From what I've read on here since it was first announced that there would be no LF, the consensus of opinion seems to be that BB isn't BB without it and that it is sorely missed. Even those that didn't watch any or much of the LF benefited from others that did via the forum buzz it generated - as has been mentioned several times on this forum.
Some are happy to just watch the HL show and it was ever so, others are relieved there is no LF because they spent far too much time watching it, but most fans miss it. There was also the gulf of perception between those that just watched the HL and those that watched LF and/or joined forums, this in itself sparked debate. I used enjoy "putting straight" HL's-only peeps at work about what had really happened the previous night, now I can't be all educational with my vast LF and forum-acquired knowledge!!
Of course, everyone is entitled to watch whatever they want, there is no argument to be had with anyone on this, what annoys me, is that Ch5 have totally disregarded the views of a significant percentage of BB fans FOR NO REASON if Jeff Ford's "We could have done live feed if we wanted to" statement is accurate and which I take to mean that inclination and not money was the problem. I believe 86,000 people paid for internet feed when it was offered - can't remember the year. They could have done something to cater to those who wanted LF!!
I agree with Pengy's statement: "It seems as if they are wanting to attract a 'younger social networking type viewer'". I also agree with the comments about the disjointedness of the show - it's like a collection of loosely related video bites.
It is also depressingly familiar that they are attempting to capture a new audience whilst disregarding the old, which I have no evidence for, but perceive as being, a younger audience. Nothing wrong with aiming for new viewers (marketing strategy does aim to get brands fixed in the minds of younger people - it has been proved that if you get them when they are young you have them for life - brand loyalty or summat - banks definitely do this with their little starter packs and cute piggy banks) but they shouldn't disregard the existing audience, and dismiss their views, in doing so.
If these younger viewers are so easily distracted that they require constant recaps on the HLs show of what happened 5 minutes ago, if they are so flighty, then they are hardly the type that are going to suddenly start watching other programmes on Ch5 (which seems to be the only reason why Ch5 went for BB) as their attention span is so short they will have forgotten what channel they were watching BB on!! I'm joking btw, I don't mean to insult young people... young peeps are our future.... :scared-to-death-about-that-prospect-smiley:
Are we of a certain age (that's possibly anyone over 30 according to Ch5 ) and over not worth bothering to market at any more? Not even as a disposable income group? Are we not being told we are all going live to 90 - or is that only relevant when deciding the age at which we get our pensions? Does that not mean we have decades of viewing in us and votes to cast and so on?
I shall be making my own small protest by boycotting Domino's pizzas (even though I've never had one) and Freederm spot cream.... although without the pizzas I won't be needing the cream.
Hehe! I was going to say "Pengy has saved me the bother of writing a post" but I got carried away.
Pengy for the BB production Team PM!
*joins conga*