I live in the North and Corrie is still big among the elderly C2DE audience- perhaps the least desirable demo for advertisers- but because it is such a big show I'm sure the profits are good for ITV. Also don't forget its large gay following and the pink pound is quite desirable to advertisers these days.
I would say the ultimate non Corrie viewer is an ABC1 straight male in the South.

fair cop I did not consider the pink pound.

I would agree that the ratings are (normally) big enough to cancel out the older viewers, and save Corrie, but what if that stoppd being the case.

Chances are the older viewers are set in there ways now, and are very loyal to the show, but younger people will look elsewhere. Lets say ratings fall to a regular £6 million with 70% of those being say 45+, would the other 30% make the show profitable?

Just seen the first X Factor ident on ITV1. Magic Numbers in my view deserves more than 2.5 million, it is actually a good little show. A lot to do with the 'default BBC1' argument here I think, really.

Are you all getting excited?

And before that an American teeth rotting drink announcing it brings us ITV Saturday night programmes. Will there be jugs of it conviently placed with the panel as in the US?

If it was an ordinary show it would need a more viewer friendly launchpad.
As for default audience, its clear that Barrowman puts alot of people off but there will always be a decent audience for the Hearts of Gold type stuff he does on the show.

I've read this over and over... would someone care to explain what it means?

I thought I was the only one who coldn't understand it

Since the show began, American Idol has had a product placement deal with Coca Cola. Instead of having plain water glases on their desks, the judges have red Coca Cola glasses (or sometimes other Coca Cola brands).

I'm assuming i4u is referring to this?

It's a Coca Cola advert that says that it and ITV1 are part of an ideal Saturday night in. It's been airing all year at least.

I think he's referring to the 'Saturday night tastes better with Coca-Cola and ITV1' adverts which have aired during every break on Saturdays in the last few months.

More about it here: http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/n...time-campaign/

There are ads on Saturday nights on ITV1 for Coca Cola saying something like "Saturday nights are made by Coca Cola and ITV1". American Idol has Coke cups on the judge's table. Product placement may well become legal in the UK in the future so he was suggesting Coke may buy some placement on the X Factor.

Ok I was quite slow at typing that!

Even if Product Placement is legalised, I don't think Coke (regular) will be allowed to buy placement during any programmes. According to the Ofcom proposals:

Bit of a blow for the broadcasters. I'm sure ITV were hoping to have some real alcohol brands in the Rovers on Corrie. But they'll have to keep it as it is...

You never know, Coke might bring back that tap water brand they had a few years ago especially for the show! I'm sure the judges would prefer to drink even that!

On American Idol this year for bootcamp (Ellen's first week which had loads of publicity shots) they had a Coca Cola vitamin water brand instead. The PP rules sound horrendously "Blair era Britain" but it's probably better than nothing.

The problem is that there not going to want X Factor US in the Autumn and then if idol did flop another series of XF US in the Spring or whenever idol airs - overkill i think!

They'll just have Diet Coke instead.

I'm looking forward to product placement - I think it could be quite interesting.

There is a lot of potential in programmes like The X Factor - drinks on the judges tables, contestants driven around in certain cars, taken to the latest film premieres (which they already do anyway), the voting system could be provided by a telecommunications company.

I'm sure something like Coke Zero could get round it?

I can just imagine:

Simon being driven around in a Skoda!
or "Vote now for ..... sponsored by Talk Talk!

Will be intresting!

I know it takes quite a while for everything to be approved - but realilisticly when is it expected Product placement will see it on screen?

Edit: Had a look on Ofcom's website and the consulation for it ends on 17th September and says the revised chages will come into effect "by the end of 2010" So depending on when the "end" is.

I think realistically X Factor might just miss it this year. But be ready just in time for Dancing on Ice !
The "Ice" Sponsored by RobbieSykes "Tanking on Ice" of course!

I'd have thought Diet Coke was a more appropriate product to sponsor TXF - lightweight, saccharine, flat, tasteless.

As for the current ITV Saturday night line up, Peter Kay's Kwik Save Rola Cola should be the sponsor...

Hmmm, I guess.

Shame the BBC won't be able to do product placement. I'm sure Dignitas would be itching for some air time during Strictly!

I don't think its that great - I think Odd One in is better. I've also noticed that 101 ways to.... has got better, I think they've cut it down to give it more momentum as it seemed to run much better. I've got to admit that I enjoy TTN, I think the show is good and there are lots of viewiers who enjoy Barrowman and watch for him, not because they're default viewiers.

I wonder might there be any noticeable increase in the Sky Sports ratings this weekend due to it being available on BT, Top Up TV etc. Obviously the figures will be up in comparison to last weekend as it's the start of the season and the numbers signing up is probably not huge but will be interesting to see if there is an increase over the course of the season.

I doubt it. The BT Vision deal might appeal to some existing BT Broadband customers, but the Top Up TV prices pretty much mean you're better off going to Sky and getting so much more than paying over £30 for just two Sky Sports channels.

OMG that's so funny, nobody watches ITV on Saturday nights in the Summer and it doesn't even win when the Cowell shows are on