Read our review here

[King Kong]

We have already reviewed ITV's - Catch Up service. Have a read and see if you agree.
ITV - ITV Catch Up

[Ray]

so I'm unlikely to watch it online - and especially if it's as dire an offering as this. I thought maybe you'd been a bit harsh on ITV.com. I ws wrong. It's rubbish. Don't bother. It needs a complete overhaul - unless it's working on the premise that ITV viewers are too dim to know what a good web experience and great online video is like.

[VonTurbo]

Heh, I was trying to find some good points, but I just couldn't! I am not going to be using it again. Once was enough.

[jjlfitzgerald]

This is quite simply the worst catch-up service available to man. I completely agree with everything in your review. I've finally reached top-notch frustration with the whole thing and need to vent it. so, in no particular order, here are my top grievances with this steaming pile of a website.

1) Terrible quality. The whole point of a catch-up service is to get people watching your programmes through YOUR website... as opposed to going on youtube or alluc.com (to name but two which are superior). So why does the quality look like its been taped off the tv with the use of a mobile phone?!

2) Unreliability. I have yet to watch a programme in which streaming doesnt stop mid-way and show an error message. Right in the middle of an important part of a drama/reality show etc. Which leads me to ...

3) Lack of a scanning facility. When 2) happens, there is no way to find where you were interrupted. Why can't you skip to the part you just stopped at?! You can't skip annoying ads either. Cheers ITV, but even 4OD don't throw ads in our face every 15 minutes. That's sort of supposed to be one of the attractions of the service.

4) The adverts. Awful. Repetitive, inescapable, incessant and often at different volumes to each other and the show, forcing me to dash for my speakers to avoid annoying the neighbours. It's like watching ITV. BUT WORSE!!!

The simple fact that with BBC iPlayer and 4OD doing so well, ITV have managed to create a service that is this awful. Why why why?! If I didn't like their programmes so much I would've given up 2 weeks ago and I wouldn't be coming back. I'd rather find the programmes on youtube next week.

All in all, my only rational conclusion is that this has to be an attempt by ITV to boost television ratings. By making it so frustrating to catch up tv missed, i'll be glued to my set without fail. it'll be just like the old days. Oh the joy!


Comments and sympathy/empathy welcome!!!

[ChunkyMonkey]

Hahahaha.. welcome to the Monkey House. We're all here for the same reason - the utter frustration of watching old media companies be offered great opportunities, only to go and screw the pooch.

This download stuff is growing, and big, sensible, grown up companies are throwing shedloads of money in to utterly shite services. ITV is one of the worst offenders here.

I almost love the fact that the one single thing that viewers HATE about ITV tv is the ads - and ITV have managed to put them front and centre on the web!

* marge simpson noise *