses to take itself seriously, This might work when they are advertising programs like South Park and Family guy, but with some of the programs they have been starting to get lately, the channel needs a bit of an image change.

Slightly off topic, but a work colleague of mine mentioned that he had heard Sky TV were quite happy with Freeview HD, as they believe it has resulted in a significant sales increase of their MySky HDi box. The theory being that people are impressed with Freeview HD -crave more HD (specifically sports) so go ahead and order MySky HDi.

I must admit, the thought has occurred to me more than once.

ps. there is an irony that one would go to Satellite (where bandwidth is at a premium) in order to get more HD.

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1gkar

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# 194309 5-Feb-2009 16:21

lchiu7:
1gkar:

Re. life On Mars: please, give me a break. I watched the entire Brit series & what a complete BS finale. If that's the best TV series' writers can manufacture, then its no wonder reality TV cr*p is taking hold. You could see the ending coming after just a few porgrammes, & totally banal. I was SOOOO disappointed as I enjoy that type of genre. I haven't watched the USA version, & won't, but from the shorts, its seems a near straight copy.

..

The first show does mirror the first brit show. But after that it has to diverge since the Brit show (which I did like) only was designed to last 16 episodes and conclude (no matter how you view the conclusion) whereas a US show has 20+ shows/season. I bet the show doesn't last more a few weeks in Primetime before TV3 moves it :-)

Well..., maybe the plots & subplots might differ, but more likely, the background to situations & characters will be the biggest amendments. For me, a series ending is crucial to my overall enjoyment of it. Like Star Trek: Voyager, where they spent all series building up about how important it is not to interfere with the Temporal First Prime, only to throw it out the window for the final. Before that, I would have said it was equal 2nd with ST:TNG but after that it went to just above ST:DS9 vieing for the wooden spoon.

I hope it does have better scriptwriting, for those watching it, but it would be just about a first for an American network to be better than their British counterparts. But maybe I'm just reminiscing back to the days when Brit comedy really was funny

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