Was this sudden switch of tracks always planned (quick marriage, KVG entry etc) ? Or is it the result of possible TRP pressure? 
I can only guess, but it might be the latter.
AFAIK, ITV contracts tend to be 3-4 month rolling ones (roughly covers 100-120 odd episodes). Maybe SAB are dithering on the third renewal (which would probably kick in at 240-250 episodes) because they have other projects in the pipeline, and are asking D-T's makers to see if they can go to 0.7/0.8 or possibly accept a time switch/lower budget, and SSP may not be amenable to the latter?


