Saturday 6th February 2010
BBC One
16:35 - Live Six Nations Rugby Union: 5.82m (28.4%)
* 15-minute peak: 7.25m (30.5%) @ 18:30
19:05 - So You Think You Can Dance?: 4.99m (21.2%)
20:05 - The National Lottery: In It To Win It: 6.38m (26.7%)
20:55 - So You Think You Can Dance?: 4.82m (20.5%)
21:25 - Casualty: 5.74m (25.1%)
22:15 - BBC News: 5.20m (24.5%)

ITV1
18:30 - New You'e Been Framed!: 4.51m (19.1%)
19:00 - Harry Hill's TV Burp: 6.80m (28.7%)
19:30 - Take Me Out: 5.09m (21.6%)
20:30 - All Star Mr & Mrs: 4.87m (20.6%)

Thanks to MattJ for the figures
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Good night for ITV, all figures appear on first look up on last week. Take Me Out did incredibly well, 5.1m is a really good figure for them. Up nearly 500,000 on last week.

While BBC1 did have a good night, and while SYTYCD did improve on last week, I don't think they would have expected it to lose its slot in both timeslots (note - percentage share for second show). The rest of the line-up performed as expected though, Six Nations did well.

Take Me Out beat So You Think You Can Dance! Four weeks ago, I would have never thought that would happen. I think it's safe to say that TMO will be back for another series as it's built up its audience and seems to have a good following. Quite a good night for ITV1 overall, all the figures bar YBF up week on week.

Although SYTYCD is up compared to last week, the figures are still slightly disappointing given that it was the semi final. Good figure for In It To Win It, and the Six Nations did quite well but in the last 2 years England v Wales has averaged 6m+ so I personally thought it would rate better. Casualty's rating is okay, but once again it seems down on last year's Feb ratings.

SYTYCD's results ratings are rubbish considering that the BBC propped it up in a solidly-performing IITWI/Casualty sandwich. And it dragged down Casualty which, had it been on immediately after IITWI would have come closer to IITWI's ratings.

It would be interesting to see a break-down of TMO's figures, giving the large audience it inherited from TV Burp and the big audience IITWI had against its second half. If there was a big switch-off for the second half of TMO, that's not so good - for SYTYCD as much as TMO.

Take Me Out should definately be recommissioned - and deserves it too.

SYTYCD will almost certainly be recommissioned too, even though it doesn't really deserve it - but the BBC have nothing else for the slot, and I get the impression the deal was already done anyway. How do the ratings of SYTYCD compare to Strictly Dance Fever from a few years back?


Not really - 4 channels compared to 30-40 channels, plus the fact that although you've already shelled out for your HD TV with Freeview built in, you'll need a new set-top box to be able to receive it (launch price around £150, but of course will fall over time).

Sky though will need to do as they did with Sky+ and drop the monthly £10 fee if they really want it to take off.

Hmmm, what's better - a one off fee for the equipment or a constant monthly drain? Tough one.

30-40 channels but how many are worth having, really? A lot of Sky channels still broadcast in 4:3 so it'll be a long time before they catch up with HD.

Quality over quantity and no monthly fees will ensure that Freeview HD is the most attractive option for the vast majority of families.

Also many Freeview HD receivers will have recording facilities built in, whereas BSkyB force customers to pay extra for this technology.

At a guess, I'd say that Take Me Out probably did dip through the hour, but nothing out of the unusual, ie started off at 5.3m and went to about 4.7m. At a guess that is, considering Mr and Mrs still managed 4.87m afterwards, I doubt Take Me Out dipped sharply throughout, really.

It's interesting to read all of our reactions back on January 3rd, all saying 'Take Me Out is a flop' and 'SYTYCD is the next big thing', I don't think anyone would have predicted what would have happened in the weeks to come.

Take Me Out
- 02/01 - 3.62m (14.4%)
- 09/01 - 4.46m (17.2%)
- 16/01 - 4.44m (17.9%)
- 23/01 - 4.61m (19.4%)
- 30/01 - 4.62m (19.7%)
- 06/02 - 5.09m (21.6%)

So You Think You Can Dance
- 02/01 - 6.44m (27.4%)
- 09/01 - 6.87m (26.7%) and 5.18m (20.4%)
- 16/01 - 5.59m (23.9%) and 5.49m (21.3%)
- 23/01 - 5.81m (25.2%) and 5.38m (22.2%)
- 30/01 - 4.62m (20.7%) and 4.76m (20.0%)
- 06/02 - 4.99m (21.2%) and 4.82m (20.5%)

I think the above shows that the return of TV Burp has had a detrimental effect not only to the first show for SYTYCD, but also to the second show. I'm not sure why it's had an effect, but it has (unless a good half a million people have suddenly realised "this show is crap"). Also, it's rare to see a ITV show improve week on week (% share that is), you normally see on ITV shows of this nature start with 5m and decrease, not the opposite way around!

And for TV Burp giving Take Me Out a boost, last week's rating would disagree with that theory, but last night's rating wouldn't. Take Me Out's series average is currently 4.47m (18.4%). I think The Cube was recommissioned with a slightly bigger figure, so hopefully TMO will also.. however, ITV have Primeval coming back early next year, so ITV's schedule may look a bit different...

I think also that Take Me Out's figure is particularly good, considering TV Burp finished at 19:26 (DS will knock off the last 5 minutes). There would have been plenty of time to hop to BBC1, yet it seems not many people chose that option (OK, ITV did go down to 5m for TMO, but it still beat BBC1 - for the first half hour at least).

Seems a bit late really to capitalise on all this free publicity it is getting at the moment.

I'd be tempted to shelve the Harry Hill repeat that week and bring everything else forward by half an hour.

TMO is getting a lot of word of mouth at the moment so the increase is not that surprising.

Last year Wales vs England averaged 6.6m 32% including pre- and post-match 5.15pm and 7.35pm on Sat Feb 14th. The game itself got 7.2m 34% between 5.30pm and 7pm in the overnights.

340,000 watched the England vs Wales Six Nations game on BBC HD, bringing its total to 6.16m.

Quite a few people watching in SD probably became ill during the coverage because of the weird camera angles & rapidly moving zooms, etc

Top 20 Shows of 2010 - Overnights
01 - 11.6m (39.3%) - EastEnders (BBC1, 01/01)
02 - 10.8m (42.6%) - Coronation Street (ITV1, 04/01)
03 - 10.4m (35.5%) - Doctor Who (BBC1, 01/01)
04 - 10.3m (38.8%) - BBC Regional News (BBC1, 06/01)
05 - 09.3m (37.0%) - Emmerdale (ITV1, 14/01)

06 - 08.9m (30.8%) - Dancing on Ice (ITV1, 10/01)
07 - 08.7m (29.6%) - Gavin and Stacey (BBC1, 01/01)
08 - 07.8m (26.2%) - Wild at Heart (ITV1, 10/01)
09 - 07.5m (30.1%) - Total Wipeout (BBC1, 02/01)
10 - 07.5m (29.6%) - The National Television Awards (ITV1, 20/01)

11 - 07.5m (27.8%) - Rock & Chips (BBC1, 24/01)
12 - 07.3m (28.8%) - Match Of The Day Live (BBC1, 19/01)
13 - 07.3m (26.7%) - Silent Witness (BBC1, 07/01)
14 - 06.9m (27.9%) - BBC News (BBC1, 05/01)
15 - 06.9m (26.7%) - So You Think You Can Dance? (BBC1, 09/01)

16 - 06.9m (26.2%) - Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1, 06/01)
17 - 06.9m (25.2%) - Above Suspicion (ITV1, 06/01)
18 - 06.8m (28.7%) - Harry Hill's TV Burp (ITV1, 06/02)
19 - 06.8m (28.0%) - The One Show (BBC1, 13/01)
20 - 06.8m (25.8%) - Antiques Roadshow (BBC1, 31/01)

Note: Only one entry for each programme.

Yeah, a lot of people are talking about it. "No likey, no lighty" is slipping into usage. I had to ask a guy in work what he was talking about! Watched it last night for the first time and it's harmless fun

A platform though which basically only offers the traditional terrestrial channels is not going to be sustainable for long - the BBC alone has already clearly outgrown the one HD channel it provides. I know myself too that apart from sport on the BBC, the majority of shows which are produced in HD which I watch are not on the terrestrial channels.

Last week Take Me Out grew throughout the hour, peaking with 5m in the last 15 minutes, so I'd have thought th same pattern would have applied last night.

I'm rather pleased that a show which on paper sounded rubbish has turned into quite a hit. I see it as just a bit of fun and love it. Paddy is a great host for the show.

Maybe not, but the show simply not been given a fair chance, too short and different start times every week. Also the eventual winner will go to America as a prize. How does that hook the British viewer in?

SYTYCD was never going to be another XF or BGT, but the remarkable thing is that the winner will be virtually as unknown as he or she was when the show started. Only the Beeb can take the blame for that.

Last week TMO started at the same time as IITWI and its peak occurred when SYTYCD started.

This week TMO started halfway through SYTYCD and IITWI started halfway through TMO. If D.M.N is correct about last night's TMO dipping across the hour, then that suggests there is a core of viewers deliberately avoiding SYTYCD.

In fact, my mum loves IITWI and Casualty but can't abide SYTYCD and won't even have it on as background. She'll switch to Sky Sports News cos she records TMO and ASM&M to watch later in the week.

Just like Strictly Dance Fever.

The BBC LE department are incapable of learning from their mistakes or from other people's successes.

Casualty averages

January 2009 - 6.53m (27.8%)
February 2009 - 6.14m (26.8%)
March 2009 - 6.17m (27.4%)

January 2010 - 6.12m (24.6%)
February 2010 - 5.74m (25.1%) [1 episode]


Casualty is still down quite a bit on last year in terms of raw figures and percentages and now frequently averages less than its sister show Holby City. I think during the summer Casualty will be dipping below 5m on a weekly basis this year. I just hope it isn't put up against the big talent shows again this year.
Hopefully the crossover episodes next week will see it get a boost.

Actually I think its quite refreshing to have one of these shows where the prize is not 'fame'.

It's more realistic. They are not promising its going to change their life.

Has anyone else read this...

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1212250

Weakest Link being replaced by BBC Switch?

I certainly think the BBC are lining something up. Maybe Weakest Link will move to 2.15pm?

It doesn't though, does it? BBC HD is NOT a simulcast of BBC One for example, unlike ITV HD. So you can't really say it's "the traditional terrestrial channels" in HD as that is false.

And as for your last point, I can only assume you watch a lot of US imports as there doesn't tend to be much original UK content in HD on Sky compared to the vast amount offered by BBC and ITV.

In any event that is a matter of personal taste anyway. I'm sure the vast majority will find Freeview HD suits their requirements perfectly well.

It's going to be funny watching Sky go all out on an SD service if Picnic gets the go ahead however. Let the backpedalling commence!

Speaking of HD, when is Five going to launch their HD service? I would assume that it will launch on Sky and Virgin when Freeview HD debuts officially although I think Autumn 2010 is being mooted. A lot of their shows are HD ready anyway like the US shows, Europa League football, films and Paul Merton in Europe and I imagine stuff like The Hotel Inspector and The Gadget Show will be filmed in HD for their upcoming series.

This week's Broadcast features Married Single Other on the page where telly bods review upcoming shows - and it says it begins on Monday 22nd February.


That move kind of made sense in terms of giving it a consistent slot in the group stages, but it was demented that they kept it there during the knock-out rounds where it had more chance of being messed around. Indeed in the last week there was only one match on ITV in the evening, on a Wednesday, and they still put Emmerdale at 10pm every night, putting The Unforgettable... on at 6pm and moving the news and regional news back half an hour - and the match promptly went to extra time as well. I also wonder whether the Emmerdale audience really wants to stay up until 10.30 every night.

ITV's scheduling in the World Cup was demented, there was a Corrie episode scheduled for Wednesday at 7.30 and they replaced it with a Rosemary and Thyme repeat at the last minute.

In the 1998 World Cup, EastEnders was thrown all over the place, they once went eight days without an episode - from Wednesday to the following Thursday - which I think is the longest gap there's ever been between two episodes. To make up for it they did quite a few hour long episodes on the blank nights. In the 1994 World Cup, though, ITV didn't have to move Coronation Street once.


I don't know why we have to see all the American Gordon Ramsey stuff, what sort of relevance does it have to us? ITV didn't show us Wanna Bet with Ant and Dec, did they? Surely it also weakens the brand if Kitchen Nightmares is on for half the year in its various forms? It just seems like overkill. Even when the Beeb showed the American Weakest Link (and I remember the first episode was screened unscheduled on BBC1 one afternoon, because it was so exciting they wanted to show it ASAP) they only showed a couple as a novelty.

Is Phil Down Under expressly made for Australian television, then?

The American Kitchen Nightmares does quite well and is only 10 episodes, actually I don't think the British Kitchen Nightmares has been on air for ages as the only Channel 4
show he has done is F Word and Great Escape. Showing the US Cookalong was a bit pointless as it wasn't live.