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To think prime time TV is now worse than 1982?

109 replies

AirOff · 08/10/2025 18:20

I was thinking in general about TV programmes earlier and how they’ve changed over the years and then I’ve just decided to directly compare the same week -

Monday - Friday only

for BBC1 TV programming

for EXACTLY the same week - (in this case it was week commencing the first Monday in September) - for both

2025 and 1982 between the whole 3 hours from 7pm - 10pm

in 2025 what I found was - the first hour until 8pm is taken up every day by One Show and Eastenders (apart from no EE on Friday),
then for the whole 5 days there was only 1 drama in that 3 hour period and one sitcom. Just FYI, both the drama and sitcom in this case were British. Apart from that, there was reality stuff of a domestic practical nature on EVERY night - Sewing Bee and Masterchef - BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!
There was also Scam Interceptors and one reality dating type show.

Anyway, in 1982 - the picture was very different - far more sitcoms (British, overwhelmingly), British made dramas and entertainment programmes - Top of the Pops, It’s a Knockout, a Wildlife on One programme, and there was one American sitcom shown - Taxi. That’s the thing - we never have American sitcoms or dramas on prime time BBC1/ITV like we used to, do we? Also in 1982 was Points of View which I loved. Also ‘World’s Strongest Man’ - you’d never get that now, would you ?

The one constant in 1982 and 2025 is Panorama - 8pm - Mondays.

AIBU to think that in 2025 BBC1 has gone much more boring, and bland in the prime time slot? As if schedulers/TV execs can’t be arsed to bring more variety?

it seems that churning out One Show, Eastenders and these reality shows based on practical everyday stuff - cooking and sewing has taken the place of a much more varied, entertainment type program that may have required more effort to make

Anyone agree?

I want to go back to 1982 !

OP posts:
Needspaceforlego · 08/10/2025 19:28

I really miss the variety you used to get on TV.
Paddles up and Kick Start showed fun sports that many of us could never access.

I'll get hung for saying this but Jim'll Fix it was actually quiet a good programme.

We pay for Netflix and Disney but I can never find anything. So end up with far too much time on here.

Sagaciously · 08/10/2025 19:21

I often wonder who watches The One Show. I’ve seen the odd minute here and there and it’s just awful. Ditto soaps.

We’re excited for the Traitors tonight, but it’s rare that we watch regular tv these days.

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 08/10/2025 19:16

BloominNora · 08/10/2025 18:40

YANBU - (well apart from a weird focus on British made stuff).

I barely watch any TV these days - with the exception of Strictly, Traitors and Michael McIntyre's Big Show there is almost nothing that 'airs' on standard TV that we watch week in, week out - and even then we will usually just watch on iPlayer at the weekend.

There are some comedy series we will binge when they come out on terrestrial TV, but that is it.

Even on streaming, there are only a handful of shows we watch - and again, tend to binge or watch as and when.

The kids and DH mostly use the tv for watching YouTube, I tend to doom scroll.

I do sometimes miss the buzz around certain TV programmes when millions used to tune in to watch something and then discuss it at work or school the next day.

These days you try to talk about something and inevitably someone will go..."Don't tell me, I haven't seen it yet"

Yes I miss the shared experience too. Which is why I love the tv threads on here.

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 08/10/2025 19:15

TypeyMcTypeface · 08/10/2025 18:43

The One Show is such drivel - I wonder who actually watches it?

I agree the 1982 schedule sounds more appealing, but I am guessing the BBC want to appeal to a young demographic, which I am not.

This is a wrong steer by the BBC if so.

Young people are streaming or out being young.

it’s the older generations that watch tv. I watch schedule tv. I don’t pay for Netflix or Apple TV etc. schedulers should be catering for us rather than a demographic that isn’t watching anyway.

TypeyMcTypeface · 08/10/2025 18:43

The One Show is such drivel - I wonder who actually watches it?

I agree the 1982 schedule sounds more appealing, but I am guessing the BBC want to appeal to a young demographic, which I am not.

Crushed23 · 08/10/2025 18:43

I don’t watch TV, but I know that Radio has gone downhill too. I listen to the same recorded shows from the late 1990s and 2000s over and over. Haven’t turned on live radio in years.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 08/10/2025 18:42

Was This Morning on in 1982?

I know I shouldn't but I really miss Phil and Holly 😒😒

Phil and Holly
Alison and Dermott

would be lovely

BloominNora · 08/10/2025 18:40

YANBU - (well apart from a weird focus on British made stuff).

I barely watch any TV these days - with the exception of Strictly, Traitors and Michael McIntyre's Big Show there is almost nothing that 'airs' on standard TV that we watch week in, week out - and even then we will usually just watch on iPlayer at the weekend.

There are some comedy series we will binge when they come out on terrestrial TV, but that is it.

Even on streaming, there are only a handful of shows we watch - and again, tend to binge or watch as and when.

The kids and DH mostly use the tv for watching YouTube, I tend to doom scroll.

I do sometimes miss the buzz around certain TV programmes when millions used to tune in to watch something and then discuss it at work or school the next day.

These days you try to talk about something and inevitably someone will go..."Don't tell me, I haven't seen it yet"

MagicLoop · 08/10/2025 18:28

I haven't watched scheduled tv for years. Imo 'Prime Time' tv has always been largely shit, aside from the occasional decent series. 80s British sitcoms were largely dire, and tbh I don't see much difference between things like 'The World's Strongest Man' and the reality/competition type shows they have now (except for the more modern format/style). We only ever really watch series (comedy, drama, fantasy, sci fi) on Netflix or Prime.

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