Scottish viewers missing out on Downton Abbey

Scottish viewers are missing out on ITV’s hit new drama series Downton Abbey because broadcaster STV has so for not aired episodes of the critically acclaimed series.

 

Downton Abbey

Scottish viewers are missing out on ITV’s hit new drama series Downton Abbey because broadcaster STV has so for not aired episodes of the critically acclaimed series. Downton Abbey is just one of several dramas that STV has opted out of broadcasting north of the border preferring instead to air repeats or Scottish produced content. However, as Downton Abbey soars in the ratings and receives rave reviews south of the border viewers in Scotland are left puzzled by the decision not to air the drama.

 

Downton Abbey is not the first ITV drama to be denied to Scottish viewers; in the final year on-air The Bill was not shown on STV. The Scottish broadcaster pulled the police drama following its unsuccessful revamp by ITV in July 2009 while Kingdom and The Royal have also been pulled from the STV schedules as part of the drive to air more Scottish content. However, the lack of certain ITV dramas on STV is also down to a bitter dispute between the two companies which, although seemed to have died down for a while, rumbles on.

 

Yesterday ITV announced it had renewed Downton Abbey for a second series due to its ratings success. The broadcaster also revealed that the opening episode had now been seen by a total of 11.6 million viewers; this figure includes the final rating figure for the episode itself, a repeat the following Sunday and figures from the ITV Player Service. The series stars Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Penelope Wilton, Dan Stevens, Jim Carter, Elizabeth McGovern and Brendan Coyle. The series has been created and penned by Julian Fellowes who won an Oscar for his film Gosford Park.

 

While STV viewers are unable to watch Downton Abbey they can watch episodes via the ITV Player service. The episodes are broadcaster on Border Television and viewers can also, using Sky or Virgin, watch other variations of the ITV regions such as London or Anglia; meaning they can watch Downton Abbey.