The Ratings Thread (Part 9)

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PJMillar

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by ZoeMcCallister:
“That episode of Corrie is likely to be the highest rated of the week on a day that viewers don't normally see Corrie. This really does show how there is a HUGE apetite for Corrie to be on a Wedneday still and viewers do not want the show on a Thursday.
Very poor for Movie Awards-surely get axed now?

The poor showing seemed to boost NCIS, and a wise move to move back the Eurovision show. Also boosted Junior Apprentice greatly.

WR suffering a lot-with weak competition the episode should have been ~5m, but the 2 week break has put people off. It looks like it's going to be a limp ending to the series courtesy of the BSI.

Watched MPD for the first time last night, and it does seem to be one of those things that grows as the week goes on, like BGT, but not to the same extent.”

Exactly...Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday suit Corrie down to the ground, and I think ITV really has to go to lengths in order to make sure this happens.

As for football rights, ITV need to negotiate hard with UEFA and the FA (the latter being more reasonable) to ensure that football matches begin at 8pm.

Come on, some have laughed off this suggestion in the past on this thread, but a UEFA Cup match was postponed for half an hour due to the 'Who Shot Phil?' confession!?!?! Plus, UEFA will be likely to want more ad revenue, and UK broadcasters are extremely helpful to UEFA.

Failing that, ITV should try to order some midweek Premier League games for that Wednesday slot - it would be easier to schedule from 8pm.

So, I'd end up with a fixed schedule every week like this:-

7:00pm Emmerdale
7:30pm Coronation Street
8:00pm Football / Award Ceremonies / Movie Premieres
10:00pm News at Ten
10:15pm Regional News & Weather
10:20pm Football / Award Ceremonies / Movie Premieres

1. Would ITV be allowed to cut the news short every week?
2. Could ITV fit in a whole game, with adverts, and with minimum analysis between 8pm and 10pm...ratings would be higher, obviously...

rzt

27-05-2010

Good article from Broadcast giving an overview of January-April 2010:

Quote:
“BBC1 keeps share as overall volume rises
Wintry weather helped increase the total audience in early 2010 but commercial broadcasters lost out. Stephen Price reports.

This year began with a new BARB panel and the most wintry of winters. Viewing was up madly compared with 2009 but how much of this was down to the weather? The answer is: some of it.

In peaktime (7pm-10.30pm), 2010’s early weeks saw double-figure year-on-year percentage increases as the snow moved in for a long stay. By March, those increases were calmer, at about 5-6%. Overall, between January and April, viewing increased by 6.4% compared with 2009 - that’s about 1.5 million more people tuning in.

The biggest increase in volume was among the over 35s, up more than 1 million, while C2s increased by more than 700,000. Broadly, the total available audience so far in 2010 appears a bit older and more downmarket. In peaktime, all of the big five channels lost share, apart from BBC1, whose peaktime share was broadly flat.

The volume story is slightly different. BBC1 was by far the winner here as it increased its volume of individuals by more than 6%, chiefly among ABC1s. With overall TV viewing up by roughly the same, it explains why BBC1’s share was par year on year.

Five’s Europa Cup coverage probably helped it head the down-less-than-the-others list, with growth in volume of 1.6% but a drop of 4.5% in share. ITV1 will note ruefully that while its volume was largely flat, it suffered a share decline of 5.6%, spread across 16 to 34s and ABC1s.

Under CRR, this noble performance in terms of volume means a commercial impact share loss - demonstrating neatly why the self-deployed system of measurement by share, rather than volume, was such a mis-step.

Channel 4’s share decline was the worst of the commercial channels at 6.4% (incl +1), with volume down by 0.4%. The valuable ABC1 audience showed an alarming 8.7% decline (incl+1).

BBC2 brings up the rear with a 7% decline in share of individuals and a greater than 1% decline in volume. It’s ABC1 share was down by more than 5%, and 1.6% by volume, while its share of 16 to 34s was down 8%, and 4.7% in volume terms.

Graph of peaktime shares: http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/pictur..._peakshare.jpg”

Solid performance by BBC1 in peaktime.

rzt

27-05-2010

Genre Overview

Quote:
“Entertainment
ITV1’s big beasts - Britain’s Got Talent and Dancing On Ice - were the best performers between January and April. Of the many new ideas launched, only Take Me Out managed to attract more than 5 million for an episode, which will be disappointing. Comedy Rocks’ 4 million, behind Popstar To Opera Star, was the second best new 9pm Friday thing - ITV1 might be onto something here. However, the breakthrough smash to calm nerves in a post X Factor/BGT world, whenever that may be, remains elusive.

BBC1’s top shows were the final episode of Gavin And Stacey on 1 January and Sport Relief in March. Both were to be expected. What will be encouraging in a more strategic way is the performance of So You Think You Can Dance. Its top performance was in freezing January, with 7.1 million/27%. An average of 5.7 million/23% gives BBC1 something to build upon when it returns.

Channel 4’s best was the launch of the last ever Celebrity Big Brother. Looking to the future, though, C4 will be pleased with its Comedy Roasts, the best being Bruce Forsyth’s 2.4 million in April. BBC2’s University Challenge continues to chalk up big audiences, hitting 3.6 million for the final.

Factual
ITV1’s first Leadership Debate on 15 April was watched by nearly 10 million. For the commercial chaps, though, it was frustrating - there were no ads.

Elsewhere, ITV1’s factual successes lay in the rarely trumpeted early slots. Lion Country’s 4.97 million at 7.30pm on 6 January was impressive, but on 4 January at 8pm, The Lakes’ 4.9 million was more so as it was up against EastEnders. Joanna Lumley’s Nile was ITV1’s 9pm factual hit of the winter and deservedly got 4.8 million on 12 April, its best episode.

For BBC1’s PM debate, maybe some of the novelty had worn off, but 7.4 million remains tip-top. Antiques Roadshow continued to show off on Sunday evenings with more than 7 million on 21 February. Countryfile proved the move to peak was a good one with its best performance of nearly 7 million in April. And Richard Hammond’s Invisible World opened the door for popular science at 9pm with an average of 4.5 million.

Cutting Edge’s My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding topped C4’s charts with 6.4 million. Embarrassing Bodies’ move to Friday proved a boon with a high of 4.2 million in February. One Born Every Minute feels like a returner and a top performance of 4.1 million is testament to that.

Ice Road Truckers was Five’s best of the winter, just pipping Paul Merton In Europe, while The Gadget Show was near the top with 1.8 million.

Drama
Excluding soaps, BBC1’s biggest dramas were the fi nal David Tennant Doctor Who (11.8 million) and Silent Witness. Its 7 January TX was BBC1’s top performer with 8.6 million. Five Days and Five Daughters, with highs of 8.4 million and 5.9 million, show stripping dramas continues to work.

The last ever Touch Of Frost topped the non-soap ITV1 chart, followed by Wild At Heart. Above Suspicion proved itself a worthy successor to Prime Suspect with 7.9 million in January. Law And Order: UK quietly became a hit, the best episode attracting 6.5 million in mid-January.

BBC2’s Blood And Oil attracted much good publicity and the first of the two episodes on 29 March was watched by 2.6 million. Gracie!, borrowed from BBC4, did well, mustering 1.4 million on 1 April.

Shameless sits atop the C4 pile with the Mo Mowlam biopic Mo second on a splendid 4.2 million. Glee, a smash for E4, proved its terrestrial mettle with 1.4 million in February.

Five’s drama staple remains CSI, with the best at nearly 4 million on 23 February.”

rzt

27-05-2010

9-10pm: Slot Analysis

Quote:
“9pm is the slot where most money is spent, the biggest risks are taken and competition is at its most fierce.

BBC1 was the winner with a par performance year on year for the period January to April, while BBC2 was down only 1%. ITV1, Channel 4 and Five will be more rueful as they ponder hefty decreases. C4 saw declines in share of 10%, Five 8% and ITV1 6%. In terms of share points, ITV1 lost the most, more than 1, slipping further behind BBC1.

BBC1 increased its 9pm volume by more than 350,000, while ITV1 scraped together another 64,000. C4 and Five registered losses. On average, across the week, 2 million more people watched TV than last year, with the vast majority encamped in ‘other viewing’, most of which is commercial - a concern for the terrestrial commercial channels.

ITV1’s scorching Autumn quickly cooled and reality rudely barged in. Only Wednesdays and Thursdays showed any increases, with Wednesday by far the most successful, improving 9pm by more than 4 share points with a mix of Midsomer Murders, Champions League and events such as the National TV Awards. Its increase was largely at BBC1’s expense, but this was the corporation’s only weak spot.

ITV1’s entertainment-led Friday hasn’t worked so far, with too many shows below 4 million. Declines of more than 3 points have reduced ITV1 to 13.4% share, nearly 10 points behind BBC1, from a 1.5 point gap in 2009. BBC1 challenged ITV1 with drama, thus avoiding accusations of being too competitive by offering a genuine, but strong, alternative. Ashes To Ashes, Silent Witness and Five Days all contributed to a firmer Friday line-up than last year’s mix of comedy and entertainment, with an increase of more than 4 points.

9-10pm shares:
BBC1: 19.90% (2009: 19.93%)
BBC2: 7.48% (7.56%)
ITV1: 18.19% (19.38%)
C4: 9.71% (10.77%)
Five: 7.11% (7.72%)
Other: 37.75% (34.91%)

9-10pm Number of viewers: http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/pictur...umecompare.jpg”

Pretty good that the number of people watching BBC1 and ITV1 at 9pm is up year-on-year. Share is slightly down though, so a reason for the increases must be due to more people watching TV compared to last year.

Dancc

27-05-2010

Just realised Desperate Housewives recorded a lowly 900k and 4% share for C4 at 9pm last night.

Absolutely dire and with these numbers is surely destined to become an E4 exclusive next season.

rzt

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by PJMillar:
“As for football rights, ITV need to negotiate hard with UEFA and the FA (the latter being more reasonable) to ensure that football matches begin at 8pm.

Come on, some have laughed off this suggestion in the past on this thread, but a UEFA Cup match was postponed for half an hour due to the 'Who Shot Phil?' confession!?!?! Plus, UEFA will be likely to want more ad revenue, and UK broadcasters are extremely helpful to UEFA.

Failing that, ITV should try to order some midweek Premier League games for that Wednesday slot - it would be easier to schedule from 8pm.”

UEFA will not move the Champions League kick-off times to 8pm just because ITV wants it to. There's so many other broadcasters to think about, it's not even an option. Even if kick-off was 8pm, ITV would need to show some pre-match buildup so Corrie still wouldn't be starting at 7:30pm!

The UEFA Cup situation was completely different. Firstly the match you're talking about was delayed by 15 mins not 30. Also the competition's not in the same league as the Champions League and it was a definite one-off. It didn't affect as many broadcaster as moving a UCL match would. I don't even think there were fixed kick-off times for that season of the Uefa Cup, though I might be wrong.

The Premier League is also a big no-no. ITV wouldn't be able to outbid Sky for the rights and even if they did get a package, it would be for one of the poorer ones involving teams like Wigan and Burnley. It'd be completely pointless and a waste of money. Where would ITV get the money from anyway?

russellelly

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by Dancc:
“Just realised Desperate Housewives recorded a lowly 900k and 4% share for C4 at 9pm last night.

Absolutely dire and with these numbers is surely destined to become an E4 exclusive next season.”

1.2m reported earlier in the thread (one with/without +1?). Anyway, it usually does OK at 10pm, plus first look on E4.

C4 can't throw away all their decent programming to sister channels when ratings struggle a bit unless they have some sensible replacements that'll do better.

Brekkie

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by Glenn A:
“Just checking the ratings for American Idol and 24 million would equal about 5 million in Britain. Our successor, the X Factor, usually gets double that in relative terms. Perhaps either the Americans have so much television to choose from they're flicking around with their remotes or maybe they're not as obsessed with these shows as we are.”

I think people in other countries just have this thing called a "life". Even with cable etc., I don't think the overall ratings in the US come close to 40-50% of the nation watching TV night after night after night, and I don't think they do in most other countries too.

We're just a bunch of lazy couch potatoes really!

Not really surprising - it was in an earlier slot and I don't think had been advertised at all this week (I've seen nothing but Million Pound Drop / Big Brother / Gok Wan ads on C4 lately!)

I don't think C4 will be making it E4 exclusive just yet, especially as next season could well turn out to be the last. What they might do though if if (and it's a big if!) something else comes along to take it's slot they might push it back to later in the year - but really I expect DH to be on at 10pm on Wednesday nights last year - and if worse comes to the worse, 11pm.

D.M.N.

27-05-2010

UK TV Guide has updated, with the World Cup rampaging the schedules, and some bizarre(?) scheduling, WDYTYA USA makes an appearance:

Saturday 12th June
BBC One
13:00 - Tennis
14:30 - World Cup
17:15 - BBC News
17:40 - TBA
19:30 - Lottery
20:20 - TBA
21:10 - Casualty

ITV1
12:00 - World Cup
14:35 - TBA
17:30 - ITV News
18:00 - You've Been Framed!
19:00 - World Cup
22:00 - ITV News

Sunday 13th June
BBC One
12:10 - World Cup
14:30 - TBA
16:05 - Formula 1: The Canadian Grand Prix
19:15 - BBC News
19:45 - Priceless Antiques Roadshow
20:15 - Countryfile
21:15 - Who Do You Think You Are? USA
22:00 - BBC News

ITV1
14:30 - World Cup
17:00 - TBA
18:30 - ITV News
19:00 - World Cup
22:00 - ITV News

Monday 14th June
BBC One
19:00 - World Cup
22:00 - BBC News

ITV1 - as expected, TBA at 21:00

Tuesday 15th June
BBC One
19:00 - EastEnders
20:00 - Holby City
21:00 - Crimewatch

ITV1
19:00 - World Cup
22:00 - ITV News

Wednesday 16th June
BBC One
19:00 - World Cup
22:00 - BBC News

ITV1
19:00 - Emmerdale
19:30 - Coronation Street
20:00 - TBA

Thursday 17th June
BBC One
19:00 - World Cup
22:00 - BBC News

ITV1 - as expected, TBA at 21:00

Friday 18th June
BBC One
19:00 - EastEnders
19:30 - TBA

ITV1
19:00 - World Cup
22:00 - ITV News

I'm almost certain Priceless Antiques Roadshow is a BBC Two show? Suggests to me that in the provisionals that will change to EastEnders.

rzt

27-05-2010

^ Presumably ITV1's 'World Cup' 7-10pm programmes include James Corden's World Cup Live?

By the way, isn't it pointless of ITV1 splitting the two Corries as normal on that Monday. Surely it's better to just have it as one hour long show as it helps keep the viewers to the channel. With the filler in the middle, people will drift off to BBC1 and possibly stick with the match instead of turning back to Corrie for the second episode.

Charnham

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by D.M.N.:
“I'm almost certain Priceless Antiques Roadshow is a BBC Two show? Suggests to me that in the provisionals that will change to EastEnders.”

EE does not need the extra slot.

D.M.N.

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by Charnham:
“EE does not need the extra slot.”

You say that, but it depends on the following week's schedule then.

dubsj

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by rzt:
“Dubsj do you know what ITV1 are airing on Saturday 5th June at 10pm? And Friday 11th at 9pm? Still no update on UKTVGuide.”

10pm on the Saturday is Batman Begins

9pm on the Friday is a Taggart repeat...

Brekkie

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by rzt:
“^ Presumably ITV1's 'World Cup' 7-10pm programmes include James Corden's World Cup Live?

By the way, isn't it pointless of ITV1 splitting the two Corries as normal on that Monday. Surely it's better to just have it as one hour long show as it helps keep the viewers to the channel. With the filler in the middle, people will drift off to BBC1 and possibly stick with the match instead of turning back to Corrie for the second episode.”

You'd think so wouldn't you - but remember schedulers are stupid - it seems to be a requirement to get such a job in British TV!

That said remember these are provisionals, and I imagine in the final schedule they'll be back to back - and probably be an hour of Emmerdale too.

rzt

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by Brekkie:
“That said remember these are provisionals, and I imagine in the final schedule they'll be back to back - and probably be an hour of Emmerdale too.”

Hmmm.. I'm not sure they'll be back to back even when the schedules are finalised. The confirmed schedules for Friday 11th has Corrie as per normal at 7.30 and 8.30pm. A one hour show (7.30-8.30pm) would've made more sense to keep viewers sticking to the channel.

Charnham

27-05-2010

true enough, EE will have to schedule 2 out of the 4 normal episodes in other slots.

Monday & Friday can air as normal, at 8pm, cant rule out 2 x 1 hour episodes however, there are a few vacant slots.

Monday & Friday 7pm are both open, whilst Wednesday has nothing scheduled, so any BBC should not have too many problems airing the homeless episodes in week 25.

Wednesday ITV has a game on, so no Corrie clash.

I predict a Wednesday episode in week 25

D.M.N.

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by Charnham:
“true enough, EE will have to schedule 2 out of the 4 normal episodes in other slots.

Monday & Friday can air as normal, at 8pm, cant rule out 2 x 1 hour episodes however, there are a few vacant slots.”

BBC will not put EastEnders against an England game.

I've outlined the situation here: at the moment Emmerdale loses 3 episodes and Coronation Street loses 1 episode.

Dancc

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by Brekkie:
“You'd think so wouldn't you - but remember schedulers are stupid - it seems to be a requirement to get such a job in British TV!”

If you think you can do better, $ky are on the hunt!

http://www.broadcastjobs.co.uk/job/1...sky1-sky2-sky3

GeorgeS

27-05-2010

There are other countries in Europe you know. There is 0% chance of this happening.

Score

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by rzt:
“Hmmm.. I'm not sure they'll be back to back even when the schedules are finalised. The confirmed schedules for Friday 11th has Corrie as per normal at 7.30 and 8.30pm. A one hour show (7.30-8.30pm) would've made more sense to keep viewers sticking to the channel.”

I don't know though, they must surely really want a record high for Dickinson's Real Deal.

They'd be stupid to keep the episodes split, but remember we are talking about UK schedulers (I was going to say ITV, but the BSI are just as bad) so common sense is a rare occurance.

Salv*

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by D.M.N.:
“Just for fun then.... not serious at all.

US Ratings translated to UK Ratings
ABC
20:00 - FILM: Transformers - 0.96m

CBS
21:00 - Criminal Minds - 2.57m
22:00 - CSI: NY - 2.39m

FOX
20:00 - Amercian Idol Finale - 4.85m

UK Ratings translated to US Ratings
BBC One
19:00 - The One Show: 20.44m
19:30 - RHS Chelsea Flower Show: 15.96m
20:00 - Waterloo Road: 20.44m
21:00 - Junior Apprentice: 25.93m

ITV1 (inc. ITV HD)
19:00 - Emmerdale: 31.91m
19:30 - Coronation Street: 40.39m
20:00 - The National Movie Awards: 13.96m

Channel 4 (inc C4 +1)
21:00 - Desperate Housewives: 5.98m
22:00 - The Million Pound Drop Live: 11.97m

Five
21:00 - NCIS: 10.47m
22:00 - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 3.99m

Source: UK population of 62,041,708; US population of 309,359,000.

So basically, American's have no right to smile even if their programmes do get over 20m.

...and what's happening in Emmerdale to make it (sorry), trend on Twitter?”

Wow thanks for this

This is facinating.

So basiclaly speaking, the US ratings arent very impressive at all... not many US shows get 20m+, and thats teh equivelent to around 4m.... so UK wise it would mean here, not many shows getting 4m+ which is atrocious, so basically, CBB7 in January would have got around 18-19m in US terms...

Can you imagine the ratings of BGT final last year's equivelent? It would be around 70m+

American idol isnt doing too good and never did (even though its teh top rated show), 4.85m is something that ITV would feel average about right now.

Also, the superbowls which attract from 40-60m lets say, is the only show that in UK terms would attract around 10-11m ish (??) which is what BGT gets... and the Friends Final's 52.5m is around 12-14m in UK?? Thats good

Cent

27-05-2010

Surprised at the slot for WDYTYA USA, pleasently surprised, but still odd.

Steve Williams

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by rzt:
“The UEFA Cup situation was completely different. Firstly the match you're talking about was delayed by 15 mins not 30. Also the competition's not in the same league as the Champions League and it was a definite one-off. It didn't affect as many broadcaster as moving a UCL match would. I don't even think there were fixed kick-off times for that season of the Uefa Cup, though I might be wrong.”

No there were not, and in fact Barcelona's match in the previous round had kicked off at 8.15 to suit Spanish telly. It wasn't at all unusual. But it could never happen now.

Andy23

27-05-2010

Two reasons:

They are more likely to get higher ratings for the filler programme at 8pm than at 8.30pm

Also, Corrie is a better lead in to 9pm, than the filler programme

I can't imagine many Corrie viewers watching the first one, switching to BBC1 ans suddenly getting involved in the football half way through and not turning back for the second one.

rzt

27-05-2010

Originally Posted by Andy23:
“Two reasons:

They are more likely to get higher ratings for the filler programme at 8pm than at 8.30pm”

Surely it's better that they try and get as many viewers as possible for Corrie with less importance on the filler programme.

Quote:
“Also, Corrie is a better lead in to 9pm, than the filler programme”

With ITV airing repeats at 9pm on a lot of the days, I don't think the Corrie lead-in will matter much. The repeats will probably get about 3-3.5m regardless of whether there's a Corrie lead-in or not.

Quote:
“I can't imagine many Corrie viewers watching the first one, switching to BBC1 ans suddenly getting involved in the football half way through and not turning back for the second one.”

Hmmm... I dunno about that. If it's a good match, I think people will stick with the football. We've seen time and time again that with exciting close matches, the no. of viewers increases during the match.

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