On Sunday Channel 4 issued a press release explaining that the 4oD Archive will soon be joining 30 day Catch-Up on Channel4.com and that the 4oD Application will be closing.
The National Press loved the story which was very generous of them.
But, in explaining to their readers the appeal of being able to watch programmes from the Channel 4 archive on demand, which programmes did they single out as being noteworthy?
The Sun keeps it simple, plumping for Father Ted, Teachers and Shameless.
The Telegraph also goes for Father Ted but is strictly in it for the laughs, adding Drop the Dead Donkey and (controversial!) Brass Eye.
The Mirror chooses Trigger Happy TV, Drop the Dead Donkey and - hey, hey - Queer as Folk. Nice. I shall be endorsing The Mirror from here on in because they reckon we have "leapfrogged iPlayer". Just like that. LOL. I'd like to thank God, my agent, the tech team ...
BBC News (ok so not a Newspaper but Online it sort of is) is looking forward to catching up on Shameless, Ali G and, yep, Father Ted. Who can blame them? They need a laugh. Oh wait - and Queer As Folk, Teachers, Brass Eye, Trigger Happy TV and "axed soap" Brookside! Have they not got work to do?
The Daily Mail. Father Ted and Shameless get the standard mention but The Mail's pretty focused on reliving "the first lesbian kiss being broadcast before the 9pm watershed". It's
that episode of Brookie! You'd expect nothing less. The user Comments quickly get on to the heated and irrelevant topic of why honest tax-paying Daily Mail readers should have to pay a license fee. Disgrace!
The Guardian covered the story first out of everyone. Thank you The Guardian. They plump for Brass Eye, The Camomile Lawn (ah .. clever) and, like everyone else, Father Ted. Unsated, they also reference Queer As Folk, Shameless, Vic Reeves Big Night Out, Ali G, Teachers, Location Location Location
and Grand Designs. Get in, square-eyed Guardianistas! Best and most poe-faced user Comment concerns "the
myth of free Television online". The author worries that it takes more electricity to watch TV on a laptop than on a TV ...
Nothing in The Metro and Evening Standard that hasn't already been said. And?
And at
The Times they're far too busy with real News to be bothered with such trifles. Or else their site search isn't very good. Not sure which.
In summary: British newspapers are mostly into comedy and homosexuality.
