Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #138229 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-06
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Customer Reviews

An Effort Of A Book, But Not What You Want To Read.
When Channel 4 came to it's 25th anniversary in 2007, there was a sudden vast majority for a few books about the channel. Two books were published, this and a book about the early years with Jeremy Issacs (which sounds more interesting to someone like me - with a strong interest in continuity and it's early programming).

When I read a book about a television channel, I want a detailed book about the events of the start and the early disastors (like the IBA strikes that used to happen around 1982-1985). Instead we get Maggie Brown who is more interested in talking about 'Big Brother' (which is a show that I think destroyed the channel, along with 'The Word'). So in the introduction we get a detailed idea on how she wrote the book, then followed by 2 chapters on 'Big Brother'. When she does go back to 1980 (when the channel was starting to get pulled together) she only give it around a paragraph of attention!

Brown neither manages to give good examples of some the early programmes, but a detailed description on the 90's and present days - which is not what I'm looking for. Some programmes appear with a snapshot of attention and that's that.

Despite what said, Brown did actually blame 'Big Brother' for being a let down to the channel as a sum-up.

I normally associate the British Film Institute's books for being a good read, but this one now lays gathering dust behind my favourite books.