Money for old soap: ITV press ad from 1989 (Media Guardian)

Back in 1989, ITV was obviously feeling the heat from "Mr. Murdoch's Sky Channel" and the forthcoming BSB as well as the cable TV companies that were proliferating their networks during this period, hence moving them to produce this press ad in the Financial Times reminding their shareholders/upmarket viewers that they still existed.

Given yesterday's Freesat launch with ITV HD's initial exclusivity combined with the number of repeats on ITV3 and ITV4 (some of them are quality programmes though), these words sound like ghosts from a distant past. Here's a quote from the 1989 press ad:

"So what are the chances of Satellite TV treating everyone to in-depth documentaries or serious drama? Not as good, it seems, as the chance of being treated to 'I Love Lucy' (1956) or 'The Young Doctors' (1976) which have already been scheduled. Not what you'd expect perhaps from Britain's newest broadcaster. ITV on the other hand have been producing an enormous breadth of quality entertainment for thirty-three years, all of it free of charge. And all achieved without turning Acacia Avenue into a cross between Cheltenham's GCHQ and Jodrell Bank. The best advice to viewers is do not adjust your set."

Oh the irony.