I hope the new series of Top Gear does well on BBC2. I expect it to beat BBC1 as it has Terry Wogan's Ireland, which has had virtually no PR.
The Ratings Thread (Part 16)
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Originally Posted by mancitybean:
“I hope the new series of Top Gear does well on BBC2. I expect it to beat BBC1 as it has Terry Wogan's Ireland, which has had virtually no PR.”
“I hope the new series of Top Gear does well on BBC2. I expect it to beat BBC1 as it has Terry Wogan's Ireland, which has had virtually no PR.”
Top Gear is against Lark Rise to Candleford, not Terry Wogan's Ireland. Going to be interested to see what dents what in the morning.
rzt, do you have a demo breakdown for the new Top Gear episode from Christmas? Interested to see whether it'll be BBC1 that's dented more on ITV1 with DOI.
Originally Posted by dave01:
“Wow only 350k for Newsnight, that seems very low. I expect it is down to a combination of Question Time and the new Channel 4 show marketing itself as like Newsnight.”
“Wow only 350k for Newsnight, that seems very low. I expect it is down to a combination of Question Time and the new Channel 4 show marketing itself as like Newsnight.”
Scheduling Newsnight against Question Time has always been one of the oddities of BBC programme planning as clearly both programmes would appeal to more or less the same audience.Rather similar to the occasions BBC1 and BBC2 both carry Wimbledon at the same time.
BBC have axed Lark Rise to Candleford: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-22866641/
Originally Posted by D.M.N.:
“BBC have axed Lark Rise to Candleford: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-22866641/”
“BBC have axed Lark Rise to Candleford: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-22866641/”
I'm not one for watching period dramas but it seems a shame to axe this given its high viewership. I can't imagine any potential new drama to launch on Sunday at 8pm would be able to hold 6.5m viewers every week against DOI.
Originally Posted by D.M.N.:
“BBC have axed Lark Rise to Candleford: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-22866641/”
“BBC have axed Lark Rise to Candleford: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-22866641/”
What an utterly stupid decision. Presumably motivated by a dislike of the show by the new controller than anything to do with viewers turning off it - the ratings suggest the opposite.
Or is it a publicity stunt?
If not, one wonders what other BBC1 staples Danny Cohen has in his sights...
Originally Posted by dave01:
“I'm not one for watching period dramas but it seems a shame to axe this given its high viewership. I can't imagine any potential new drama to launch on Sunday at 8pm would be able to hold 6.5m viewers every week against DOI.”
“I'm not one for watching period dramas but it seems a shame to axe this given its high viewership. I can't imagine any potential new drama to launch on Sunday at 8pm would be able to hold 6.5m viewers every week against DOI.”
I imagine the demographics are the problem.
BBC1 is under new management.
To be fair, although I don't watch it, it seems the show was reaching its natural end, and I guess they only expected it to last 4 series'.
Edit, demo breakdown thanks to rzt:
Lark Rise to Candleford
16 to 54.... 2.08m (31%) and 1.99m (30%)
ABC1........ 3.78m (57%) and 3.58m (54%)
Edit, demo breakdown thanks to rzt:
Lark Rise to Candleford
16 to 54.... 2.08m (31%) and 1.99m (30%)
ABC1........ 3.78m (57%) and 3.58m (54%)
Great numbers for Hattie on Wednesday. The Beeb is having a real series of hits with these biog dramas. Hattie, Eric & Ernie, Hancock & Joan, Road to Coro St, Steptoe, Frankie Howerd, Hughie Greene... - and the others I have forgotten. Every one has been a 5-star gem, and brought great numbers for BBC4 (and BBC2 in E&E's case).
IMO, every single one of these could have aired on BBC1 and got decent numbers, rather than being buried on less-watched channels. Perhaps with budget cuts and summer schedules to fill, we could see a BBC1 repeat run of the whole lot as a series?
As much as I adore BBC4 - for the hidden gems it turns up and the general quality of its output - I do wish it didn't exist. Nothing on BBC4 over the course of the year needs burying on a highbrow ghetto channel. Every single one of its programmes or films could be shown on BBC1 or BBC2.
Although it runs against the grain to suggest keeping BBC3 but axeing BBC4, I do think this would make sense, and allow the Beeb to focus on having 3 quality channels, aimed at slightly different demographics and approach, and with a genuine hierarchy of growing new talent and formats through two feeder channels. Whilst allowing all the good shows on all channels still to be commissioned, and cutting some of the filler, whilst still trimming back on budgets slightly.
IMO, every single one of these could have aired on BBC1 and got decent numbers, rather than being buried on less-watched channels. Perhaps with budget cuts and summer schedules to fill, we could see a BBC1 repeat run of the whole lot as a series?
As much as I adore BBC4 - for the hidden gems it turns up and the general quality of its output - I do wish it didn't exist. Nothing on BBC4 over the course of the year needs burying on a highbrow ghetto channel. Every single one of its programmes or films could be shown on BBC1 or BBC2.
Although it runs against the grain to suggest keeping BBC3 but axeing BBC4, I do think this would make sense, and allow the Beeb to focus on having 3 quality channels, aimed at slightly different demographics and approach, and with a genuine hierarchy of growing new talent and formats through two feeder channels. Whilst allowing all the good shows on all channels still to be commissioned, and cutting some of the filler, whilst still trimming back on budgets slightly.
As for Thursday, disappointing to see Kidnap & Ransom drop below 5m in the overnights. I think it's rather good, and credit for ITV in allowing Trevor Eve to make this. It has a real "BBC quality" feel about it. Good stuff, and I hope the dropping ratings don't prevent a second outing next year.
Shame, too, that all of BBC1's key Thursday shows saw a ratings decline.
Quite a big drop for Human Planet, and a sub-5m overnight suggests the Thursday slot against the Soap Hour isn't the right one. CFWM falling to 5.8m isn't good, and NGO is dropping back towards its pre-axe 3m-odd range. A dismally bad episode on Thursday - the worst ever - may lead to a further drop next week. (Alternatively, it may be the fact it was a stinker, and a bit "ripe" in content for mainstream BBC1, that led to it delivering just 4m? - viewers might give next week's another try)
Shame, too, that all of BBC1's key Thursday shows saw a ratings decline.
Quite a big drop for Human Planet, and a sub-5m overnight suggests the Thursday slot against the Soap Hour isn't the right one. CFWM falling to 5.8m isn't good, and NGO is dropping back towards its pre-axe 3m-odd range. A dismally bad episode on Thursday - the worst ever - may lead to a further drop next week. (Alternatively, it may be the fact it was a stinker, and a bit "ripe" in content for mainstream BBC1, that led to it delivering just 4m? - viewers might give next week's another try)
Originally Posted by RobbieSykes123:
“Great numbers for Hattie on Wednesday. The Beeb is having a real series of hits with these biog dramas. Hattie, Eric & Ernie, Hancock & Joan, Road to Coro St, Steptoe, Frankie Howerd, Hughie Greene... - and the others I have forgotten. Every one has been a 5-star gem, and brought great numbers for BBC4 (and BBC2 in E&E's case).
IMO, every single one of these could have aired on BBC1 and got decent numbers, rather than being buried on less-watched channels. Perhaps with budget cuts and summer schedules to fill, we could see a BBC1 repeat run of the whole lot as a series?
As much as I adore BBC4 - for the hidden gems it turns up and the general quality of its output - I do wish it didn't exist. Nothing on BBC4 over the course of the year needs burying on a highbrow ghetto channel. Every single one of its programmes or films could be shown on BBC1 or BBC2.
Although it runs against the grain to suggest keeping BBC3 but axeing BBC4, I do think this would make sense, and allow the Beeb to focus on having 3 quality channels, aimed at slightly different demographics and approach, and with a genuine hierarchy of growing new talent and formats through two feeder channels. Whilst allowing all the good shows on all channels still to be commissioned, and cutting some of the filler, whilst still trimming back on budgets slightly.”
“Great numbers for Hattie on Wednesday. The Beeb is having a real series of hits with these biog dramas. Hattie, Eric & Ernie, Hancock & Joan, Road to Coro St, Steptoe, Frankie Howerd, Hughie Greene... - and the others I have forgotten. Every one has been a 5-star gem, and brought great numbers for BBC4 (and BBC2 in E&E's case).
IMO, every single one of these could have aired on BBC1 and got decent numbers, rather than being buried on less-watched channels. Perhaps with budget cuts and summer schedules to fill, we could see a BBC1 repeat run of the whole lot as a series?
As much as I adore BBC4 - for the hidden gems it turns up and the general quality of its output - I do wish it didn't exist. Nothing on BBC4 over the course of the year needs burying on a highbrow ghetto channel. Every single one of its programmes or films could be shown on BBC1 or BBC2.
Although it runs against the grain to suggest keeping BBC3 but axeing BBC4, I do think this would make sense, and allow the Beeb to focus on having 3 quality channels, aimed at slightly different demographics and approach, and with a genuine hierarchy of growing new talent and formats through two feeder channels. Whilst allowing all the good shows on all channels still to be commissioned, and cutting some of the filler, whilst still trimming back on budgets slightly.”
At last someone agrees with me!! I'd like to see the demos for Hattie and see how many 65+ watched it.
It would have interested them more than many others, but I would think they're the ones least likely to switch on BBC4.
Provisional schedules out for week beginning 5th February:
- Harry Hill's TV Burp returns on 5th February at 7pm on ITV1, with it repeated on 6th February at 6pm. Their schedule for 5th February will run as follows, barring minor timing changes:
18:30 - You've Been Framed!
19:00 - Harry Hill's TV Burp
19:30 - Primeval
20:30 - Take Me Out
21:45 - Benidorm (R)
22:45 - ITV News
With BBC1 doing:
16:35 - Six Nations Rugby Union
19:00 - Total Wipeout
20:00 - The National Lottery: In It to Win It
20:50 - Casualty
21:40 - Come Fly with Me (R)
22:10 - BBC News
22:30 - Match of the Day
If I was ITV, I'd move all their timings 15 minutes forward so TV Burp begins at 18:45, just as the Rugby is finishing. While on the subject of BBC1 and Saturday's last weeks News of the World reported that Secret Fortune was starting on 12th February, replacing In It to Win It.
- Dancing on Ice on the Sunday is still, even on 5th February two hours long. BTW, I calculate that if there's an elimination per week from now, it'll finish on 27th March.
- Outcasts will either start on Sunday 5th February or Wednesday 8th February. The Wednesday slot could be good... on the Wednesday it would be starting towards the closing stages of the England game, and we all know what happens when an England game finishes on ITV. They've got TBA at 21:30, I can only realistically see that being the displaced Emmerdale episode myself, which won't be on at 19:00.
Oh, and in case anyone is keeping an eye on Million Pound Drop's scheduling, it appears it'll be on from 22:00 to 23:20 on Friday's and 21:00 to 22:20 on Saturday's. The opposition is quite poor on Saturday's, so it should still be ~2m there.
- Harry Hill's TV Burp returns on 5th February at 7pm on ITV1, with it repeated on 6th February at 6pm. Their schedule for 5th February will run as follows, barring minor timing changes:
18:30 - You've Been Framed!
19:00 - Harry Hill's TV Burp
19:30 - Primeval
20:30 - Take Me Out
21:45 - Benidorm (R)
22:45 - ITV News
With BBC1 doing:
16:35 - Six Nations Rugby Union
19:00 - Total Wipeout
20:00 - The National Lottery: In It to Win It
20:50 - Casualty
21:40 - Come Fly with Me (R)
22:10 - BBC News
22:30 - Match of the Day
If I was ITV, I'd move all their timings 15 minutes forward so TV Burp begins at 18:45, just as the Rugby is finishing. While on the subject of BBC1 and Saturday's last weeks News of the World reported that Secret Fortune was starting on 12th February, replacing In It to Win It.
- Dancing on Ice on the Sunday is still, even on 5th February two hours long. BTW, I calculate that if there's an elimination per week from now, it'll finish on 27th March.
- Outcasts will either start on Sunday 5th February or Wednesday 8th February. The Wednesday slot could be good... on the Wednesday it would be starting towards the closing stages of the England game, and we all know what happens when an England game finishes on ITV. They've got TBA at 21:30, I can only realistically see that being the displaced Emmerdale episode myself, which won't be on at 19:00.
Oh, and in case anyone is keeping an eye on Million Pound Drop's scheduling, it appears it'll be on from 22:00 to 23:20 on Friday's and 21:00 to 22:20 on Saturday's. The opposition is quite poor on Saturday's, so it should still be ~2m there.
Friday ratings have just now been released by BARB, so we might get them soon...
D.M.N. - I'll post the demo information later today when I can.
With the budget cuts, I think the BBC probably thought it was a good time to end Lark Rise (4 years is a good innings and the main writer doesn't want to continue with it) and spend that money on another show, maybe even giving way for Upstairs Downstairs.
Danny Cohen shouldn't get the blame though - we heard about Lark Rise possibly being axed as early as this time last year when Jay Hunt was in charge.
D.M.N. - I'll post the demo information later today when I can.
Originally Posted by dave01:
“I'm not one for watching period dramas but it seems a shame to axe this given its high viewership. I can't imagine any potential new drama to launch on Sunday at 8pm would be able to hold 6.5m viewers every week against DOI.”
“I'm not one for watching period dramas but it seems a shame to axe this given its high viewership. I can't imagine any potential new drama to launch on Sunday at 8pm would be able to hold 6.5m viewers every week against DOI.”
With the budget cuts, I think the BBC probably thought it was a good time to end Lark Rise (4 years is a good innings and the main writer doesn't want to continue with it) and spend that money on another show, maybe even giving way for Upstairs Downstairs.
Danny Cohen shouldn't get the blame though - we heard about Lark Rise possibly being axed as early as this time last year when Jay Hunt was in charge.
Originally Posted by rzt:
“Danny Cohen shouldn't get the blame though - we heard about Lark Rise possibly being axed as early as this time last year when Jay Hunt was in charge.”
“Danny Cohen shouldn't get the blame though - we heard about Lark Rise possibly being axed as early as this time last year when Jay Hunt was in charge.”
Well, Danny Cohen is the one who's axed it! He could have recommissioned it.
(I still wonder if he might - they were axing 6Music too, don't forget. And Not Going Out did get axed...)
Originally Posted by rzt:
“
With the budget cuts, I think the BBC probably thought it was a good time to end Lark Rise (4 years is a good innings and the main writer doesn't want to continue with it) and spend that money on another show, maybe even giving way for Upstairs Downstairs.
Danny Cohen shouldn't get the blame though - we heard about Lark Rise possibly being axed as early as this time last year when Jay Hunt was in charge.”
“
With the budget cuts, I think the BBC probably thought it was a good time to end Lark Rise (4 years is a good innings and the main writer doesn't want to continue with it) and spend that money on another show, maybe even giving way for Upstairs Downstairs.
Danny Cohen shouldn't get the blame though - we heard about Lark Rise possibly being axed as early as this time last year when Jay Hunt was in charge.”
I think Bill Gallagher not wanting to continue with it was the main factor with finishing the series. It was touted as being possibly the last series so it's not a surprise.
Originally Posted by RobbieSykes123:
“Well, Danny Cohen is the one who's axed it! He could have recommissioned it.”
“Well, Danny Cohen is the one who's axed it! He could have recommissioned it.”
Making way for a full seies of Upstairs Downstairs no doubt. Although I'd think UD will struggle to match LRTCs ratings
Originally Posted by ftv:
“Scheduling Newsnight against Question Time has always been one of the oddities of BBC programme planning as clearly both programmes would appeal to more or less the same audience.Rather similar to the occasions BBC1 and BBC2 both carry Wimbledon at the same time.”
“Scheduling Newsnight against Question Time has always been one of the oddities of BBC programme planning as clearly both programmes would appeal to more or less the same audience.Rather similar to the occasions BBC1 and BBC2 both carry Wimbledon at the same time.”
I think QT was often at the outer margins of the schedule until the BBC News moved to 10pm and it got the regular 10.35pm slot. I recall it starting regularly at 11.15 or later - so probably dovetailed with Newsnight quite nicely.
It is rather daft, but short of moving Question Time to 9pm or 11.20pm (neither of which makes sense), I am not sure what they can do about it.
In a similar vein, does anyone else think it crazy that Channel 4 have got their big new 16-34 targeted Ten O'Clock Live against their well established 16-34 cult hit Skins on E4?
Do I assume from this that George Dixon is now in post?
Originally Posted by GeorgeS:
“Making way for a full seies of Upstairs Downstairs no doubt. Although I'd think UD will struggle to match LRTCs ratings”
“Making way for a full seies of Upstairs Downstairs no doubt. Although I'd think UD will struggle to match LRTCs ratings”
The same Upstairs Downstairs that got 9m viewers at Christmas?
Originally Posted by RobbieSykes123:
“The same Upstairs Downstairs that got 9m viewers at Christmas?”
“The same Upstairs Downstairs that got 9m viewers at Christmas?
”
Robbie, good ratings are for life not just Christmas
Originally Posted by D.M.N.:
“- Outcasts will either start on Sunday 5th February or Wednesday 8th February. The Wednesday slot could be good... on the Wednesday it would be starting towards the closing stages of the England game, and we all know what happens when an England game finishes on ITV. They've got TBA at 21:30, I can only realistically see that being the displaced Emmerdale episode myself, which won't be on at 19:00.”
“- Outcasts will either start on Sunday 5th February or Wednesday 8th February. The Wednesday slot could be good... on the Wednesday it would be starting towards the closing stages of the England game, and we all know what happens when an England game finishes on ITV. They've got TBA at 21:30, I can only realistically see that being the displaced Emmerdale episode myself, which won't be on at 19:00.”
How about Monday or Tuesday? They currently are down as TBA. I know it was rumoured a few weeks ago that Waking The Dead would take those slots after Silent Witness ends, but there's no sign of WTD on the BBC Press Office and recently Trevor Eve has been saying that it's due to return in the Spring. A Monday slot for Outcasts would be great due to the relatively weak competition (particularly in terms of drama).
Sundays would be okay-ish but I dunno if the BBC would want it to air at the same time as Being Human, and also WaH/DOI is quite tough opposition (even if they do possibly appeal to different audiences). Also, as someone pointed out yesterday, the BBC will be airing the BAFTAs and South Riding on Sundays quite soon which makes it more unlikely Outcasts will air there. On Wednesdays, ITV will be showing a lot of football matches including Champions League stuff like Barca v Arsenal which is bound to rate well and could knock Outcasts down a bit. So I think Mondays would be best.
Originally Posted by rzt:
“How about Monday or Tuesday? They currently are down as TBA. I know it was rumoured a few weeks ago that Waking The Dead would take those slots after Silent Witness ends, but there's no sign of WTD on the BBC Press Office and recently Trevor Eve has been saying that it's due to return in the Spring. A Monday slot for Outcasts would be great due to the relatively weak competition (particularly in terms of drama).
Sundays would be okay-ish but I dunno if the BBC would want it to air at the same time as Being Human, and also WaH/DOI is quite tough opposition (even if they do possibly appeal to different audiences). Also, as someone pointed out yesterday, the BBC will be airing the BAFTAs and South Riding on Sundays quite soon which makes it more unlikely Outcasts will air there. On Wednesdays, ITV will be showing a lot of football matches including Champions League stuff like Barca v Arsenal which is bound to rate well and could knock Outcasts down a bit. So I think Mondays would be best.”
“How about Monday or Tuesday? They currently are down as TBA. I know it was rumoured a few weeks ago that Waking The Dead would take those slots after Silent Witness ends, but there's no sign of WTD on the BBC Press Office and recently Trevor Eve has been saying that it's due to return in the Spring. A Monday slot for Outcasts would be great due to the relatively weak competition (particularly in terms of drama).
Sundays would be okay-ish but I dunno if the BBC would want it to air at the same time as Being Human, and also WaH/DOI is quite tough opposition (even if they do possibly appeal to different audiences). Also, as someone pointed out yesterday, the BBC will be airing the BAFTAs and South Riding on Sundays quite soon which makes it more unlikely Outcasts will air there. On Wednesdays, ITV will be showing a lot of football matches including Champions League stuff like Barca v Arsenal which is bound to rate well and could knock Outcasts down a bit. So I think Mondays would be best.”
Maybe it could air on Mondays and Tuesdays?
With all this talk about demo's I have a question;
What does it matter as long as a show brings in good ratings?
What does it matter as long as a show brings in good ratings?
Originally Posted by GeorgeS:
“Robbie, good ratings are for life not just Christmas”
“Robbie, good ratings are for life not just Christmas
”
I have no doubt that if Upstairs Downstairs went out next January on Sundays at 8pm, it would have no trouble matching, if not bettering, Lark Rise's ratings.
Originally Posted by rzt:
“How about Monday or Tuesday? They currently are down as TBA. I know it was rumoured a few weeks ago that Waking The Dead would take those slots after Silent Witness ends, but there's no sign of WTD on the BBC Press Office and recently Trevor Eve has been saying that it's due to return in the Spring. A Monday slot for Outcasts would be great due to the relatively weak competition (particularly in terms of drama).
”
“How about Monday or Tuesday? They currently are down as TBA. I know it was rumoured a few weeks ago that Waking The Dead would take those slots after Silent Witness ends, but there's no sign of WTD on the BBC Press Office and recently Trevor Eve has been saying that it's due to return in the Spring. A Monday slot for Outcasts would be great due to the relatively weak competition (particularly in terms of drama).
”
Tuesday night seems to be the natural home for BBC1's prententious crap; Survivors, Paradox, Mistresses (not series 3 cos it lost Tuesdays to..), The Deep, Luther.
Outcasts has up-its-own-arse flop written all over it.
Originally Posted by andrew89:
“With all this talk about demo's I have a question;
What does it matter as long as a show brings in good ratings?”
“With all this talk about demo's I have a question;
What does it matter as long as a show brings in good ratings?”
Doesn't really matter for BBC... well it does but not as much as ITV. A 6m show with 2m 16 to 54 is more valuable than a 6m with only 0.5m 16 to 54's.
Originally Posted by sn_22:
“Interesting to see that Gypsy Weddings skewing quite upmarket - more so than anything else on besides Silent Witness and HIGNFY.
Taggart's age profile is terrible. As if the sub-3m ratings weren't enough.”
“Interesting to see that Gypsy Weddings skewing quite upmarket - more so than anything else on besides Silent Witness and HIGNFY.
Taggart's age profile is terrible. As if the sub-3m ratings weren't enough.”
So sad, as at one stage Taggart had 18 million viewers and was watched across all age groups. If people watched this series, they'd actually find the stories excellent.
Of course, if ratings are down on ITV1, then STV should maybe consider flogging the series to Channel 5, where 3 million viewers would be a major ratings coup for them.
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