BBC one gives the series 6 premiere of Doctor Who a 6pm slot?!?
djonshore
Posts: 4,759 Forum Member
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Why does the BBC keep insisting that Doctor Who should be on at 6pm?
According to Radio Times this is how the schedule looks on BBC one on Saturday 23 April:
18:00 Doctor Who
18:45 So You Think You Can Dance?
20:00 National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
20:50 So You Think You Can Dance? Results
21:20 Casualty
I would have much prefered if it was like this:
18:00 So You Think You Can Dance?
19:15 Doctor Who
20:00 So You Think You Can Dance? Results
20:30 National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
21:20 Casualty
If Merlin is usually shown after 7pm then why cannot Doctor Who have the same slot?
According to Radio Times this is how the schedule looks on BBC one on Saturday 23 April:
18:00 Doctor Who
18:45 So You Think You Can Dance?
20:00 National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
20:50 So You Think You Can Dance? Results
21:20 Casualty
I would have much prefered if it was like this:
18:00 So You Think You Can Dance?
19:15 Doctor Who
20:00 So You Think You Can Dance? Results
20:30 National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
21:20 Casualty
If Merlin is usually shown after 7pm then why cannot Doctor Who have the same slot?
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But with healthy Sky+ and iPlayer figures, overnight ratings aren't really an issue any more...at least this year fans of autumn/winter evening showings will finally get what they wanted!
I remember RTD moaning about the early slot the Series 4 opening story received...but changed his tune after 8 mil sat down to watch that "insufferable Tate woman ™".
Maybe the BBC consider Merlin a more mature show.
Did they not watch the trailers they sent out for S6, I think they can all see that this will me a very mature series.
Yes so mature that the BBC have shown it as early as 5.30, and are currently repeating it on CBBC!
By the way I have nothing against Merlin, love the show, but if we are gonna use your logic about time slot as evidence of a show's maturity, then I guess this proves by your logic that the BBC see Doctor who as a very mature show with the prime time slot on BBC 1 at 6pm!
Thanks for the time OP, as I haven't been around the net lately so had no idea. Can't wait!
Looking at April 23, Britain's Got Talent is scheduled at the 8pm slot on ITV1, which at the same time on BBC one it's The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins. Which as you say does suggest that the BBC are avoiding a reality TV clash once again.
But saying that if the BBC doesn't want a clash then, why can't they do this:
18:00 So You Think You Can Dance? (45 minutes sooner)
19:15 Doctor Who (1hr 15mins later)
20:00 The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins (no change)
20:50 So You Think You Can Dance? Results (no change)
21:20 Casualty (no change)
against ITV1:
17:00 March of the Dinosaurs
19:00 Sing if You Can
20:00 Britain's Got Talent
21:00 Piers Morgan's Life Stories
I can't see a problem with this.
What annoys me is when the time changes every week. Is that just me?
No - I'm the same. They like you to play "guess when it's on" these days. Although my swishy freeview+ box does a "series link" of every show without me having to punch each one in.
Ironically one of the few times I did watch 'live', I was treated to the infamous "Dancing Norton":mad: So I doubt I will change my time-shifting habits this series:D
This^^^^^
Doctor Who only lasts 45 minutes and Britain's Got Talent usually starts at 8pm. Doctor Who does not need to start at 6pm to avoid it.
The show does need viewers and for an opening episode the overnights will be closely monitored. Many will declare "The overnights won't matter as people can watch it later via PVR's" but for a series premiere it has always attracted large overnight viewing figures.
It's different for the rest of the series. Viewing figures (overnights) always tail off a little but if Easter Saturday is hot and people are making the most of their Easter holiday (Easter is three weeks later than usual so for many it's a long time coming so make the most of it they will) then rushing home to watch Doctor Who may not be high on their list of priorities.
Very careless scheduling for the series premiere and it also suggests that Moffatt is just spinning a yarn about it being scarier than ever! If it was scarier than ever, it shouldn't be on in the earliest ever non-Christmas timeslot.
Scary within reason, scary for Doctor Who standards, Moffat isn't going to make some psycho serial killer jump through a window and attack The Doctor, its going to be a monster that will slightly scare kids and creep out adults not make them jump out of their seats.
I meant that by making more scary than usual, why put it on in very early timeslot?
There is never going to be anything in the series that isn't suitable for an early evening timeslot. Hell, all the so-called scary and violent Hinchcliffe stories were shown even earlier in the day.
Whatever happens, I hope it will be better handled next year.
Didn't The Magicians do better in the same Saturday slot earlier this year? That could be a better schedule partner for Who.
That's true, but it drew complaints from Mary Whitehouse which led to a post 6pm slot for most of the remainder of Tom Baker's era.
i just hope it musters enough viewers to avoid bad press...11 million last year? no chance this year!