ITV Programming Thread

[tellyblues]

I don't think viewers decided they had enough of talent show winners, more the material after they won wasn't up to scratch and the charts become more difficult to manipulate as time went on so the effect of buying records reduced. Sales in the early to mid 2000s were abysmal and talent shows took advantage of this.

Contestants aren't stupid but it's probably the case that they have tried other methods to get into the music industry and failed.

Not sure what your point is though. TV doesn’t exist to create entry into the music industry. It exists to entertain people on Sat night and make money for advertisers. Before Leona Lewis there arguably weren’t any breakout stars on X Factor, people still watched it. And after Little Mix, people still watched it. Fewer people though, so clearly there was less appetite for the manufacturing of success they did. Arguably it’s easier now than ever before to break into the music industry with TikTok and streaming and the like, you don’t need a label anymore to go viral and launch a career. Plenty of people from humble beginnings still get to make a success of themselves. Things have changed so TV has to move on too.

The Voice offers a recording contract to the winner, which gives the show an element of prestige. It's aimed at people who are serious about making a career out of music to want to apply. Yes, the show makes money for ITV and whoever else but without contestants taking it seriously there wouldn't be a show. Starstruck has a serious side too - people don't muck about and wouldn't be allowed on if they didn't at least sound like the person.

Successful contestants are part of a show's brand and people aspire to be like them. If it wasn't for the early chart success, TXF wouldn't have lasted long. It could be argued that The Voice manages to limp on because it hasn't ever created a viable artist for viewers to compare newer contestants to and as such there is no expectation that comes with the show. Still doesn't mean that it's not about making a better life for yourself because for most contestants that is what it's about.

For what it's worth, each talent show is different so what people expect from one won't be the same for another.