Steve Barrett

From the editor of Media Week
Rude Tube success was depressing   
Am I the only one who finds it thoroughly depressing that ITV's dual programming venture Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach was beaten in the ratings by Alex Zane's web clips compilation broadcast on C4 in the 9 o'clock slot last Friday night?

Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach is a brave, genuinely funny and innovative programming venture by ITV that would be lauded to the high heavens if it had been imported from a trendy US producer, rather than being home-grown.

Rude Tube was a rehashed bunch of stuff from the web that most people have seen dozens of times before.

I guess, as always, the real proof that matters is in the ratings pudding, but let's hope ITV has the guts to hold firm and re-commission Moving Wallpaper/Echo Beach at the end of its current run. It's the kind of programming initiative that deserves to be supported.

Published Feb 18 2008, 12:27 PM by Steve Barrett
 

All Comments

Peter Martin
  February 19, 2008
I seem to recall a venerable practitioner from a bygone age having something to say about never underestimating the consumer. But then, it was a bygone age. Oh, look.. on the news... a skateboarding turtle!
Mark Smith
  February 20, 2008
Yes it's an interesting concept but it's rubbish and no one watches it. Nice idea, poor execution. I don't think ITV should be applauded for having ideas. We should expect this at the very least.
Andrew McCormick
  February 27, 2008
But hold on. ITV has recommissioned it - Moving Wallpaper anyway. My guess is that Echo Beach will move to ITV3 or another of ITV's channels. I'll also bet on both gradually gaining cult status much like This Life - which got critical claim first time round and ratings success only when repeated.
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