The following article was taken from THE BAPTIST TIMES Thursday, September 3, 2009.
Quote:
THE END of Big Brother in the UK is ‘fantastic news’ for the broadcasting industry, according to a former winner of the programme.
Cameron Stout, a member of Kirkwall Baptist Church in Orkney, said while he is saddened the reality show has only one more series to run, millions of pounds will now be spent on ensuring ‘new and exciting’ programmes take its place.
Last week Channel 4 announced that next year’s show will be the last.
Cameron, who won the 2003 series, told The Baptist Times, ‘It’s a shame it’s finishing, mainly I suppose because I’m very sentimental! I had a great time and have done ever since.’
But the ‘fantastic news’, he explained, is that there is now approximately 200 hours of extra programming to produce for 2011.
Cameron said, ‘Broadcasting has been hit in much the same way as many industries during this recent downturn in cashflow.
‘Wh a t Ch a n n e l 4 ’ s confirmation means is that wr i t e r s , produc e r s and commissioners will have several tens of millions of pounds to allocate to putting together some new and exciting programming for the channel.
‘That is good news for the industry, for the hosts, performers, actors, writers, and (hopefully) especially for us, the viewers.’
Big Brother began in 2000 and has been a centrepiece of summer television over the last decade.
C4 director of television Kevin Lygo claimed the decision was not due to its falling audience figures.
He said, ‘Big Brother is still profitable for Channel 4 despite its reduced popularity and there could have been the option to renew it on more favourable terms.
‘That’s what a purely commercial broadcaster would have done, but Channel 4 has a public remit to champion new forms of creativity.'
Naughty. Will need to phone and apologise.
