Well, well, well! It looks like Ivan Yates, that stalwart defender of current affairs and former host of The Tonight Show, has decided to unleash the hounds on Virgin Media after they slashed the show from a robust four episodes a week to a measly two. Talk about going from a four-course meal to a half-eaten sandwich! I mean, cutting the schedule in half right before a General Election in Ireland? That’s about as smart as wearing white to a ketchup fight.
Credit: Garrett White – The Sun
Yates described this scheduling blunder as “an own goal.” Well, Ivan, it seems like Virgin Media prefers to play football with one leg tied behind their back! What could they possibly have been thinking? This decision practically hands the politicians a free pass to waltz through current affairs without so much as a tutu.
Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
The decision comes hot on the heels of Virgin Media’s warning about tightening their belt on news and current affairs journalism. And let’s face it, in today’s world, that’s like deciding to save money by only brushing your teeth on weekends. No one wants that level of neglect! And Yates, being the fierce advocate that he is, stated, “You can’t win a p***ing competition with politicians by axing them, you just can’t do it.” Well said, Ivan! It’s like trying to swim without getting wet! Not going to happen!
He’s made it clear that this isn’t just a personal affront to the network but a massive own goal that will echo through the halls of Irish media. He furiously pointed out that cutting the show isn’t exactly a recipe for success – after all, how can you hold politicians accountable when your platform is slowly disappearing into the ether?
His comments didn’t just stop there; he went on to describe the reduction as a “slap in the face” for the hard-working team of The Tonight Show. You’ve got to feel for the hosts, Claire Brock and Ciara Doherty—navigating this chaos must feel a bit like being on a rollercoaster with no seatbelt.
What’s especially puzzling is that this decision comes at a peak time—not unlike cutting dessert when everyone is at the dinner table, salivating. Yates, like the wise sage he is, warned about RTE becoming the monopoly on news broadcasting, which feels like a one-horse race. If Virgin Media is serious about competing, then shouldn’t they up the ante instead of fumbling the ball?
Yates, who didn’t hold back, expressed his disappointment for the team at Virgin Media: “It’s a slap in the face for everyone who has tried to build up that programme.” What a profound sentiment! If only they had shown the same level of commitment to their scheduling. You want to build up a show? Cutting it back is like trying to grow a plant by pulling it out of the ground every day to check for roots!
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Virgin Media Television, Áine Ní Chaoindealbháin, tried to defend the decision by citing “challenging market conditions.” Challenging? Honey, putting two political talk shows on at the same time is challenging! But can we really believe that cutting back on news is the answer? It begs the question: is this really a strategy or just a fancy way to say “we give up?”
In conclusion, with the election looming and public interest in politics at its peak, cutting back on political programming seems like an absolute blunder of titanic proportions. Ivan Yates’ words ring true: the future looks bleak for Virgin Media if they don’t get their act together. Let’s hope someone hands them a pair of glasses so they can see what’s really at stake here!
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IVAN Yates has fiercely criticized his previous employers at Virgin Media for their recent decision to slash the airing of The Tonight Show from four nights a week down to just two. The timing of this dramatic reduction, occurring on the eve of an important General Election in Ireland, has been termed an “own goal” by Yates, indicating a significant misstep in strategy.
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The decision to significantly cut the flagship current affairs programme comes just months after Virgin Media hinted at a reassessment of its spending practices concerning news and current affairs journalism. This shift followed the Government’s controversial bailout of rival broadcaster RTE.
However, the 65-year-old Yates, who previously helmed The Tonight Show for three years, passionately conveyed his disapproval to The Irish Sun: “You can’t win a p***ing competition with politicians by axing them, you just can’t do it. Virgin Media are shooting themselves in the foot doing this.”
Yates further voiced concerns over the long-term implications of this decision, warning that it would hinder Virgin Media’s credibility with politicians who may be less inclined to seek public funds for future projects. Specifically, he stated that these actions convey a lack of interest in current affairs programming, which could jeopardize their chances of receiving public service broadcasting support in the future.
The former Fine Gael TD characterized the reduction of the show as a strategic blunder by Virgin Media, referring to it as “an own goal.” He expressed his disbelief, stating, “If they were going to do this, they should have done it in December.”
He emphasized the detrimental timing, pointing out that cutting a current affairs show during a pivotal election period—which generates peak public interest—was unwarranted. He argued that maintaining a robust schedule with four shows per week would not only be beneficial for ratings but also serve critical public service responsibilities while effectively holding politicians accountable.
Yates, who took over as the main anchor after filling in for the original host Vincent Browne from 2017 to 2020, firmly described the reduction as a “slap in the face” to the entire production team behind the show. He lamented, “I’m so disappointed for hosts Claire (Brock) and Ciara (Doherty) and the team.”
Now known for hosting the podcast Path To Power alongside Matt Cooper, Yates has highlighted his support for Virgin Media, noting that commercial television and radio in Ireland have faced inadequate treatment by the Government.
He described the Government’s decision to allocate RTE €725million as a barrier to necessary reforms, rather than a facilitative measure, expressing strong empathy for Virgin Media in its current predicament.
“However, by reducing your output and capacity, you’re on a slippery slope—that will mean your ratings will go down in my opinion,” he cautioned.
In response to the backlash, Virgin Media Television’s managing director, Áine Ní Chaoindealbháin, affirmed the company’s continued commitment to public service broadcasting, stating, “Virgin Media Television remains committed to public service broadcasting and will continue to invest in our news and current affairs output.”
She noted that the reduction of The Tonight Show’s weekly output was compelled by challenging market conditions and the lack of government support for public service programming initiatives.
Ing in for Ivan Yates back in 2018, is frustrated that Virgin Media appears to be retreating just when it should be doubling down. His sentiments highlight a crucial point: during an election, when topics of governance and policy are front and center in the public consciousness, reducing the visibility of political discourse can be detrimental not just to viewer engagement, but to the very fabric of democratic dialogue.
The backlash against Virgin Media’s decision raises questions about their broader strategy in a media landscape increasingly dominated by a single player like RTE. If they intend to genuinely compete, then merely scaling back on programming won’t cut it. Rather, they need to find innovative ways to enhance their offerings and attract viewers, particularly when public interest is at its peak.
Critics have often pointed out the contradictory nature of media strategies that aim to cut costs while simultaneously claiming a desire for robust political engagement. The nature of news broadcasting demands a consistent and reliable platform for political dialogue, something that Yates argues is being undermined by this reduction.
As important issues loom on the horizon, the call for reform in programming and public discourse should resonate with not just the network but with the viewers as well. The decision to decrease the airing of political content during times of heightened public interest indicates either a fundamental misunderstanding of the landscape or a short-sighted retreat in the face of challenges.
Ultimately, there is a strong case for Virgin Media to reassess its approach immediately. The electorate deserves to have a platform that not merely informs but engages them in meaningful dialogue. If not, they risk losing relevance and trust in an already fractured media environment. The onus now lies with Virgin Media to prove that their aim is not merely survival, but rather to thrive in an environment that demands accountability, engagement, and insight.
