The Ratings Thread (Part 8) (Merged)

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cherubmattd

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by C14E:
“It's definitely part of it, particularly for MSNBC who are pro-Democrat.

That being said, FOXN did grow during the Bush years.

And with CNN, I'm not sure that viewers would move to FOX News. It's a huge leap. I guess they must just be bored of CNN.

It's funny how FOX network isn't remotely conservative. Indeed, the Parents Television Council (Mary Whitehouse but crazier) tend to reserve their harshest criticism for FOX. I think Family Guy is the most common feature in their "worst of the week" column. They were outraged at Glee, which is apparently not suitable for teenage audiences!”

Quote:
“Parents should be aware that this is an edgy teen show filled with adult themes. Simulated sex scenes are usually left to the adults on the show, but sexual situations between the teens are dealt in frank and explicit ways. For instance, there is a running joke that the main jock love-interest, Finn, has a problem with premature ejaculation. In fact, he is lead to believe that he impregnated his girlfriend this way when they were making out in a hot tub. She happens to be the president of the celibacy club who, unbeknownst to Finn, has slept with his best friend. There are also occasional veiled references to. One boy has recently come out of the closet and there are many homophobic jokes made at his expense. Language is relatively tame. Words like “hell,” “crap” and “damn” are occasionally used. Violence is not a problem for the program.

Glee is not recommended for viewers under age 16.”

I had a good laugh at this.

Dancc

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Fudd:
“Yeah, Five's factual entertainment is in a strong state, I'd argue possibly even stronger that ITV's. I suppose Channel 4 have little in British drama outside Hollyoaks, Shameless and Skins too.

I just wish Five weren't so reliant on imports drama-wise because it could leave them in trouble if they start to struggle - both Flashforward and CSI and starting to show signs of limping rather than running (admittedly CSI at least has a few years left in it).”

The CSI franchise as a whole still seems to be in good health, it's just the original which is suffering worldwide now without Grissom. FlashForward has suffered a little wobble but for all we know could be back up again next week and we haven't seen any officials since it returned. Meanwhile shows like Neighbours, The Mentalist, Home and Away and NCIS are all doing great numbers. As I said these are seeing Five through some difficult times at the moment.

Quote:
“Isn't Five now owned by RTL, the biggest television company in Europe? I think if they actually put their heads and some money into it I think they could improve it immensely - especially the early evening schedule (Live From Studio Five doesn't help with either general image or ratings) and trying to bring a couple of homegrown programming through. I'd say the 10pm slot would be the slot that should try and breakthrough on. The 9pm slot is too competitive on all but Tuesday's.”

I don't think the 9pm slot is all that competitive at the moment. At certain times of the year yes but just now even BBC One and ITV1 can't do much above 4m in that slot and are often lower so viewing at that time is becoming increasingly fragmented. For their standards, they are underperforming, whereas Five is still doing well on 1.5m. (remember 1m+ is the target for all primetime programming)

So Five are definitely in a position to be able to compete in that slot just as they are any other. I agree 10pm could be a good target though, especially for drama. But I really don't think they are in a position right now to justify anything too risky.

cherubmattd

31-03-2010

Also on the PTA's website, the reccomendation for Skins

Quote:
“Set in the British city of Bristol, Skins follows a group of teenage friends in public high school (called “college” in Britain) as they navigate a minefield of sex, drugs and dysfunctional families. Now in its third season, each episode centers around one friend in the group. Much of the action revolves around Cook, a charismatic and manipulative youth with a black soul. Other teens include ineffectual Freddie; mentally disturbed JJ; sex-crazed Katie and her lesbian sister Emily; and the troubled Effy.

Depictions of sex, violence and drug use among teenagers are graphic and extreme. In the current season’s first episode, Effy challenges Cook, Freddie and JJ to break all of the school rules in one day. Cook smokes marijuana, drinks vodka, sets fire to his locker and exposes his genitalia to the school assembly in the allotted time, and as his prize he gets to have sex with Effy in the school’s nurse station. Other typical content has included Cook receiving a vicious beating at a party; Cook finding his nemesis White strapped to an S&M rack in a brothel, where Cook sends electricity through the man’s nipples and punches him until he is bruised and bleeding; and the entire group getting high on liquor and hallucinogenic mushrooms. Language includes muted f- and s-words, as well as muted references to sexual organs and unmuted words like “asshole” in every episode. The BBC America broadcast of Skins removes virtually nothing from the original version, which is shown in Britain on the premium channel E4, the equivalent of HBO or Showtime in the U.S.

Skins is not recommended for viewers under age 18. ”

Errrr, E4 isn't a premium channel - is it?? Is freeview premium?

Agent F

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by cherubmattd:
“Also on the PTA's website, the reccomendation for Skins

Errrr, E4 isn't a premium channel - is it?? Is freeview premium?”

Well I doubt they know the difference.

Fudd

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Dancc:
“So Five are definitely in a position to be able to compete in that slot just as they are any other. I agree 10pm could be a good target though, especially for drama. But I really don't think they are in a position right now to justify anything too risky.”

What would you think if they picked up The Bill?

gottago

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by cherubmattd:
“Also on the PTA's website, the reccomendation for Skins

Errrr, E4 isn't a premium channel - is it?? Is freeview premium?”

I thought BBC America was a basic cable channel meaning they'd have to cut Skins to shreds? I guess not.

Charnham

31-03-2010

cherubmattd people will disagree with me, but ever since cinemas & the film certification people bowed to pressure and introduce 12A, it makes the certification kinda useless.

So I dont have a problem with a review that airs on the side of caution, and informs parents of what exactly is in the film. You dont have to agree with the tone of the reviews (or the suggested age), but parents might find a review that isnt solely interested in selling the film/TV show (as sadly alot are) and more interested in giving a warning to parents about what is in a film with a 12A certification.

The best example of this would be the recent Alice in Wonderland

Spoiler

my point is that I read no movie review which told me of this, and if I was a parent I would be shocked to see it in a PG movie, which chances are I have taken my kid to see, thinking it a safe bet as its a PG, and if there was any gore it would be played down.

A review like the one above, would have warned me of this unexpected level of gore that was totally out place in the movie.

Dancc

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by PJMillar:
“All I was doing was suggesting the pros and cons of a commission. I mentioned ratings, fans response, etc.

It wasn't a pointless article, I don't think anyway. I know a lot of people will want to know about whether the series will be recommissioned.

So, at least they know it'll be confirmed in the next two weeks...”

Thank heavens for that. Can you imagine if they dragged it out much longer? This thread would be in meltdown with endless speculation, more demo/AI data than even the advertisers are privvy to, twitter updates from Joe Bloggs who has finally caught up with the series on his generic hard disk recorder and loved it and some oh so subtle hints from the co-producers girlfriend's niece that it might just might be coming back, not to mention all the exciting scheduling possibilities a new series could bring and scraps over how soon it could realistically begin transmitting.

Dancc

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Fudd:
“What would you think if they picked up The Bill?”

No problems. It's safer than starting something from scratch and would be a good fit for Five. But some cuts would have to be made to its budget and some changes would have to be made to the way it is filmed in order to make it more viable I think.

Fudd

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Dancc:
“No problems. It's safer than starting something from scratch and would be a good fit for Five. But some cuts would have to be made to its budget and some changes would have to be made to the way it is filmed in order to make it more viable I think.”

It's contract will be cheaper than the one it's currently on. Certainly the programme appears to have picked up around 4m regular viewers on ITV1. Maybe half that as Five doesn't have the same pull - that's still 2m being pulled in regularly without any change.

Fudd

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Dancc:
“Thank heavens for that. Can you imagine if they dragged it out much longer? This thread would be in meltdown with endless speculation, more demo/AI data than even the advertisers are privvy to, twitter updates from Joe Bloggs who has finally caught up with the series on his generic hard disk recorder and loved it and some oh so subtle hints from the co-producers girlfriend's niece that it might just might be coming back, not to mention all the exciting scheduling possibilities a new series could bring and scraps over how soon it could realistically begin transmitting.”

The phrase 'closing the stable door after the horse has bolted' springs to mind.

Dancc

31-03-2010

Seven
18:00 Seven News 1.32m
18:30 Today Tonight 1.36m
19:00 Home and Away 1.02m
19:30 Eye of the Leopard 0.86m
20:30 Grey's Anatomy 0.94m
21:30 Private Practice 0.68m

Nine
18:00 Nine News 1.14m
18:30 A Current Affair 1.10m
19:00 Two and a Half Men (R) 1.01m
19:30 Top Gear 1.36m
20:40 Survivor: Heroes vs Villians 0.85m
21:40 20 to 1: All Time Favourite TV Themes 0.62m

Ten
18:00 The Simpsons (R) 0.58m
18:30 Neighbours 0.61m
19:00 The 7pm Project 0.76m
19:30 The Biggest Loser: Couples 0.94m
20:00 Bondi Rescue 1.14m
20:30 NCIS (R) 1.51m
21:30 NCIS: Los Angeles 1.30m

Ten won the night with a 27.5% share.
__________________________________

Very respectable win for Ten, shame it happened outside the ratings period! Seven fell apart really after H&A, finishing third for the night.

Georged123

31-03-2010

Lol. Very true.

Fudd

31-03-2010

March is their equivalent to our September isn't it? The period where summer is ending and autumn is beginning? It's a bit strange to have a NRP then, isn't it - or is this like the sweeps in America?

Dancc

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Fudd:
“It's contract will be cheaper than the one it's currently on. Certainly the programme appears to have picked up around 4m regular viewers on ITV1. Maybe half that as Five doesn't have the same pull - that's still 2m being pulled in regularly without any change.”

It'll be interesting to see what happens. I think Five & Sky are the only two possible contenders if anyone is going to take it on, but I haven't heard any real murmurings yet, have you? And that in itself is quite unusual.

2m a week possibly even higher every week all year round with a UK commission would be quite a coup for Five, no question, and it would be one less slot to worry about giving them greater flexibility with the rest. I'd like to see it happen, but as of yet I'm not hearing anything which gives me confidence that it's at all likely.

If they do bring it back I hope they listen to the fans and help restore it to its former glory.

Fudd

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Dancc:
“It'll be interesting to see what happens. I think Five & Sky are the only two possible contenders if anyone is going to take it on, but I haven't heard any real murmurings yet, have you? And that in itself is quite unusual.

2m a week possibly even higher every week all year round with a UK commission would be quite a coup for Five, no question, and it would be one less slot to worry about giving them greater flexibility with the rest. I'd like to see it happen, but as of yet I'm not hearing anything which gives me confidence that it's at all likely.

If they do bring it back I hope they listen to the fans and help restore it to its former glory.”

No, I haven't heard anything either which is strange. When Big Brother was axed there were immediate rumours about where it'd go, but in the case of The Bill it appears as though those who could be interested either think it's fulfilled it's shelf life, or are keeping quiet in hope that Talkback Thames lower their price to a lower than required amount.

Dancc

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Fudd:
“March is their equivalent to our September isn't it? The period where summer is ending and autumn is beginning? It's a bit strange to have a NRP then, isn't it - or is this like the sweeps in America? ”

It's quite complicated. My understanding is that the Non Ratings Periods that coincide with the major Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter have been around since the days when log books were used to track audience viewing habits. Despite the switch to electronic forms of monitoring in recent years, the NRPs remain. The networks use it to their advantage by scheduling mandatory Australian content and content genres like documentaries to help meet their quotas at a time when the ratings don't really matter. (they are allowed to do this, or at least there is no rule against it)

Fudd

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Dancc:
“It's quite complicated. My understanding is that the Non Ratings Periods that coincide with the major Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter have been around since the days when log books were used to track audience viewing habits. Despite the switch to electronic forms of monitoring in recent years, the NRPs remain. The networks use it to their advantage by scheduling mandatory Australian content and content genres like documentaries to help meet their quotas at a time when the ratings don't really matter. (they are allowed to do this, or at least there is no rule against it)”

Ah ok, cheers.

Imagine if a religious festival took precedence here...the BBC might do something like move a Formula One race halfway through just to hear from some holy figure...

(Sorry, D.M.N.

)

Dancc

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Fudd:
“Ah ok, cheers. Imagine if a religious festival took precedence here...the BBC might do something like move a Formula One race halfway through just to hear from some holy figure...

(Sorry, D.M.N. )”

That made me smile. Thanks - and good night to you, Fudd.

P.S. nearly 5 pages in under 12 hrs, not a bad start to part 8 is it?

Fudd

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Dancc:
“

That made me smile. Thanks - and good night to you, Fudd.”

Night Dancc.

Cent

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by cherubmattd:
“On other depressing news, Paris Hiltons British Best Friend has been picked up by TV Guide Network in America

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/03/30...-network/46591”

Didn't the runner-up kill herself?

Had to laugh at the Fearne Cotton programme when the winner was made to sit on a bar stool in her Vegas suite so that when she was giving Fearne the guided tour they could just come across him, to prove he was still her "best friend".

Glenn A

31-03-2010

Originally Posted by Cent:
“Didn't the runner-up kill herself?

Had to laugh at the Fearne Cotton programme when the winner was made to sit on a bar stool in her Vegas suite so that when she was giving Fearne the guided tour they could just come across him, to prove he was still her "best friend". ”

Even among the 16-34 female demographic this was aimed at, Paris Hilton's Best British Friend stiffed and struggled to pull in 300,000 viewers. Perhaps viewers saw through the fact it was a set up and as soon as the credits rolled, said best friend would be given their marching orders by her bodyguards.
In Britain this joins a long list of flop reality shows that have come and gone after one series and makes you wonder if the genre is coming to the end of its shelf life.

Brekkie

31-03-2010

LOL @ E4 being described as a British HBO - though to be fair when it comes to original quality comedy and drama, they are pretty much unrivalled in the digital world - outside the BBC anyway.

Originally Posted by gottago:
“I thought BBC America was a basic cable channel meaning they'd have to cut Skins to shreds? I guess not.”

BBC America know their audience though and aren't scared of advertisers unlike the bigger US companies. I believe legally the cable channels in the US do have as much freedom as the US (though IIRC there is some kind of rule about reach, and when they reach a certain percentage of households, tougher rules come in) - but in reality most won't risk upsetting the advertisers, so hence Skins US on MTV will likely be heavily toned down - so rather pointless.

Talking of Skins - no surprise really the US version will be a rehash of the UK version, and hence axed ASAP I'm sure - but that's a missed opportunity IMO. The two generations of the cast in the UK have shown the format can work - and remain undoubtedly Skins - with different characters and storylines, and if that idea had been extended to the US remake, so they cast a US generation of characters with their own storylines, I think it might have stood a shot.

dubsj

31-03-2010

30.3.2010

BBC ONE

Eastenders 8.6m / 36.3%
holby City 5.6m / 23.3%

BBC TWO

Grow Your Own Drugs 1.8m / 7.6%
Miss Dahl 1.9m / 7.7%
Blood and Oil 2.1m / 8.7%

Sky Sports 2
Bayern Munich v Man Utd averaged 1.7m

ITV1
Emmerdale 7.2m / 32.7%
Children's Hospital 3.2m / 13.7%
Cops with Cameras 2.89m / 11.9%
Law and Order: UK rpt 2.3m / 9.7%

C4
Superskinny 2.3m / 9.6%
One Born Every Minute 3.2m / 12.8%
Shameless 2.4m / 13%

E4
Shameless 1.1m / 11.2%

dave01

31-03-2010

30th March 2010
Further ratings:

BBC1
21:00 Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds - 4.02m (23.3%

Channel 4 [inc +1]
18:00 The Simpsons - 2.06m
18:30 Hollyoaks - 1.27m

Five
20:00 Ice Road Truckers - 1.3m (5.4%)
21:00 CSI - 2.19m (9%)

ITV2
21:00 Vampire Diaries - 495k (2%)

ITV3
17:40 Heartbeat - 464k (2.5%)
18:45 Born And Bred - 489k (2.2%)
21:00 Wycliffe 466k (1.9%)

ITV4
15:15-19:30 Cricket: Indian Premier League - 288k (2.0%)

E4 [inc +1]
21:00 90210 - 0.36m

Source: DS, ITV media, C4 Sales

Eastenders had a particularly low share for a Tuesday, usually its much higher in a 19:30 slot - its lowest Tuesday share since 1st September 2009. Holby followed and scored its lowest Tuesday rating since 22nd December 2009. Emmerdale seemed to be roughly on a par with normal Tuesday levels though, so possibly Sky Sports 2 had an effect on the main channels rather than daylight savings.
Excellent night for channel 4 and E4 with that 1m plus for Shameless first look.

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