Sky Networks MD Dawn Airey has criticised ITV for being "misguided" and "formulaic". Airey, who oversees those so un-formulaic Sky channels (Simpsons, Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle, Simpsons, Stargate, Simpsons...) has told a meeting of the Royal Television Society that ITV will continue to lose viewers to digital channels if they don't innovate in their schedules.
Airey: "The danger for ITV is that if schedules start to become more formulaic and bland then viewers looking for diversity will inevitably seek out those programmes on any one of the other 400 channels from which they can choose. Look at the upcoming drama schedules for next year: more Sharpe, more Poirot, more Marple - and believe it or not more Morse and more Rumpole of the Bailey. The strategy appears to be all about maximising share to keep ad revenues buoyant yet it does nothing to broaden the channel's reach."
Actually, to be fair, she's right. And don't worry Dawn, we love Malcolm in the Middle and the Simpsons.