Given that Scottish 'TB' fans are being made to suffer due to our local service STV axing the show completely from it's schedules after Thursday 16th July, does anyone know if there is any chance ITV could come up with some manner of ensuring we don't miss out?

Surely the show could at least be made available on ITV Player or through The Bill's Official Site, if not given a slot on ITV2, ITV3, etc sometime after the main screening.

I, like many others, have watched the show religiously since it's 1983 debut airing, and am thus furious that Scottish viewers like myself will now be deprived of a popular and flagship show purely down to where we live. We were given absolutely no say whatsoever in the matter, and have no choice of whether we wish to receive local broadcasting. Some of us do not have Sky or sattelite services and cannot access ITV1 at all. STV have also recently ceased broadcasting other popular shows such as Kingdom and Lewis, apparently due to 'unreasonable costs' and wishes to show 'new Scottish programming' . At least those such programmes are available for catch up through the ITV Player, unlike The Bill.

Just wondered if ITV planned to do anything about this for the sake of the fans at least, putting aside petty arguments with STV.

 

I totally agree. I and many friends were shocked to hear that one of our favourite programmes couldn't be shown anymore.  Especially as the tv schedules seem to lack anything of much interest these days, they decide to take away a popular programme for Scottish Programming.  The example of this programming so far has been far from tempting. 

If it could at least be shown on ITV2 or ITV3 this may the best solution.

 Please try and work something out for the fans - plz!!

I couldn't agree with you more.  This is absolutely outrageous.  Surely something could be done, as you say, even screening on ITV 2 or 3 would at least be something.  I went on the STV website to air my views but low and behold, they have no visable area for doing this other than their contact us button which I am sure if used would fall into some pile of other unread emails from unhappy viewers.  They are replacing this fantastic programme with some Scottish programming about history.  I, personally don't mind that and like watching programmes focusing on Scotland but come on, we also need escapism and the Bill was perfect.  Education programmes have their place but not at 9pm, when your kids are in bed and you are looking to wind down. 

 COME ON ITV, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!!

Have just heard the news about The Bill being scrapped by STV a very bad mistake in my opinion. The quality of programmes being showen by this station are sadly lacking in quality. I have watched The Bill since it started and never missed a programme just when the scripts are getting more gripping we are getting it taken off air and i would like to know what rubbish they are going to dig up from the archives to replace it. The person responsible for making this decision surely needs their bumps felt.

I absolutely agree with this (and all the other messages here).  Clearly, there are political and financial problems within STV, and between STV and ITV but, as usual the viewers have to suffer.  In this case, it is the Scottish viewers who bear the brunt and miss out on the very best of ITV's programmes.

As a long term follower of The Bill, in particular, I am completely devasted by STV's crass stupidity in dropping the series from it's schedule.  The fact that it isn't available on ITV Player either, just makes the situation even more frustrating.  If only ITV were to help the Scottish viewing public by making all these STV 'rejects' available on ITV Player or ITV2, 3 or 4 at least life might become bearable again!

Come on ITV, SURELY there must be SOME way of helping us out up here, PLEASE?

OK, its 9.25pm and the final episode of The Bill aired by STV has happened.  Funny why STV at no point announced that that was the final episode!  I also wonder how many people actually knew that that was the last one.  Thousands of viewers will get a fright when they tune in to The Bill next week only to find out about Kirsty Wark and her Scottish history and roots - WHO CARES ABOUT THAT!  My own life is interesting enough that I don't need to find out about so called celebs.    STV seem to be keeping this very quiet in the hope we won't notice! Who do they think we are.  I am so angry.  I am glad for this thread as it is allowing me to vent my anger.  I am going to stop now as I am starting to rant

i agree with all the previous remarks from above posts, i and my husband have been watching the Bill since the very start (1983) and am very sad the the Scottish viewers are once again made to feel like second-hand citizens, when will we be taken seriously as ardent viewers, please make it available on ITV2,ITV3 or ITV player.

Living in hope, Claire

I am surprised thereare not more responses, but it is haerd to know where to comment for the best.  This is a ridiculous decision that has been made in the interests of shareholders rather than those of the viewers.  Given that (unless we pay for expensive alternate provision) we have no choice as to which ITV channel we watch STV are essentially running a monopoly and they should be forced to refer this sort of decision to the viewers who, after all, are the source of their advertising revenue.  If we were to choose another channel they would not be able to sell airtime at all.  If I could change to any other provider I would, but sadly I can't.

 

In the meantime ITV could introduce the show onto one of their othe channels or put it onto the ITV player.  There has to be a solution, adn there has to be a way to force STV's hand!

I'm new at this, so hope I'm doing it right?!

I couldn't sit back and not voice my utter disgrace with ITV/STV!!!

How dare they take away one of the best shows on the tv!!!! I have watched the bill for years, and look forward to the exciting story lines!!!

Why don't you try and get some of the football cut, or other rubbish that is shown on the tv if cut back s are so desperate. Or even better get rid of the local news desks, and give us a 5min update from main news offices!!! If the top dogs took a pay cut then maybe they could afford to actually show what people want, instead of making stupid decisions that will cause great anger and unhappiness through a Nation!!

Viewers should have been asked what WE want as we are the folk that make you all money!!

Is there plans to show the bill on itv2? again instead of showing Corrie/Emmerdale Omnibus at least 3 times a week maybe you could free up some time for the Bill???

Good bye for now smithy and cast, will hopefully see you soon on Itv2

 

I was shocked at this myself. In the same circumstances when STV's decided not to broadcast 'Kingdom', I was able to tune over to ITV1 London on my Sky box. I think those with digital boxes will be able to access it too - just a pain in the *** to keep on top of it if you've not got a recording device that reminds you.

I just found out yesterday about the demise of The Bill from our screens here in Scotland. I don't watch TV much but The Bill has always made that difference. I have for many years watched The Bill, I prefered to record it and watch it later on as it made for better viewing. This is the email is sent to STV

"Re: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8152492.stm

I should like to complain profusely regarding STV's decision to cut 'The Bill' from its schedule. This is a programme that I have grown up with and for me is a major highlight of my week. It annoyed me previously how 'The Bill' would always be dropped for football (I appreciate that this was an ITV newtork issue), so to find out that STV are dropping it in favour for a " Scottish documentary " disgusts me. Yes i'm all for more Scottish programmes but you wouldn't drop Emerdale or Corrie for one, would you?

I would urge STV to re-look at this decision and reverse it"

I have found out that ITV3 are airing The Bill on 29 July at 11pm and 30th July at midnight. Hopefully this is some compensation for us Scots!!!.

Yesterday i was so enraged about the axeing of The Bill e-malied STV surprised didn't receive an answer. Then i telephoned ITV the person i spoke to was sympathetic and said it was totally out of their hands,it was a decision made by STV. The reason i was given it cant be shown on the other ITVprogs is they dont have the rights to the programme, but was told if i have SKY you can tune into the programme on ITV LONDON. Needless to say i am now waiting for SKY to be fitted. If this is going to be the trend of STV i cant see it being a channel i will be watching in the future. I  dont know if it will be possible to go on The Bill web site and view it from there. My husband says he can see this being the end of the channel as the rubbish they have been showing is increasing.

I forgot to mention that Talkback are currently in talks with ITV about showing The Bill on platforms such as ITV Catch-up Player. A repeat on ITV2 will be better. ITV3 is an odd choice - that's for stuff that's not recent (re-runs from the last series, or further back). Unless it's content from over a year ago (from where channel Watch's 2006-07 re-run ends)? If it is indeed repeats of recent broadcasts, I'd prefer ITV2 as it's where the likes of Corrie and Emmerdale is.

It's desperately needed as someone of us have been victims of 'failed recordings' courtesy of bad weather.

like so many of the bill fans in scotland im totally disgusted by stv not showing the bill i am lucky enough to have sky and like so many tv programes that stv has decided to drop such as LEWIS/BENIDORM/MIDSUMMER MURDERS/now THE BILL, its about time that something must be done to get them back on stv come on all bill fans get writting to stv and make them reverse their decision as if stv carry on this way no one will be wathing this pathetic channel i for one am going to watch from now on itv london through my sky box but i want to help the people who cant afford sky , why doesnt the head of itv make stv screen the bill because soon or later someting will have to be done as it must be affecting the itv francise

I wrote an email to both STV and ITV registering my disgust at the descision to drop The Bill in Scotland.  This is the reply I got from ITV:

 

Looks like I will miss out as I don't have Sky.

No reply from STV yet but I have heard they are replacing weith dreary scottish documentaries.  

RUBBISH  

 

Join the facebook group "Keep The Bill on STV" to register your protest. 

I would encourage all to write to STV and ITV to protest about this as well.