I barely ever watch ITV. Maybe only if there is football on (I forgo having Sky) or the occasional film but their original programming is atrocious. It’s like The Sun in TV form – celeb tittle-tattle, competitions and lowest-common denominator crap. Their equivalent of BBC Breakfast is just an excuse to create clickbait. Invite someone like Katie Hopkins on, allow her to face the slings and arrows and nail viewing figures and clicks online. Everyone criticises the subject, but no one criticises the platform for allowing her on in the first place. The symbiotic relationship between ITV and preening professional controversialists is well and truly established.
Their World Cup coverage has been forgettable by virtue of having barely any time to say anything. How many advert breaks do they need?! Being shoved betting adverts every 5 minutes is tedious and they’ll get the usual pasting in the ratings with the Beeb when they both show the final. As Mooro says above, they shoot for sensationalism all the time. Tyldesley and Matterface look for hyperbole way too often when a more measured approach is needed. Sadly, we now see fewer commentators like Barry Davies or John Helm (maybe Martin Tyler still fits that role) anymore. Poor John Champion has had a fair number of quieter games to commentate on too when he's deserved better. England lose far more often on ITV which doesn’t help their reputation either. Maybe Mark Pougatch deserves a nod as a competent anchor but even he is a bit OTT when forced into the ITV mould. He's a worthy listen for 5Live's CL coverage.
In the past, ITV used to show University Challenge. They now show Love Island, Take Me Out and a host of crap shows with Keith Lemon. Make of that what you will.
It’s sad that Channel 4 don’t have more sport. They were great with cricket (Ashes 2005!) and the cult viewing of Football Italia. Shame they only have the unwatchable dullfest of Formula One.
