ITV, CH5... Desperate Housewives?

[jimvwmoss]

While watching TV last night (ITV/Channel 5) There were adverts for the start of Season 2 of Desperate Housewives. Now, why are these two channels promoting a rivals programme? I never see BBC promoting ITV. Have CH4 paid through the nose to do this?

[LeMarchand]

Simple: C4 paid for an advertising slot. I have seen "Supernatural" (ITV 2) advertised on Sky.

The BBC aren't allowed to carry advertising, but are allowed to promote their own shows.

[tonymclark]

Since Satalitte TV the BBC and ITV seemed to do nothing but promote each other, you only had to watch the chat shows to know that ITV stars were appearing on the BBC chat shows and visa-versa. GMTV run items on Eastenders and other BBC shows. But how often do either the BBC or ITV promote shows on Sky ?

It is possible that Channel 4 paid for advertising time to run the "ad" for Desperate Housewives.

The Christmas Radio Times was advertised on ITV in the lead up to Christmas.

[Supernick]

I saw ITV run a trailer for Desperate Housewives but honestly put it down to going crazy. I kept flicking between the channels convinced I'd got in wrong somehow, but it's good to know that I didn't!