Neighbours ends

[Jon]

It seems ridiculous that the production company expects a UK broadcaster to practically fund the entire show to keep it going. They are lucky that Channel 5 did for so long. Its an Australian series not a UK series.

Not really. It’s basically just being made for UK audiences including in the BBC days. It’s basically an honorary British soap.

[HEW2343]

https://headtopics.com/ie/rte-in-talks-w...s-23937433

[James2001]

I can't see how RTE could possibly be able to pay for the show's production if Channel 5 can't afford it... or how they could even justify using Irish taxpayer's money to fund TV a production in Australia anyway.

[Gary Baldy]

It’s interesting- so many people are saying to save Neighbours when most haven’t watched it for years- I doubt most people would be able to name any new characters from the last 5 years. Personally, I still watch and enjoy it but it’s a shadow of its former self- storylines are now too over-the-top and dragged out even by Neighbours standards. It’s like it doesn’t know whether it wants to be a drama or a comedic pisstake of serial dramas at times.

[Joe]

It seems ridiculous that the production company expects a UK broadcaster to practically fund the entire show to keep it going. They are lucky that Channel 5 did for so long. Its an Australian series not a UK series.

Why not? It's just a business deal. People are talking about this like it's some kind of mad situation, but it's just money.

If Australian audiences aren't big enough to justify the cost of production, but UK ones are, then UK are just buying a product that ultimately brings them an income.

If my office buys a paper company's entire inventory (because I pay a fair price and they can supply all my needs), I am not 'funding the entire' company, I am just buying paper.

[johnhugh]

But channel 5 have stated the cost of their investment does not revert into the money they get back from advertising.

[Jon]

I can't see how RTE could possibly be able to pay for the show's production if Channel 5 can't afford it... or how they could even justify using Irish taxpayer's money to fund TV a production in Australia anyway.

Yes, basically if it stayed on air in the UK, it will stay on air in Ireland that’s surely going to be the extent of any discussion.

I would be surprised if RTE are paying more than Channel 10 towards the production, in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if 10 effectively gets Neighbours for free.

I actually think it might become viable if it went to Channel 4 at 5:30 or ITV at 6pm, because they’d at least retain the current audience and being slightly higher up the EPG and having stronger lead ins would bring some more people in. That said I can’t see either of those broadcasters being particularly interested.

[Jon]

But channel 5 have stated the cost of their investment does not revert into the money they get back from advertising.

Well yes, but they once were believed to be and that’s what Joe’s talking about.

[Jez_CymruWales]

It seems ridiculous that the production company expects a UK broadcaster to practically fund the entire show to keep it going. They are lucky that Channel 5 did for so long. Its an Australian series not a UK series.

Why not? It's just a business deal. People are talking about this like it's some kind of mad situation, but it's just money.

If Australian audiences aren't big enough to justify the cost of production, but UK ones are, then UK are just buying a product that ultimately brings them an income.

If my office buys a paper company's entire inventory (because I pay a fair price and they can supply all my needs), I am not 'funding the entire' company, I am just buying paper.

But the point is it doesnt make enough money which is why Channel 5 are not renewing the contract. They shouldn't expect another UK broadcaster to buy a series that had had its days and would likely run at a loss like it was doing on Channel 5. Either find a way of keeping it on air by reducing the budget and then possibly selling it to another UK company as an import or axe it.

One possible way they could save it is by changing the entire format of the show - e.g making it a 1 hour drama running for a set amount of episodes and if successful renewed for a second season. This would involve a massive reduction in cast i imagine.

I find it difficult to believe RTE would fund anywhere near what Channel 5 were paying just to keep it on air.

[Jon]

Either find a way of keeping it on air by reducing the budget and then possibly selling it to another UK company as an import or axe it.

I don’t really understand the point your making, as surely those are options they’re more or less looking at anyway.

Make it a more appealing proposition to another UK broadcaster or axe it.

[Jez_CymruWales]

Either find a way of keeping it on air by reducing the budget and then possibly selling it to another UK company as an import or axe it.

I don’t really understand the point your making, as surely those are options they’re more or less looking at anyway.

Make it a more appealing proposition to another UK broadcaster or axe it.

The point im making is a UK broadcaster shouldn't have pay a massive amount of money for what is an imported soap that has had its day long ago. The show originally came to BBC1 as a cheap filler for its daytime slots and that's what imported soaps should be. Not something thats costs 21 million a year. Apparently Home and Away costs about 7 times less than Neighbours does. Granted its not as popular but still does very well for what is is intended to be, a filler in a daytime slot.

[Brekkie]

C5 reportedly pay 7 times less but I'd be surprised if Home and Away costs less to make with their more frequent stunts and on location filming - it's just 7 picks up the bill.

Neighbours is already clearly produced on a shoestring so not sure if they could really cut much more without compromising it further. It's more a case of finding alternative funding models including tax credits and it being funded for it's value as a training ground.

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-ra...59ufn.html

[Jez_CymruWales]

C5 reportedly pay 7 times less but I'd be surprised if Home and Away costs less to make with their more frequent stunts and on location filming - it's just 7 picks up the bill.

Exactly and so they should as its their own production. Any overseas sales are just a bonus and add to any profit made.

[Brekkie]

Although to be fair outside the soaps very few dramas are 100% funded nowadays - producers usually have to go to broadcasters with a certain level of funding in place.

[RDJ]

The problem with most British PSB broadcasters now is the amount of home grown productions they need to spawn off, which makes a commission in Australia less attractive.

That immediately puts Channel 4 out and even the BBC to some extent who have quotas to hit. I don’t see RTE committing to a deal anywhere near like Channel 5’s existing deal and the price would have to drop a lot for them to even consider it.

It might be possible for one of the streaming services to pick it up maybe. They operate in all the markets that the show is broadcast and the costs involved is a drop in the ocean for them nowadays. Plus, a regular soap opera broadcast 5 days a week is something no streaming service currently offers, so could be a big attractor to their platforms, with them striking deals with TV broadcasters to broadcast it, probably a couple of days behind. Who knows!