Have you had to endure much US TV?
I have & it's dire.
You mention a miniscule tip of an iceberg of dross, interrupted constantly with ads.
Give me British TV any day, topped up with the very best from the rest of the world.

The point I was making is that quality TV is exclusive to non commercial TV - the fact that ITV don't make quality TV doesn't mean we should ignore some of the stuff on C4, Grand designs come to mind

C4 had, still have, a remit to produce documentaries and informative programmes rather than dish out unadulterated but commercial cr@P, didn't they originally and do they still benefit from grant funding to maintain those aims ?

They also purchase a lot of HBO stuff too, they certainly seem to have an advantage of some sort over ITV and Ch5.


EDIT
I've done a Wiki on Ch4 and while self funded by commercial means, their licence holds them to provide basically what you see, an alternative to the dross that the other commercial channels churn out, its doubtful that they would produce such good quality documentaries and fund FilmFour if their licence didn't depend on it.

I think ITV do make good drama such as Midsommer Murders, Collision they simply don't make period dramas. The BBC seems to buy as much American stuff than anyone - the Wire, Six feet under etc

Are you taking the p1ss?

No wether you like it or not it is still a well made drama series

Is it balls. It's a typical ITV drama in that its 2 hours long when it really should only be 1 hour.
I do quite like it in a way, it's alright to pass a bit of time on a Sunday if you're over a certain age (no offence McLaren ), but to suggest its even comparable to the likes of Pride and Prejudice or some of the better BBC dramas is absolute tosh.

I dont know, I've never watched more than about 10 mins of either. I can say that the feller who plays Rebus annoys me intensely.

I would do, I just did

They are both prime examples of programmes that should have had a lifespan of two series but which instead have been dragged on and on until they are just another series instead of being something special - its commercialism at its worst, we've got a good product here now lets flog it to death and when we run out of the original authors scripts we'll get someone else in to ghost write it.


As an antidote I'll quote Larkrise to Candleford, a classic BBC production that stuck to the original books and then stopped when the stories were all told - and remains a classic for that.

I see yer point Mcf But i don't think Midsummer Murders is in the same league as Frost and Rebus.
I agree with the "done to death" bit though which is shame when it comes to the likes of Trial and Retribution and Prime Suspect.
I think the Fixer and Blue Murder are are still good dramas though.

No