UTV

I’ve just reviewed BBC N Ireland, and so, while my blood pressure is still suitably up, thought I’d review UTV as well.
I’m sitting here racking my noddle trying to think of a UTV programme I’ve actually seen apart from the news — I rarely watch ITV either, because, well, it’s rubbish. Then I remembered School Around the Corner. And Kelly. Then Julian Simmons doing the between show annoucements, almost always starting with a mincing roll of the eyes and a long drawn out ‘Weeeeeeeeeell…‘
UTV has decent enough sports coverage apparently, if you’re into that type of thing, but unfortunately for this review remembering that has also made me remember my enraged Sunday nights during my teenage years, when I’d sit up til midnight to watch the awfully addictive Prisoner: Cell Block H (‘Aw, Beeeeee!’), only to find that it had been cancelled without warning because of some sporting nonsense. I can’t really find anything good to say about UTV.

It’s hard to disagree with anything the other reviewers have said here. UTV doesn’t really do anything that’s hugely entertaining, or informative or, you know, interesting.
The news coverage is better on the BBC, the drama output comes from ITV (and we all know how good they are at making good drama…) and the local programming is usually at best boring, and at worse patronising and cringe inducing.
But they do have Corrie, so that’s something!

It’s good without ever being great. Located on the other side of television world, UTV combats frequently with BBC NI to make programmes that are more Northern Irish that the BBC.
Sadly though I don’t think UTV comes close to the programmes the BBC makes. Whereas UTV insists on the happy-​go-​lucky UTV Lifestyle programme just before dinner time, the BBC seems more insistent on the comedy element and I think it is here that UTV fall behind.
They have the same faces at dinner time that they’ve had for manys-​a-​year and to be honest they could do with a facelift (I mean the television programme, not the presenters… or do I?)
Though UTV do have a handful of good NI shows (Lesser Spotted Ulster for instance), they are few and far between and with schedule-​imploding catastrophes like The Seven-​Thirty Show (and don’t get me started on Julian «what ’bout ye?» Simmons).
It’s all a bit hit and miss with UTV and sadly at the moment, there are too many misses.

Utv is Northern Ireland’s version of ITV1, with a few local variations such as the news and regional programmes. The station hasn’t been as prominent as BBC NI has in providing a stepping stone for local TV presenters, in terms of promoting them to the rest of the UK, and thus national TV, but there are a good few presenters who are locally well-​known and loved.
However, one exception to this would be the example of Eamonn Holmes, who presented ‘Good Evening Ulster’ in the 1980s on Utv, as well as ‘All Mixed Up’, a game show broadcast in the 1990s. Since the early 90s, Eamonn has made a name for himself presenting on GMTV, and has since moved on to work for Sky News, as well as This Morning, which he co-​presents with his wife. Not bad going Eamonn!
One of the interesting elements of Utv is the announcements shown between programmes, usually in the evening. A presenter will inform the viewers of the next programme, and perhaps what is also happening later on that night. Very novel… and apparently Utv is the only station to do this in the UK.
Shows on Utv have been many and varied over the years. I recall the likes of ‘School Around the Corner’, ‘McKeever’ and ‘Kelly’, none of which are still in existence. At the moment, most shows are sporting (RPM), local interest shows (‘Lesser Spotted Ulster’, ‘Ultimate Ulster’), or lifestyle programmes (‘The 7:30 Show’). Utv has even spread its wings to include a radio station (U105 — a particular favourite of my mum’s), as well as internet package (random, I know).
Who knows where they’ll go from here…