see Attitudes & Opinions

a national newspaper should pick this up and carry it

Indeed Observer, mail that one into the papers.
It`s a fascinating insight.

Very accurate assessment. It is the insidious creation of bad entertainment caused by Telephone TV which is the main problem.

Bad TV used to be self regulating. If it was that bad, it would die. I have no objection in using a telephone element in programmes which could exist without it. I have a lifelong love affair with Eurovision, and if interactivity makes the viewers more prone to watch it, that's fine by me. Even low IQ TV like Big Brother has some sort of point in addition to the voting aspect.

My big problem is with TV created entirely around phone profit. Play TV type programmes are appalling, and can live for ever even if 99% of people hate them. As long as there are enough desperate people to spend their limited income chasing a dream, the profits go on and on.