You want "unprecedented?"
Take this.
LONDON -- The head of the U.K.'s most popular web, BBC1, has ruled out showing more U.S. acquisitions.Jay Hunt, who took over as controller of BBC1 around a year ago, will instead continue to invest the bulk of her drama budget in locally produced fare such as "Doctor Who" and high concept hits like "Life on Mars."
At present, BBC1 screens the Glenn Close legal skein "Damages," recently singled out for praise by the corporation's chairman Michael Lyons, in a late-night slot.
Under Hunt's leadership, this policy of pushing U.S. fare to the margins of the schedules looks certain to continue.
Hunt told the Broadcasting Press Guild: "It is very unlikely that we will show U.S. series in peak time (primetime). It is nice to have 'Damages' in the mix. The show is hugely valued by a very small audience but it is a very small audience.
"Part of what the Charter (the BBC's constitution) commits us to is to find the best of world television and showcase it but my main job in drama is to spearhead real innovation and creativity in original British production.
2 rumbles:
That'll be why I rarely watch BBC1 then, and why I pay so much for cable. Give me E4/More4/FX/Sky1 and occasionally BBC2. They still have the best documentaries.
I'm not sure how BBC1 has become the UK's most popular "web", but there you go.
The fact is, there haven't been all that many US dramas on BBC1 for years. Before Damages the channel probably only showed Medium late in the evening one night a week.
There's still BBC2 screening Heroes (unlucky for us), and - finally - the five seasons of The Wire, while BBC4 shows Mad Men (repeated on BBC2).
Years back, when there were only three or four channels, picking up American shows was easy, but now that they have to bid against the many cable and satellite channels who drive the prices up, it isn't worth it.
Shame though that the money saved isn't being spent on really innovative and creative drama but dull nonsense. And how old is Life on Mars?
The next BBC drama exec that keeps banging on about Life on Mars? should be repeatedly punched in the face with a fist made on anvils.
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