When measured in real terms, ITV1 has lost over 90% of its income since:
(a) the introduction of satellite TV (and, later, terrestrial digital TV) to the UK; and
(b) the rise of the internet.
Indeed, ITV1 has come very close to bankruptcy several times over the past few years.
More channels means less advertising revenue per channel and the switch to online advertising means an even smaller pot is available to be shared between the commercial channels, which all struggle to survive.
So the commercial channels simply haven't got the money to buy in block-buster movies or to fund many new productions.
Meanwhile the BBC is also suffering big budget cutbacks, so they'll inevitably have less to offer than they used to.
However last night's Royle Family special was worth the licence fee on its own!