All joking aside though, this really IS bad news, because the American programming is probably the best, if not the only, thing Channel 4 has to offer!
If they can no longer afford to buy new shows from the US, guess what we're gonna be left with...yep, that's right, cheap and nasty reality shows like Big Brother!
Oh, God, kill me now!
Channel 4 closes chequebook to new US shows
Dan Sabbagh
Channel 4 will slash at least £60 million a year from its on-screen budget as it battles with an 18 per cent downturn in advertising in the first half of the year.
The financial crisis means that Channel 4, once the home of American television with Friends, Frasier and Desperate Housewives, is not planning to buy any new US shows.
Kevin Lygo, director of television at Channel 4, said: "We will be spending nowhere near the levels we did in the past on American programming, and it's unlikely we will buy a new show this year unless we get a good deal".
Channel 4 spent £118.5 million on imports in 2008, a drop of £30 million on 2007. But it expects to cut that further this year to help to meet a minimum 10 per cent budget reduction from last year’s £598 million total on screen spend. The budget for daytime television will also be reduced to make savings.
Every May, British television executives fly to Los Angeles to attend screenings of the best shows on offer from America, competing to buy what they hope will be future hits. But Channel 4 is sending out a reduced team, with Mr Lygo, traditionally on the plane, not on the list.
Overall, Channel 4 revenues were down 4 per cent to £906 million in 2008, but a £25 million cut in programme spending meant that profits were slightly up, at £1.8 million compared to £500,000 last year.
The broadcaster estimates TV advertising bookings are down 18 per cent in the first half of the year, and with little hope for a recovery, will fall by 15 per cent for all of 2009.
Original Source: Timesonline
Desperate Housewives 5.22 preview!
Hang on a minute? How does she want Jackson to repay her? Well, let's see, um, she can either have sex with him there and then or he can buy her a..a... cake!! WTF Susan?
Also, "They don't call her Gaby for nothing!" Ha ha!
Oh, and did you notice that his hair is so long he has to push it out of his eye! Get it cut Gale... pweeeeease!
I loved this little sneak peek, Gale seems a lot more comfortable than in last week's episode and his delivery of the lines a lot more natural! I think he's settling back into the character, which is great to see. He's definitely baaaack! I hope it's not all in vain though, and he sticks around for longer than the next couple of episodes.
Cannot wait to see this! :)
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