Going on holiday is when I genuinely reflect on the state of UK TV. (I just got back)It's the only time I watch terrestrial channels. Back from the beach, prepping for the evening, I'll flick on BBC or ITV – the way I watched TV 20 years ago: linear, scheduled, no choice.And every time, the same realisation hits: the offering is starved of new ideas. Most shows have been running for decades. The Chase. Deal or No Deal. Endless Antiques Roadshow clones. Even I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out... Read more
Going on holiday is when I genuinely reflect on the state of UK TV. (I just got back)
It's the only time I watch terrestrial channels. Back from the beach, prepping for the evening, I'll flick on BBC or ITV – the way I watched TV 20 years ago: linear, scheduled, no choice.
And every time, the same realisation hits: the offering is starved of new ideas. Most shows have been running for decades. The Chase. Deal or No Deal. Endless Antiques Roadshow clones. Even I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! I'm not knocking their quality…just pointing out that innovation has vanished.
But there's a bigger problem.
Our hotel TVs are now smart TVs, and I could see what previous guests had watched on YouTube. A lot of it? Sharp, independent creators making their own versions of Bargain Hunt, prank shows, and challenges. People are getting their fix from them… for free.
YouTubers dominate the cheap end of production. They also own the ultra-high end. No UK broadcaster can match the budgets MrBeast drops on a single 20 minute video.
With inflation driving up costs, it's no shock the industry is struggling to adapt. Traditional TV is getting squeezed, stuck in the awkward middle between low budget indies and blockbuster streaming giants.
Like most of us, I now watch premium dramas, comedies, and standout shows on demand. The rest of my viewing? Smaller YouTube creators. Netflix might even steal Christmas Day this year with the Stranger Things finale.
So, what's next for traditional broadcasters?
Linear TV is closer to its end than its beginning… that's clear. Yet "event TV" like The Traitors proves there's still life. It's a fresh idea, and pulling together big-name celebs into a gripping format demands skills most independent creators simply don't have.
Scripted drama and comedy also rely on decades-honed expertise. But Netflix, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime have raised the bar sky-high.
I'd be stunned if the current lineup of revised shows survives another 20 years.
This isn't an article with all the answers.
But for the industry, one thing is certain: originality and fresh ideas are the only way forward.
It's the only time I watch terrestrial channels. Back from the beach, prepping for the evening, I'll flick on BBC or ITV – the way I watched TV 20 years ago: linear, scheduled, no choice.
And every time, the same realisation hits: the offering is starved of new ideas. Most shows have been running for decades. The Chase. Deal or No Deal. Endless Antiques Roadshow clones. Even I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! I'm not knocking their quality…just pointing out that innovation has vanished.
But there's a bigger problem.
Our hotel TVs are now smart TVs, and I could see what previous guests had watched on YouTube. A lot of it? Sharp, independent creators making their own versions of Bargain Hunt, prank shows, and challenges. People are getting their fix from them… for free.
YouTubers dominate the cheap end of production. They also own the ultra-high end. No UK broadcaster can match the budgets MrBeast drops on a single 20 minute video.
With inflation driving up costs, it's no shock the industry is struggling to adapt. Traditional TV is getting squeezed, stuck in the awkward middle between low budget indies and blockbuster streaming giants.
Like most of us, I now watch premium dramas, comedies, and standout shows on demand. The rest of my viewing? Smaller YouTube creators. Netflix might even steal Christmas Day this year with the Stranger Things finale.
So, what's next for traditional broadcasters?
Linear TV is closer to its end than its beginning… that's clear. Yet "event TV" like The Traitors proves there's still life. It's a fresh idea, and pulling together big-name celebs into a gripping format demands skills most independent creators simply don't have.
Scripted drama and comedy also rely on decades-honed expertise. But Netflix, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime have raised the bar sky-high.
I'd be stunned if the current lineup of revised shows survives another 20 years.
This isn't an article with all the answers.
But for the industry, one thing is certain: originality and fresh ideas are the only way forward.
