Yes, there are rules about the roof.

But I think if it's certain a match could not be finished they would shut the roof before it starts rather than interrupting it halfway through.

I think the roof has to be closed to use the lights (I suspect the lights are in the roof).

Don't think roof will come into it - Murray should win easily before it gets dark.

You are correct, the lights are in the roof itself, so it has to be shut for the lights to be in use.

This is a very strange time, usually anytime before 7 in a best of 5 sets, they keep it open, after 7, shut it. It's impossible to tell but I'd think they will shut the roof if they had any sense. Having a 45 minute delay in the middle of a match is beneficial to noone, especially the BBC.

This is extreme good luck for the BBC, it looks like the Murray match is going to start practically dead in line with Doctor Who finishing.

Going way off topic, but I can't believe they got permission for the roof they did. No objection to a roof, but I'd have thought the planners would have preferred it in keeping with the green colour scheme, rather than being this hideous bright white contraption stuck on top of one of Britain's most historical sporting venues.

And then as mentioned above, also the timing issue, especially when it's predominantly there for rain. By the time they've got the roof in place and "conditioned" the court the rain has often passed and they could have resumed play anyway.


From a ratings perspective though flagship evening games do the business - though BBC1 isn't opting for it tonight.

Unbelievable - they're keeping Murray on BBC2, and sticking with Total Wipeout on BBC1!

Timing was perfect for them to switch it over to BBC1.

They've not gone for it though.

Still, let's see how things pan out through the evening - wouldn't be surprised if they do something stupid like switch to it at 8.50pm (or even 9.40pm) and end up just showing 15 minutes or something.

I can't believe they didn't go for it.

Timing could not have been one second better for them.

They are also advertising and reminding people about In It To Win It, so they clearly don't foresee bringing it over to BBC1 anytime in the next 2 hours.

How stupid is this?! Murray match could of got upto 8m or so on 1, Total Wipeout will get about 2m.

They were given a massive gift with the timing but just ignored it. Really weird.

Not surprised.

If this was 4th round or quarter-final it would be different.

A "general entertainment" audience is not going to be that interested in Murray slaughtering someone approx 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Of course if the match gets at all interesting they switch it later.

I can't believe it either.

Maybe there was an agreement with ITV not to move Murray games to BBC1 against their World Cup matches? I can't think of any other reason*!

* apart from Jay Hunt


Even so, it's something which would've rated better than Total Wipeout and there's no guarantee it'll be a "slaughtering". It's a good opportunity missed.

The roof is designed to be translucent in order to allow some natural light in (assuming its not dark outside) and I think also helps spread the floodlight to make it so even and without shadow. I actually think it looks rather good - a blend of old and new....

Anyway, back remotely on topic - I guess the BBC have decided the Murray match isn't going to be worth the BBC1 treatment. Can't see why though - the rest of the schedule is ripe to be axed. It's all WC filler anyway. Be interested to see the BBC Two numbers and whether it still manages much of a fight against the football...

Oh, and I'm worried for the Doctor Who overnights tomorrow considering the weather...

Awful awful decision by the incompetent Jay Hunt. She really is clueless when it comes to running the biggest channel in the country. It couldnt have been better, Dr Who over at 7 Murray just coming on...

BBC one really needs a new controller ASAP

Bewildering to say the least that they never moved it over.


As far as I can see, they set the precedent on the middle Saturday last year, where we had:

12:00 - Wimbledon
17:40 - BBC News
18.00 - Wimbledon: 5.8m (34%)
19.50 - Totally Saturday: 3.8m (21%)
20.35 - National Lottery: 5.1m (27%)
20.45 - Casualty: 5.4m (27%)
21.35 - Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow: 4.5m (24%)

Instead of going with the precedent (which they set themselves), they keep it on BBC Two. Weird.

So yes, the parallel match (or parallel round anyway) had the highest rating of the day - yet this year it finds itself on BBC Two.

5.8m (or higher presuming you keep the Doctor Who lead-in) would almost guarantee you the most watched show of the day, and instead they've got about 3m for Wipeout and 2/3m with the Tennis.

EDIT: On Twitter, Tennis covers the top 3 UK trends, Doctor Who down in 8th and 9th.

I don't understand what the problem is with keeping it on BBC Two?

Channel4 including +1

Fri 25.6.2010

Big Brother 2.3m / 11.1% - peaked 2.6m
IT Crowd 1.9m / 9.9%
Big Brother 2.1m / 12.9%
Stand up for the week 682,000 / 5.7%

BB not faring too well then even with timeshift. I also notice its main cheerleader in the press, The Daily Star, barely features it on the front page and The Sun is continuing its complete indifference to it from last year.
However, moving on, any estimates on the final Dr Who episode rating? I'll go for 7 million inc HD.

Me neither. It's not like no-one has access to it. Pure laziness if people can't be arsed to push a switch on their remote.

Besides (and even though I think this match will be finished by then) I want to watch Casualty.

BBC One automatically guarantees you a bigger audience. I know, it sounds a myth.


Disappointing, really.

It's a long way off and will likely change a fair bit between now and then- but at the moment next Saturday looks set to be an absolute scorcher across most of England and Wales. I'd be interested to see how that might affect how people watch next Saturday's match if England are fortunate enough to progress. I don't doubt they will watch regardless, but how they watch could certainly change. Look at this for kick-off!

http://www.netweather.tv/gfsimages/g.../ukmaxtemp.png

But the BBC aren't about "chasing ratings", remember? So how is Jay Hunt stupid for not wanting to create the hassle of dragging it to another channel?

Because on BBC1 it would've got almost double what it'll get on BBC2. And it's not like they would've been replacing anything important - basically it's just Total Wipeout and In It To Win It which can be delayed. They've switched over in the past and it's paid off brilliantly, and they had a perfect opportunity to do so straight after Doctor Who ended.


Blimey - lower than last year's 2nd eviction ratings which got 2.4m and 2.2m including +1.


My prediction is 5.0-5.5m inc. HD. The weather and tennis on BBC2 would've dented it.

Its a fine balance between showcasing one of the worlds premier sporting events to the biggest possible audience and keeping regular viewers happy. Its stupid to not gain as many people watching a Brit in the worlds biggest tennis tournament in its home country.

BBC One doesn't always guarantee a bigger audience, though for sport. In 1985 and 1986 the World Snooker Championship final pulled in 18-19 million on BBC Two. Mind you in 1985 BBC One decided to show a BBC Two play in peak time, which could explain a few reasons why BBC Two was so successful that night.

Not pretty. The IT Crowd did well considering the mediocrity of the lead-in.