The biggest gripe from certain License Fee payers is that BBC1 does not have enough ratings winners, they see the successes on 'free' ITV1 and wonder why they pay a 'fee' to fund the making of BBC programmes. I think the majority of us on this thread are strong BBC supporters and we applaud them getting 8m/9m/10m ratings with much glee. I don't want to see any programmes in BBC1 primetime getting 2.5m/3m as has happened recently. Shows like Frozen Planet/Sherlock totally deserve 8m+ ratings - BBC2 is the place for 'cult' viewing figures of c. 2m-3m - In an ideal world BBC1 would be getting a minimum 25% share all evening. May BBC1 long dominate primetime and offer amazing value for money. Inform, Educate and Entertain.
I'd disagree with those license fee payers. They've got a pretty large number of ratings winners. They already aggresively chase ratings. But it's vital that they're justifying their special funding model. Commercial channels can have ratings winners. So something like Frozen Planet is a great example of a show you might not find on ITV1 but still does really well.
What you've described is the problem with nearly all public services. Once they're set up, the focus quickly falls away from providing a public service. Instead, it's about ensuring the survival of the organisation and justifying its existence into the future (keep that gravy train rolling, as they say!).
If BBC1 needs to beat ITV1 (or needs ITV1 to fail) to justify its existence, then BBC1 probably shouldn't be paid for by the public in the way it is. Or else ITV1 should be funded by the public as well! All public services are meant to exist in order to provide something that the private sector can't do adequately. They're not there to compete with the private sector. You wouldn't say that the NHS needs private hospitals to be sh*t in order to continue being funded by tax.
That's fortunately not the case. I think there's still an expectation that BBC1 should be doing its own thing. Generally, I think we've gradually accepted that BBC1 is allowed to behave quite close to a commercial business and successive operators have ensured that it simply can't be shut down - it's too big, it's too powerful. No politician could touch it. And ITV wouldn't want them going after ad money.
But there's still some expectation that there will be shows like Frozen Planet. More news and current affairs. That soaps will only be dragged out to 4 episodes a week and not 6.
The point at which BBC1 becomes all about ratings (rather than just 90% about ratings as it is now!) is actually what woud kill it. Imagine the backlash if they extended Eastenders to 5 episodes a week and started airing hour long episodes from 8-9pm on Mondays and Fridays to beat Corrie into the ground. ITV's ratings would go down. BBC1's ratings would go up. But the public response would be not so favourable.
I'd disagree with those license fee payers. They've got a pretty large number of ratings winners. They already aggresively chase ratings. But it's vital that they're justifying their special funding model. Commercial channels can have ratings winners. So something like Frozen Planet is a great example of a show you might not find on ITV1 but still does really well.
BBC1 should be going for ratings, and they do. The BBC is a big organisation and there are channels like BBC2 and BBC4 which don't normally go for the ratings and offer distinctively different shows to what commercial channels offer. But BBC1 is a general entertainment channel and the prime concern should be to offer programmes which appeal to as many people as possible while also informing, educating and entertaining. This is what they do well.
The most obvious example of BBC1's huge appatite for ratings was the whole F1 debacle. They knew they couldn't keep all of the F1 going on the channel past 2012 with DQF so instead of just letting it go to commercial channels who were willing to pay the whole price to show F1 (Channel 4), they did all they could to ensure they kept the F1 on BBC1 in some form by tying up a deal for Sky. Some people would say that viewers lost out from this because other terrestrial channels were willing to show all the live races whereas now a lot of people without Sky can't see the races live. But the BBC has to be ruthless these days to make sure they keep the top sports rights so that their ratings stay up. They shouldn't let their terrestrial competitors get big sports rights like the F1 because it would hurt BBC1's ratings. Ratings are very important to the BBC, it's one of the key measures of success, particularly for BBC1.
Coronation Street drew 11.51m (44.15%) / 300k +1 for Becky Macdonald's exit. Peak: 12.07m.
Source: Michael Rosser
I think that will probably end up as the top rated soap episode of 2012. I can't see what else could beat that unless the Christmas Day EastEnders isn't up against DA.
BBC1 should be going for ratings, and they do. The BBC is a big organisation and there are channels like BBC2 and BBC4 which don't normally go for the ratings and offer distinctively different shows to what commercial channels offer. But BBC1 is a general entertainment channel and the prime concern should be to offer programmes which appeal to as many people as possible while also informing, educating and entertaining. This is what they do well.
The most obvious example of BBC1's huge appatite for ratings was the whole F1 debacle. They knew they couldn't keep all of the F1 going on the channel past 2012 with DQF so instead of just letting it go to commercial channels who were willing to pay the whole price to show F1 (Channel 4), they did all they could to ensure they kept the F1 on BBC1 in some form by tying up a deal for Sky. Some people would say that viewers lost out from this because other terrestrial channels were willing to show all the live races whereas now a lot of people without Sky can't see the races live. But the BBC has to be ruthless these days to make sure they keep the top sports rights so that their ratings stay up. They shouldn't let their terrestrial competitors get big sports rights like the F1 because it would hurt BBC1's ratings. Ratings are very important to the BBC, it's one of the key measures of success, particularly for BBC1.
The BBC needs big ratings successes otherwise people will start asking why are they paying the TV licence and there's nothing popular on ? In the 60s when ITV was still new the BBC audience share fell to about 20% leading to widespread panic within the BBC and a huge shake-up of programmes.
I think that will probably end up as the top rated soap episode of 2012. I can't see what else could beat that unless the Christmas Day EastEnders isn't up against DA.
That will probably timeshift to over 12 million and will be the top rated soap episode this year.
Great rating for it considering the "lack of snow" and the such like this year. Corrie seems to do better for "big events" than EastEnders does, as shown a few weeks ago.
That will probably timeshift to over 12 million and will be the top rated soap episode this year.
Great rating for it considering the "lack of snow" and the such like this year.
That's a great rating. I guess it will spark the debate about how can Corrie reach this but EE can't (with such significant episodes over the past month)
The above is the tape-checked average between 8.30-8.55pm, by the way, as the episode finished 5 minutes early. The full slot average was 11.2m, 43% (incl +1) peaking with 12.4m. Corrie's 7.30pm episode had 10.6m, 45%.
Strange how a character's departure who's only been in the show for 5 years got 11.5m but Pat Butcher's who has been in her soap for 20+ years got less than 10m.
- On BBC1, EastEnders got a strong 9.06m (35.4%), Royal Bodyguard was still low with 2.79m (11.1%) and Mrs Brown's Boys was up to 5.22m (20%).
- Final part of ITV1 drama Above Suspicion wins 9pm slot, near 6m.
- On C4, new series of Superscrimpers and Party Paramedics both got around 1.42m, while Coppers lifted to 2.18m.
- CBB got c2.8m
Lets hope ITV never axes Whitechapel or the Canadian Primeval
Wow, I believe I recommended Whitechapel to you during our "you should give some ITV drama a try" dispute - you watched the repeat on ITV3 - and you're still watching it...
I'm looking forward to the 3rd series, and I hope the ratings are enough to keep it going...
Where did those 2 million extra Corrie viewers come from? Would people seriously just tune in for a character departure and not watch week in week out?
Wow-Corrie and CBB got the ratings they deserved last night. Superb telly. Much higher than I was expecting for both. I only expected Corrie to just about clear 10m considering how recent episodes have rated. I really underestimated the popularity of Becky. For a character who has only been in the show 6 years to get a boost like that is fantastic. Hopefully it will continue with the big affair reveal & trial next week.
Word of mouth and internet seemed to boost CBB last night, because there was no TV promotion or newspaper coverage I would have thought. The episode really proved to everyone that CBB has plenty of life left in it.
Comments
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s101/dancing-on-ice/news/a361689/dancing-on-ice-celebrities-go-head-to-head-in-skating-battle-twist.html
I'd disagree with those license fee payers. They've got a pretty large number of ratings winners. They already aggresively chase ratings. But it's vital that they're justifying their special funding model. Commercial channels can have ratings winners. So something like Frozen Planet is a great example of a show you might not find on ITV1 but still does really well.
What you've described is the problem with nearly all public services. Once they're set up, the focus quickly falls away from providing a public service. Instead, it's about ensuring the survival of the organisation and justifying its existence into the future (keep that gravy train rolling, as they say!).
If BBC1 needs to beat ITV1 (or needs ITV1 to fail) to justify its existence, then BBC1 probably shouldn't be paid for by the public in the way it is. Or else ITV1 should be funded by the public as well! All public services are meant to exist in order to provide something that the private sector can't do adequately. They're not there to compete with the private sector. You wouldn't say that the NHS needs private hospitals to be sh*t in order to continue being funded by tax.
That's fortunately not the case. I think there's still an expectation that BBC1 should be doing its own thing. Generally, I think we've gradually accepted that BBC1 is allowed to behave quite close to a commercial business and successive operators have ensured that it simply can't be shut down - it's too big, it's too powerful. No politician could touch it. And ITV wouldn't want them going after ad money.
But there's still some expectation that there will be shows like Frozen Planet. More news and current affairs. That soaps will only be dragged out to 4 episodes a week and not 6.
The point at which BBC1 becomes all about ratings (rather than just 90% about ratings as it is now!) is actually what woud kill it. Imagine the backlash if they extended Eastenders to 5 episodes a week and started airing hour long episodes from 8-9pm on Mondays and Fridays to beat Corrie into the ground. ITV's ratings would go down. BBC1's ratings would go up. But the public response would be not so favourable.
Shame that TV Burp is ending this series. Lets hope ITV never axes Whitechapel or the Canadian Primeval
Another idea ripped-off from SCD - have the ITV producers no original ideas of their own at all ? The BBC should sue
The most obvious example of BBC1's huge appatite for ratings was the whole F1 debacle. They knew they couldn't keep all of the F1 going on the channel past 2012 with DQF so instead of just letting it go to commercial channels who were willing to pay the whole price to show F1 (Channel 4), they did all they could to ensure they kept the F1 on BBC1 in some form by tying up a deal for Sky. Some people would say that viewers lost out from this because other terrestrial channels were willing to show all the live races whereas now a lot of people without Sky can't see the races live. But the BBC has to be ruthless these days to make sure they keep the top sports rights so that their ratings stay up. They shouldn't let their terrestrial competitors get big sports rights like the F1 because it would hurt BBC1's ratings. Ratings are very important to the BBC, it's one of the key measures of success, particularly for BBC1.
Source: Michael Rosser
I think that will probably end up as the top rated soap episode of 2012. I can't see what else could beat that unless the Christmas Day EastEnders isn't up against DA.
The BBC needs big ratings successes otherwise people will start asking why are they paying the TV licence and there's nothing popular on ? In the 60s when ITV was still new the BBC audience share fell to about 20% leading to widespread panic within the BBC and a huge shake-up of programmes.
That will probably timeshift to over 12 million and will be the top rated soap episode this year.
Great rating for it considering the "lack of snow" and the such like this year. Corrie seems to do better for "big events" than EastEnders does, as shown a few weeks ago.
That's a great rating. I guess it will spark the debate about how can Corrie reach this but EE can't (with such significant episodes over the past month)
Audience for #MrsBrownsBoys up 500k on last week's show, averaging 5.2m at 9.30pm. #BBC1
JohnWilliams004 John Williams
#Skins returns to E4 with 524k (inc +1)
#GadgetGeeks on Sky 1 peaks with 267,000
#Obese on Sky 1 averages 328k
The IT Crowd.
He said genuinely funny
They were all like that once:D:D
Some of the US sitcoms actually used to have ''filmed before a live audience'' on the closing credits
Ouch. Not a great peak! Looks like viewers are voting with the ultimate gadget of all... their remote controls.
- Final part of ITV1 drama Above Suspicion wins 9pm slot, near 6m.
- On C4, new series of Superscrimpers and Party Paramedics both got around 1.42m, while Coppers lifted to 2.18m.
- CBB got c2.8m
Sources: Michael Rosser, Liam Hamilton
Wow, I believe I recommended Whitechapel to you during our "you should give some ITV drama a try" dispute - you watched the repeat on ITV3 - and you're still watching it...
I'm looking forward to the 3rd series, and I hope the ratings are enough to keep it going...
Very nice. Best possible start to finale week.
Ties with the Royal Bodyguard.
Excellent for Corrie.
It probably beat the Royal Bodyguard then lol
Word of mouth and internet seemed to boost CBB last night, because there was no TV promotion or newspaper coverage I would have thought. The episode really proved to everyone that CBB has plenty of life left in it.