I agree that they will always be vulnerable to those headlines. But I think the press will report on any ratings decline much more with Alesha on board than if say, someone like Danni was hired, because newspapers just love the whole BBC ITV/ex-BBC rivalry thing. Personally I think they should've just gone with a safer name for the 4th spot without all the fuss or hype. Simon Cowell returning and David Walliams coming in should generate enough pre-launch hype/buzz anyway so I don't see why they had to bring Alesha into the equation too.
These days, it's all about the girls when it comes to the tabloids (Cowell perhaps being the exception) and she'll get a lot more coverage than Walliams for sure. I actually favoured a 2:1 female:male ratio for that reason (at least before Cowell came back). They might have a different angle for their ratings reports, but it was always going to be there, particularly after X Factor. For Cowell, it might mean that if the ratings are down a lot, some of the heat falls on Alesha rather than just him!
The main thing with Walliams might actually be getting him on chatshows - he does those all the time anyway and he's good at it so he might get them some exposure that way.
Even though BGT did alright last year, I still feel it might need a push to start with. It ended on quite an underwhelming note both in terms of the winner and the ratings.
For me, Britain's Got Talent, more than TXF, is about the acts rather than the judges. The original 3 lineup of Simon, Amanda and Piers wasn't particularly that tabloid friendly (Simon aside) nor did they argue much or drum up controversy with fake arguments etc IIRC but the show worked well. After the launch onwards, the most important thing is about getting the talent selection right and having one or two contestants who will generate a lot of buzz and press coverage (Paul Potts, Susan Boyle) which in turn will result in higher ratings. To be fair to Alesha, I think she comes across pretty well from what I've seen of her and she may well turn out to be a hit with viewers, but I just think weighing everything up, there's more cons than pros with her appointment. But anyway, for the next series it's imperative that for the first time in 2-3 years they get the talent selection and contestant stories spot on, and that IMO will mostly determine whether the series soars or sinks after the initial launch. The talent last time was pretty dire, they need to improve it significantly next time to keep the show on top of its game, especially with a potential rival programme airing around the same time too (The Voice).
I agree that Alesha could do well on the panel - she seems loud and laughs a lot - she'd have been all wrong for X Factor (as was rumoured) but BGT is meant to be that bit lighter. Holden being in the middle as well is the only thing making me doubt it a bit.
The talent is definitely going to be important - they need a few YouTube hits to come out of the early episodes. And I'd like to see them tinker with the later stages as well but they won't. Though I don't think a request for a US style YouTube show is too much to ask (rather than just bundling it with the auditions as they did last year). With the sole exception of series 2, they've never even come close to getting 5 half decent semi-final episodes.
I get that but if this is some sort of exercise to fight back against Strictly then I think it's ill-judged as SCD doesn't make a big thing of the judges like XF does.
In all honesty Strictly won't miss her and BGT won't gain much from having her.
She might be better suited to BGT as she has a professional background in singing so at least should have some input to give there but I do feel ITV/Syco have wasted a place on the BGT panel that could've gone to someone who'd really make a difference.
Nobody else that has been linked would be making a huge amount of difference, tbh. Dannii would have brought some tabloid talk from her previous stint on X Factor, Alesha brings tabloid talk from her role on SCD. As judges, I think they'd both be fine.
I doubt Strictly will miss her and the only potential issue is if they pick the wrong replacement (but Arlene makes that easy for them if they want!).
Brilliant timeshift for Downton, but even though I am a fan certain posters (on here and possibly the soap forums and downton thread) will be unbearable for the rest of day, probably longer. Great timeshifts for DW, Ab Fab and McIntyre as well.
Shame about Bolt, it deserved better, not my type of film but my family loved it, and it meant I scored nothing for it, although that was inevitable I massively overpredicted.
So my prediction that DA would win on Christmas Day. 11.6 million is very good for a two hour drama on this day. I can see ITV maybe showing this next Christmas.
Its not a final, but with BBC Three overnight (700k), EE beats Downton.
Just pointing this out
+1 and everything.
The +1 is in addition to, not included AFAIK.
Also looks like the BGT embargo has officially been broken as BBC News are now reporting it - Alesha will apparently join Amanda Holden and David Walliams... no mention of Cowell?
looking at the official's, it seems I was right to think Downton Abbey might win Christmas Day, it did. The Gruffalo's Child looks low on the officals compared to the rest of the line up.
Also looks like the BGT embargo has officially been broken as BBC News are now reporting it - Alesha will apparently join Amanda Holden and David Walliams... no mention of Cowell?
Is it just me that finds it quite sad how seriously the British media take the news about the line-up's of panels on talent shows?
To be fair they are reporting it in their entertainment section - it's not exactly breaking news on Sky News (at least I hope not, but I wouldn't put it past them).
Downton Abbey - 5-Minute Breakdown
21:00 - 8.60m (29.4%)
21:05 - 8.91m (30.0%)
21:10 - 8.67m (29.5%)
21:15 - 7.77m (26.7%) <-- commercial, drop of 900k then 1.00m increase
21:20 - 8.77m (29.2%)
21:25 - 8.83m (29.5%)
21:30 - 8.69m (29.0%)
21:35 - 7.71m (26.1%) <-- commercial, drop of 980k then 820k increase
21:40 - 8.53m (28.4%)
21:45 - 8.62m (28.7%)
21:50 - 7.63m (26.0%) <-- commercial, drop of 990k, then 790k increase
21:55 - 8.42m (28.1%)
22:00 - 8.42m (29.4%)
22:05 - 7.72m (28.4%) <-- commercial, drop of 700k, then 370k increase
22:10 - 8.09m (29.9%)
22:15 - 8.33m (30.9%)
22:20 - 8.14m (30.8%)
22:25 - 7.57m (29.2%) <-- commercial, drop of 570k, then 660k increase
22:30 - 8.23m (31.6%)
22:35 - 8.04m (32.0%)
22:40 - 7.74m (31.3%) <-- commercial, drop of 300k, then 590k increase
22:45 - 8.33m (33.7%)
22:50 - 8.33m (33.9%)
22:55 - 8.32m (33.7%)
Not a lot of drop off and extremely consistent in some quarters. I've put the drop off in because it may suggest how many started at 22:00 and 'speed played' it, zooming through the adverts and as thus seen the last few commercials (or watched it within half an hour) to be bundled into the overnights. 990k - 300k = 690k, suggesting to me that ~600k watched Downton Abbey at 22:00, PVR'ing it and finishing it about 23:30 (or stopped Downton about 21:30, watched the 'exciting' part of EastEnders, before playing it at 22:00). Also, the lack of big increase after the 22:05 break, may suggest that a 90 minute Christmas episode would be better? It would be interesting (trickytree1979 if you're reading) to see the 'raw' Downton Abbey and EastEnders overnights in comparison with the officials?
Hopefully someone understands what I'm saying above....
ITV1 averaged 8.27m (29.8%) between 21:00 and 23:00. Excluding adverts, it averaged 8.46m (30.4%).
Some mighty timeshifts in there, especially Downton's 3.47m :eek:!
Would love to see a day by day breakdown for Downton. On one hand it doesn't surprise me too much, watching Downton and EE until midnight may have been too much for some, as proven.
Oh dear. Robbie is really not having a very good day, is he?
Seriously, when you see time shifts like that, it makes you wonder why we bother judging the overnights at all?! A perfect storm to get people recording Downton then - a big clash, an ABC1 demographic, a long episode, a late finish nixing same-day timeshifts. It all had people reaching for the PVR.
Interesting test for ITV PR now - can they get it in the papers? The likes of Steven Moffat could tell you all about being hammered (or "trounced) by the papers on the basis of overnights, and not getting a right of reply when the consolidated numbers come in!
As I keep saying, overnights are increasingly irrelevant.
Overnights are increasingly irrelevant
Overnights are increasingly irrelevant
Overnights are increasingly irrelevant
Overnights are increasingly irrelevant
Overnights are increasingly irrelevant.....
It was obvious Downton would timeshift high. Lots of people wouldn't want to watch a 2 hour drama on Christmas night, especially with lots of irritating commercial breaks.
Watching on timeshift means than viewers can fast-forward the commercial, so I'm not sure how much benefit ITV get from that huge timeshift audience.
We'll probably never know (unless trickytree79 can help out here) but if we add the VOSDAL (viewing-on-same-day-as-live) viewers to that figure, I'd hazzard a guess that over 5m timeshifted Downton Abbey.
Comments
These days, it's all about the girls when it comes to the tabloids (Cowell perhaps being the exception) and she'll get a lot more coverage than Walliams for sure. I actually favoured a 2:1 female:male ratio for that reason (at least before Cowell came back). They might have a different angle for their ratings reports, but it was always going to be there, particularly after X Factor. For Cowell, it might mean that if the ratings are down a lot, some of the heat falls on Alesha rather than just him!
The main thing with Walliams might actually be getting him on chatshows - he does those all the time anyway and he's good at it so he might get them some exposure that way.
Even though BGT did alright last year, I still feel it might need a push to start with. It ended on quite an underwhelming note both in terms of the winner and the ratings.
I agree that Alesha could do well on the panel - she seems loud and laughs a lot - she'd have been all wrong for X Factor (as was rumoured) but BGT is meant to be that bit lighter. Holden being in the middle as well is the only thing making me doubt it a bit.
The talent is definitely going to be important - they need a few YouTube hits to come out of the early episodes. And I'd like to see them tinker with the later stages as well but they won't. Though I don't think a request for a US style YouTube show is too much to ask (rather than just bundling it with the auditions as they did last year). With the sole exception of series 2, they've never even come close to getting 5 half decent semi-final episodes.
Nobody else that has been linked would be making a huge amount of difference, tbh. Dannii would have brought some tabloid talk from her previous stint on X Factor, Alesha brings tabloid talk from her role on SCD. As judges, I think they'd both be fine.
I doubt Strictly will miss her and the only potential issue is if they pick the wrong replacement (but Arlene makes that easy for them if they want!).
Shame about Bolt, it deserved better, not my type of film but my family loved it, and it meant I scored nothing for it, although that was inevitable I massively overpredicted.
Just pointing this out
+1 and everything.
Who's going to tell the newspapers? I think George S will love that job.
Well done to Downton Abbey and ITV. The ratings story of 2011 but we only find out about it two days into 2012!
Primetime Shares
BBC1 - 31.925%*
ITV1 - 31.25%
* McIntyre ran until 23:30 so this may be adjusted slightly
BBC1 still win primetime in the officials, but closer than in the overnights.
K
edit: must learn to type faster!
The +1 is in addition to, not included AFAIK.
Also looks like the BGT embargo has officially been broken as BBC News are now reporting it - Alesha will apparently join Amanda Holden and David Walliams... no mention of Cowell?
ETA: Never mind - it is Cowell, Holden, Walliams and Dixon according to the Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/alesha-dixon-quits-strictly-come-dancing-for-britains-got-talent-6284102.html
Is it just me that finds it quite sad how seriously the British media take the news about the line-up's of panels on talent shows?
:eek:
Not sure there's much else to say, tbh!
Robbie's head is going to explode, he might regret playing down the importance of overnights.
To be fair they are reporting it in their entertainment section - it's not exactly breaking news on Sky News (at least I hope not, but I wouldn't put it past them).
Would love to see a day by day breakdown for Downton. On one hand it doesn't surprise me too much, watching Downton and EE until midnight may have been too much for some, as proven.
trickytree1979, if you're reading...
Seriously, when you see time shifts like that, it makes you wonder why we bother judging the overnights at all?! A perfect storm to get people recording Downton then - a big clash, an ABC1 demographic, a long episode, a late finish nixing same-day timeshifts. It all had people reaching for the PVR.
Interesting test for ITV PR now - can they get it in the papers? The likes of Steven Moffat could tell you all about being hammered (or "trounced) by the papers on the basis of overnights, and not getting a right of reply when the consolidated numbers come in!
Watching on timeshift means than viewers can fast-forward the commercial, so I'm not sure how much benefit ITV get from that huge timeshift audience.
Incredible.
EastEnders - 11.33m + 968k* = 12.268m
968k (5.2%) is BBC3's official rating for EE's repeat.
Hmmm. Excluding +1/+2/+3's Downton is most watched, including it, EastEnders is. Contentious.