- Fri Nov 07, 2003 10:36 pm
#127292
TV presenter Richard Bacon, Loaded founder James Brown and Margaret Thatcher's favourite PR man, Lord Bell, may sound like strange bedfellows.
But all three are involved in a new TV format that takes the distinctly unorthodox approach of trying to persuade viewers to switch to different channels.
The programme, Flipside TV, will feature an hour of chat and comment about TV between a presenter, three guests and viewers who can join in by phoning and texting the show.
Flipside TV, which is effectively being piloted live on air on digital satellite channel Nation277, is Bacon's and Brown's first foray into TV producing.
The show is executive produced by Bacon while Brown is acting as series consultant and Lord Bell's company, Chime Communications, is funding the initiative.
Bacon is to present the show for the first few weeks and confirmed guests include Keith Allen, Boris Johnson, Independent editor Simon Kelner, presenter Lauren Laverne and Karl Pilkington, the producer of Ricky Gervais' and Stephen Merchant's Xfm radio programme.
Fans of Sky Sports Gillette Soccer Saturday show will see similarities with Flipside TV, according to Bacon, with the three guests on each edition flipping around and commenting on TV shows they are watching live on their own monitors, while the programme is being broadcast.
"Two contributors will roam around channels and the other will focus entirely on one big programme each night. We will also have graphics rolling across the screen telling you what's on now on different channels and what's coming up later, so people can plan their evening's viewing," he said.
"It's part radio talk show, with people encouraged to phone in to talk about telly or rant about telly, and it's part fanzine," he added.
Viewers will also be able to take part in TV trivia competitions and win prizes, Bacon said.
Flipside TV began broadcasting on Nation277 last night.
Nation277 is currently running test broadcasts and will launch formally on November 20.
The channel will offer a mix of games, music, sport and entertainment programming.
Flipside TV will be broadcast each weekday evening from 7pm, with a repeat at 9.30pm.
The show will be transmitted on Nation277 for three months and the format will be adjusted as it goes along, according to Bacon.
He added Flipside TV's backers had already held talks with mainstream broadcasters about the format and it could transfer to another network after the three months is up.
Chime is funding Flipside TV but Bacon, Brown and Nation277 all have equity stakes in the format.
Nation277 is providing free facilities at its Wapping studios in return for its stake.
Flipside TV's producers are talking to two potential sponsors for the show, including a beer brand.
Dave Evans, formerly of Big Breakfast, is producing, with freelance writer Michael Holden acting as associate producer
dave benson phillips
chrismoyles.net
