I'm not sure the BBC's current taxpayer funded hegemony is good news for the Corporation. It will surely soon be leading to squeals of outrage from the commercial sector and encourage those nutters who want to destroy the "ratings chasing BBC" or at least decimate its funding.
ITV needs to pull its finger out and compete.
The BBC were making crap for years with this model. ITV was winning Winter Sundays easily with Wild At Heart and Dancing On Ice. Then BBC1 had two dramas that became big. Sherlock and Call The Midwife.
I'm not sure the BBC's current taxpayer funded hegemony is good news for the Corporation. It will surely soon be leading to squeals of outrage from the commercial sector and encourage those nutters who want to destroy the "ratings chasing BBC" or at least decimate its funding.
ITV needs to pull its finger out and compete.
What has the Licence Fee got to do with the Sunday night ratings, especially when the climate at the BBC is one of non-stop cutbacks?
ITV isn't short of money and is more than able to compete - on paper, it's not at any kind of disadvantage at all. Its problem is a set of commissioners who are bordering on the clueless.
What are the odds on someone at ITV trying to work out how they can do Cilla as a returning series …? ;-):o;-)
Until ITV boss Adam Crozier is booted is how long they will go on like this.
ITV have just milked their various cash cows for the last 5 years and now the cows are on their last legs.
For some reason "the markets" have no perception of what a sound business looks like.
But here lies the problem. Outside audience share ITV is not competiting with the BBC - they're competiting with the other commercial networks. And, other than Gogglebox and Celebrity Big Brother, the other networks are not really showing any sign of overtaking ITV long term. So ITV will just continue the same strategy as it makes them the moat profitable of the commercial networks. Unless either a multi-national company takes them over or OFCOM steps in and tells them to pull their finger out or else then I can't see anything changing.
What has the Licence Fee got to do with the Sunday night ratings, especially when the climate at the BBC is one of non-stop cutbacks?
ITV isn't short of money and is more than able to compete - on paper, it's not at any kind of disadvantage at all. Its problem is a set of commissioners who are bordering on the clueless.
What are the odds on someone at ITV trying to work out how they can do Cilla as a returning series …? ;-):o;-)
Is this post a joke? Genuine question, I can't tell
'The 'magic of the FA Cup' cliche has been dramatically enhanced this weekend but as several posters have said they'll be desperately hoping Alex Jones doesn't pull United out to visit Liverpool in the draw tomorrow.
Liverpool v Man It's would be a killer tie....BBC and the FA would love it any round....it could do 8m in primetime on BBC One
They are lurching from one ratings disaster to another. No positives to take from any new or returning show so far.
Also no leading commercial broadcaster should be posting embarrassing viewing figures as frequently as ITV are at the moment.
I'm calling it now: ITV are in crisis.
itv are making more money now than they have in years, so why are they going to change their business model? the notion that a commercial broadcaster (without subscriptions) can compete with the bbc in the modern market is nonsense, the bbc have spending power well beyond what itv does. itv are taking up a position just ahead of channel 4 and five, which given the programming investment's of all 4 is about right in my mind.
compared to the bbc itv ratings are poor, but almost everyday they will have at least one show that has double the viewers of it's closest competitor.
They haven't got a clue about what types of shows are working and what isn't.
Unlike BBC1, they don't have anything of substance to put on in their 8.30pm post soap slots. Panorama is in a regular BBC1 PSB slot and comedy on Friday at 8.30pm has been in that slot for years. It works for them. Whereas, ITV showing second soap episodes at 8pm have affected their entire evening schedule. You might get 6-7m tuning in for episode 2 of a soap, but you might also 4.5 - 5m tuning in for new commissions too if they were good, and if they were scheduled sensibly based on what followed at 9pm. That's how ITV maintained an audience during a whole evening before. It scheduled programmes that had a mass appeal throughout the night, one after another.
So, for Mondays:
7pm Emmerdale
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 Paul O Grady's For The Love Of Dogs
9.00 Broadchurch
Only EastEnders on BBC1 would be the strong opposition in that schedule. SW might do OK but ITV are providing a genuinely strong schedule.
Tuesdays; (Non Football)
7pm Emmerdale
7.30 Quiz Show (These are popular if done well).
8.00 Family Drama (like Where The Heart Is or similar)
9.00 Drama
Now, you could argue they were offering something that BBC1 already were. That doesn't matter. It was always the case. It is about offering a variety of programming across its schedules to appeal to everyone and not just soap fans.
Wednesdays:
7pm Emmerdale
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 LE Format like Surprise Surprise
9.00 The Bill or similar: launching a brand new, permanent ongoing drama at 9pm Wednesdays would be bold and challenging, but if done well could strengthen ITV's midweek share.
Thursdays:
7pm Emmerdale
7.30pm New Current Affairs Slot
8.30 Birds of a Feather/Comedy
9.00 Drama Series
By launching a new weekly current affairs slot on Thursdays after Emmerdale would certainly create a bit of buzz. It would also bring in viewers who may be looking for more current and informative programming. Something that seems to be lacking on ITV at the moment.
Fridays:
7pm Emmerdale
7.30pm Coronation Street
8.00 Quiz Show
8.30 Comedy
9.00 Comedy Drama
The advantage over BBC1 would be that ITV's soaps would be done and dusted by 8pm. Viewers looking for non-soap programming would switch to ITV because genuine alternatives were being offered.
Saturdays:
Putting the News at 5.45pm and starting the evening at 6pm would be a start.
6pm Catchphrase
6.45 Family Drama
7.45 Comedy
8.15 BGT/XF to finish the prime time schedules.
10.30 ITV News
10.45 Jonathan Ross
11.45 Late Film
Sundays:
6.30pm Emmerdale
7.00pm Coronation Street (in a new hour long slot)
8.00 Lewis/Vera/ Midsomer Murders/Similar
10.00 Satirical Comedy Show
Already, the soaps are being used wisely to bolster Sunday evening. Use soaps by all means, but not just too much on the same night. The Sunday night hour long Corrie could be used to showcase high profile storylines and would be perfect as a lead in to ITV's other offerings.
Not a bad rating as such but I thought Real Steel might go better than that for BBC Two. Was it not a premiere?
On the plus side for the channel, Dragons' Den showing no signs of slowing down despite losing some key talent, and Top Gear is just unstoppable really.
What has the Licence Fee got to do with the Sunday night ratings, especially when the climate at the BBC is one of non-stop cutbacks?
ITV isn't short of money and is more than able to compete - on paper, it's not at any kind of disadvantage at all. Its problem is a set of commissioners who are bordering on the clueless.
)
the bbc are starting to make cuts but they are way behind the commercial broadcasters who started back in 2008 when the economic downturn affected advertising budgets. it remains to be seen whether they are able and allowed to continue investing at levels above what commercial broadcasters can.
Not a bad rating as such but I thought Real Steel might go better than that for BBC Two. Was it not a premiere?
On the plus side for the channel, Dragons' Den showing no signs of slowing down despite losing some key talent, and Top Gear is just unstoppable really.
Call the Midwife continues with 9m, Mr Selfridge returns to 3.4m
Call the Midwife topped the ratings on Sunday (January 25), according to overnight data.
The BBC One period drama attracted an average audience of 9.04 million viewers (34.1%) at 8pm, adding around 700,000 viewers on last week's premiere.
Earlier, Countryfile attracted 7.62m (35.1%) at 6.30pm, while Still Open All Hours aired to 7.85m (34.1%) at 7.30pm. Last Tango in Halifax continued with 6.32m (25.8%) at 9pm, while Match of the Day's FA Cup round-up scored 2.43m (19.8%) at 10.30pm.
Over on BBC Two, Hugh Jackman's Real Steel appealed to 1.35m (6.2%) at 6pm, before Top Gear opened with 5.28m (20.2%) at 8pm. The new series of Dragon's Den averaged 2.35m (9.6%) at 9pm.
ITV's Get Your Act Together dipped to 2.49m (10.9%) at 7pm (108k/0.4% on +1), before All Star Family Fortunes entertained 2.58m (9.8%) at 8.15pm (93k/0.4%).
The new series of Mr Selfridge opened to low ratings in comparison to previous years. The first episode of the period drama was watched by 3.35m (13.7%) at 9pm (400k/2.5%), down from last year's overnight score of 4.85m and 2013's 6.9m.
Channel 4's Secret Agent with Phil Spencer interested 1.03m (4.6%) at 7pm (92k/0.3%), followed by The Hotel with 1.17m (4.5%) at 8pm (113k/0.5%) and Walking the Nile with 1.93m (7.9%) at 9pm (169k/1.1%).
On Channel 5, Seann William Scott's Bulletproof Monk entertained 775k (3.2%) at 7pm (66k/0.3%). Celebrity Big Brother continued with 2.37m (9.7%) at 9pm (405k/2.5%), before science fiction thriller The Darkest Hour averaged 726k (5.4%) at 10pm (102k/1.4%).
BBC Three's repeat of The Voice attracted 601k (2.4%) at 7.30pm.
the bbc are starting to make cuts but they are way behind the commercial broadcasters who started back in 2008 when the economic downturn affected advertising budgets. it remains to be seen whether they are able and allowed to continue investing at levels above what commercial broadcasters can.
One thing the BBC does that ITV don't is to invest revenue from programme sales, DVD sales and so on, into programming. Even if the LF is frozen, the BBC will continue to invest in programming over and above what ITV will. They have a legal obligation to do so.
the formula for ITV should be easy:- soaps at seven, entertainment at 8, drama at 9, news at 10.
It's the entertainment at 8pm and drama at 9pm that's screwing them. Mr Selfridge dropped in its second series and only recovered due to The Musketeers tanking. It isn't faring well against Last Tango In Halifax which holds its audience and gets an audience regardless of where it's placed. The only entertainment working at 8pm on a Sunday is The X Factor results.
I think ITV's problems post a 7pm soap block would be helped unless the shows are good enough and strong enough.
the bbc are starting to make cuts but they are way behind the commercial broadcasters who started back in 2008 when the economic downturn affected advertising budgets. it remains to be seen whether they are able and allowed to continue investing at levels above what commercial broadcasters can.
No - the BBC isn't 'starting to make cuts'. Programme budgets are slashed back annually. And have been for quite some time.
Referring to historic economic downturn is totally irrelevant. It's all in the past and has no bearing on what ITV is spending its not inconsiderable budget on now.
ITV's problem has nothing to do with money. It's all to do with how it's spending its money. And the people making those decisions …
Not a bad rating as such but I thought Real Steel might go better than that for BBC Two. Was it not a premiere?
On the plus side for the channel, Dragons' Den showing no signs of slowing down despite losing some key talent, and Top Gear is just unstoppable really.
Dragons Den is a reminder what Big Brother ratings would be like if Channel 5 didn't remove the original format, The only thing that has changed on that is the dragons and a lift throughout the years.
Comments
They haven't got a clue about what types of shows are working and what isn't.
The BBC were making crap for years with this model. ITV was winning Winter Sundays easily with Wild At Heart and Dancing On Ice. Then BBC1 had two dramas that became big. Sherlock and Call The Midwife.
The Musketeers had a week off due to Football.
What has the Licence Fee got to do with the Sunday night ratings, especially when the climate at the BBC is one of non-stop cutbacks?
ITV isn't short of money and is more than able to compete - on paper, it's not at any kind of disadvantage at all. Its problem is a set of commissioners who are bordering on the clueless.
What are the odds on someone at ITV trying to work out how they can do Cilla as a returning series …? ;-):o;-)
But here lies the problem. Outside audience share ITV is not competiting with the BBC - they're competiting with the other commercial networks. And, other than Gogglebox and Celebrity Big Brother, the other networks are not really showing any sign of overtaking ITV long term. So ITV will just continue the same strategy as it makes them the moat profitable of the commercial networks. Unless either a multi-national company takes them over or OFCOM steps in and tells them to pull their finger out or else then I can't see anything changing.
Cilla Vampire Hunter.:D
I completely forgot!
I've completely forgotten to watch any of the current series.
Liverpool v Man It's would be a killer tie....BBC and the FA would love it any round....it could do 8m in primetime on BBC One
itv are making more money now than they have in years, so why are they going to change their business model? the notion that a commercial broadcaster (without subscriptions) can compete with the bbc in the modern market is nonsense, the bbc have spending power well beyond what itv does. itv are taking up a position just ahead of channel 4 and five, which given the programming investment's of all 4 is about right in my mind.
compared to the bbc itv ratings are poor, but almost everyday they will have at least one show that has double the viewers of it's closest competitor.
Does anyone know if series four had been officially comissioned.
Unlike BBC1, they don't have anything of substance to put on in their 8.30pm post soap slots. Panorama is in a regular BBC1 PSB slot and comedy on Friday at 8.30pm has been in that slot for years. It works for them. Whereas, ITV showing second soap episodes at 8pm have affected their entire evening schedule. You might get 6-7m tuning in for episode 2 of a soap, but you might also 4.5 - 5m tuning in for new commissions too if they were good, and if they were scheduled sensibly based on what followed at 9pm. That's how ITV maintained an audience during a whole evening before. It scheduled programmes that had a mass appeal throughout the night, one after another.
So, for Mondays:
7pm Emmerdale
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 Paul O Grady's For The Love Of Dogs
9.00 Broadchurch
Only EastEnders on BBC1 would be the strong opposition in that schedule. SW might do OK but ITV are providing a genuinely strong schedule.
Tuesdays; (Non Football)
7pm Emmerdale
7.30 Quiz Show (These are popular if done well).
8.00 Family Drama (like Where The Heart Is or similar)
9.00 Drama
Now, you could argue they were offering something that BBC1 already were. That doesn't matter. It was always the case. It is about offering a variety of programming across its schedules to appeal to everyone and not just soap fans.
Wednesdays:
7pm Emmerdale
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 LE Format like Surprise Surprise
9.00 The Bill or similar: launching a brand new, permanent ongoing drama at 9pm Wednesdays would be bold and challenging, but if done well could strengthen ITV's midweek share.
Thursdays:
7pm Emmerdale
7.30pm New Current Affairs Slot
8.30 Birds of a Feather/Comedy
9.00 Drama Series
By launching a new weekly current affairs slot on Thursdays after Emmerdale would certainly create a bit of buzz. It would also bring in viewers who may be looking for more current and informative programming. Something that seems to be lacking on ITV at the moment.
Fridays:
7pm Emmerdale
7.30pm Coronation Street
8.00 Quiz Show
8.30 Comedy
9.00 Comedy Drama
The advantage over BBC1 would be that ITV's soaps would be done and dusted by 8pm. Viewers looking for non-soap programming would switch to ITV because genuine alternatives were being offered.
Saturdays:
Putting the News at 5.45pm and starting the evening at 6pm would be a start.
6pm Catchphrase
6.45 Family Drama
7.45 Comedy
8.15 BGT/XF to finish the prime time schedules.
10.30 ITV News
10.45 Jonathan Ross
11.45 Late Film
Sundays:
6.30pm Emmerdale
7.00pm Coronation Street (in a new hour long slot)
8.00 Lewis/Vera/ Midsomer Murders/Similar
10.00 Satirical Comedy Show
Already, the soaps are being used wisely to bolster Sunday evening. Use soaps by all means, but not just too much on the same night. The Sunday night hour long Corrie could be used to showcase high profile storylines and would be perfect as a lead in to ITV's other offerings.
Not a bad rating as such but I thought Real Steel might go better than that for BBC Two. Was it not a premiere?
On the plus side for the channel, Dragons' Den showing no signs of slowing down despite losing some key talent, and Top Gear is just unstoppable really.
the bbc are starting to make cuts but they are way behind the commercial broadcasters who started back in 2008 when the economic downturn affected advertising budgets. it remains to be seen whether they are able and allowed to continue investing at levels above what commercial broadcasters can.
Call the Midwife topped the ratings on Sunday (January 25), according to overnight data.
The BBC One period drama attracted an average audience of 9.04 million viewers (34.1%) at 8pm, adding around 700,000 viewers on last week's premiere.
Earlier, Countryfile attracted 7.62m (35.1%) at 6.30pm, while Still Open All Hours aired to 7.85m (34.1%) at 7.30pm. Last Tango in Halifax continued with 6.32m (25.8%) at 9pm, while Match of the Day's FA Cup round-up scored 2.43m (19.8%) at 10.30pm.
Over on BBC Two, Hugh Jackman's Real Steel appealed to 1.35m (6.2%) at 6pm, before Top Gear opened with 5.28m (20.2%) at 8pm. The new series of Dragon's Den averaged 2.35m (9.6%) at 9pm.
ITV's Get Your Act Together dipped to 2.49m (10.9%) at 7pm (108k/0.4% on +1), before All Star Family Fortunes entertained 2.58m (9.8%) at 8.15pm (93k/0.4%).
The new series of Mr Selfridge opened to low ratings in comparison to previous years. The first episode of the period drama was watched by 3.35m (13.7%) at 9pm (400k/2.5%), down from last year's overnight score of 4.85m and 2013's 6.9m.
Channel 4's Secret Agent with Phil Spencer interested 1.03m (4.6%) at 7pm (92k/0.3%), followed by The Hotel with 1.17m (4.5%) at 8pm (113k/0.5%) and Walking the Nile with 1.93m (7.9%) at 9pm (169k/1.1%).
On Channel 5, Seann William Scott's Bulletproof Monk entertained 775k (3.2%) at 7pm (66k/0.3%). Celebrity Big Brother continued with 2.37m (9.7%) at 9pm (405k/2.5%), before science fiction thriller The Darkest Hour averaged 726k (5.4%) at 10pm (102k/1.4%).
BBC Three's repeat of The Voice attracted 601k (2.4%) at 7.30pm.
One thing the BBC does that ITV don't is to invest revenue from programme sales, DVD sales and so on, into programming. Even if the LF is frozen, the BBC will continue to invest in programming over and above what ITV will. They have a legal obligation to do so.
Countryfile- 7.62m
Still Open All Hours- 7.85m
Call the Midwife- 9.04m
Last Tango in Halifax- 6.32m
Match of the Day- 2.43m
BBC2:
Real Steel- 1.35m
Top Gear- 5.28m
Dragons Den- 2.35m
ITV:
Get your Act Together- 2.60m
All Star Family Fortunes- 2.67m
Mr Selfridge- 3.75m
CH4:
Secret Agent with Phil Spencer- 1.12m
The Hotel- 1.28m
Walking the Nile- 2.10m
CH5:
Bulletproof Monk- 841k
Celebrity Big Brother- 2.78m
The Darkest Hour- 826k
BBC Three:
The Voice (R)- 601k
It's the entertainment at 8pm and drama at 9pm that's screwing them. Mr Selfridge dropped in its second series and only recovered due to The Musketeers tanking. It isn't faring well against Last Tango In Halifax which holds its audience and gets an audience regardless of where it's placed. The only entertainment working at 8pm on a Sunday is The X Factor results.
I think ITV's problems post a 7pm soap block would be helped unless the shows are good enough and strong enough.
No - the BBC isn't 'starting to make cuts'. Programme budgets are slashed back annually. And have been for quite some time.
Referring to historic economic downturn is totally irrelevant. It's all in the past and has no bearing on what ITV is spending its not inconsiderable budget on now.
ITV's problem has nothing to do with money. It's all to do with how it's spending its money. And the people making those decisions …
Dragons Den is a reminder what Big Brother ratings would be like if Channel 5 didn't remove the original format, The only thing that has changed on that is the dragons and a lift throughout the years.