LocateTV Blog

The era of the Bush/Blair love-in may seem but a distant memory, but The Emmys were proof that transatlantic ties hold strong, with Brits Ricky Gervais and Helen Mirren both scooping prizes at the US awards show this week.

Less surprising was the dominance of The Sopranos, garnering awards for oustanding drama, best writing and best directing. To US viewers the furore over the show’s finale is a distant memory, but UK viewers are only now entering the second half of the sixth and last season, with episodes showing on E4.

It is interesting to consider whether the discrepancy in viewing schedules for popular shows will soon be a thing of the past as the UK and US schedules draw closer together, partly driven by a growing online audience with no regard for the timings of the national networks. Readers of entertainment blogs are truly international, making spoilers a real issue and increasing the demand for instant access to shows ‘everyone’ seems to be talking about. A good example is Desperate Housewives, which was shown on E4 only three days behind US transmission.

This Digital Spy thread is typical of conversation in TV forums as viewers try to establish which episodes are being shown where. It’s also a real justification for the need for LocateTV as contributors struggle to make sense of TV and online listings alike! Our planned ‘new series starting this week’ feature on the front page should also help British viewers keep on top of what the US trailblazers are raving about.

Do you see US and UK schedules becoming increasingly similar? Whatever the future holds, it’ll only be a few weeks before UK Sopranos fans face that Emmy-winning angst-filled finale and the net is full of divided opinion, sorrow and speculation once more.

Lottie