ITV1 “Unwatchable” Says Senior Exec

LONDON, August 21: In an interview with MediaGuardian, Andy
Harries, ITV’s controller of drama, comedy and films, has called ITV1
“unwatchable” for up-market viewers, and says it has become a “bargain
basement” network.

"Don't you think that the ABs have stopped watching ITV
because it has become unwatchable?" he is quoted as saying. "Hundreds
of people tell me this. There is too much clutter, and it is putting people
off. ITV is so unfashionable, it doesn't have to be like Channel 4, but it
should be modern. It looks like a bargain basement."

Harries went on to say that the channel has lost some of its
focus on programming under chief executive Charles Allen, who announced this
month his plans to step down later in the year. "It is clear that ITV has
lost its way. The key to it is that it has lost its focus on programming …
I'm not angry, I am disappointed that the channel is not as good as it should
be.” He then referred to Allen as "well-intentioned, but the difficulty
was the business became more important than the channels. Charles believed that
once merged, we would all become ITV, that was short-sighted."

He continued, "There's been a deep complacency,
combined with arrogance. ITV has been caught napping big time."