It's certainly an interesting one. I think so long as they're only down by 10-15% (max) then they shouldn't be too worried as they have lost Cowell, but like I said earlier (although without the %) any more than a 15% decline and I agree that alarm bells will be ringing. The ratings for the live shows are mrs important than the auditions but that doesn't mean that the ratings for the auditions aren't important as they are. The comparison with SYTYCD isn't really a good one as that show is down by a massive 32% on it's first 3 weeks last year and by 26% on last year's overall series average. Whilst there was bound to be a decline due to the show moving from January/February to April that level of decline is worrying, particularly as it couldn't really afford to lose too many viewers as last year's numbers weren't that great. BGT does have more breathing room in that respect, but if it does post % declines like SYTYCD then the panic button will definitely be pressed at ITV.

I certainly didn't say it was "unimportant". Obviously they're still important but I expect the auditions to be down quite a bit compared to the last couple of years because I doubt there'll be another SuBo phenomenon or like the first episode off last series, riding off the back of that phenomena. Realistically they can't expect the ratings to keep rising or keeping steady every year, inevitably a decline will begin and I think it'll happen this year. But it's all about making sure that decline is as minimal as possible, however I recognise that the auditions last year did extremely well so I'd understand if the auditions decline more year-on-year than the live shows, which didn't exact set the ratings alight last series and the comparison base is relatively low for the semis.

SYTYCD is completely different in the sense that last year's first three episodes didn't exactly get stellar ratings but it's still down 30% year-on-year which is huge, even accounting for weather. If BGT was down 30% y-o-y, obviously it'd be completely unacceptable, but I'm anticipating something more in the line of -10% or so for the auditions.

I imagine it'll be Sky and ITV again. Have any of the other terrestrials ever bid or is it too expensive?

It'll be interesting if Channel 5 continues with cricket highlights after 2012, they've done a good job with them and they bring in a good audience.

Huh?

It started with 2.8m, rising each week and ended with 4.1m. It was also a massive hit on iPlayer (as figures for March will show when released in the next few days)

Is that not a confirmed hit?

I presume the BBC didn't bid due to budget cuts and then there is the additional issue of UEFA's commercial demands. I am not certain but I imagine they may be out of Channel 5's reach and presumably ITV will be very keen to at least keep with the status quo.

The disease of deliberate underpredicting is spreading.

My award for best deliberate underprediction ever goes to Andy, who predicted that Mamma Mia-[ the highest grossing film ever in the UK] would get in the high 2M's

I hope so. But then I would say that as a proud ESPN subscriber.

I think they're expanding nicely though with the Aviva Premiership, FA Cup and World Rally Championship joining the lineup this season alone.

At the moment ESPN is doing all these things but largely going about its business quite quietly. More people will sit up and take notice if one or two major football contracts go their way, either in the form of a Champions League package, further Premier League package(s), or a mixture of the two.

The industry talk of Channel 5 preparing to bolster its sports lineup looks to have died down now and in the wake of its major acquisition of the Big Brother format I would not expect C5 to be able to afford to bid for this or any other major new sporting contract for the next few years.

Are you sure the BBC Sunday figures rose by 700,000?

The overnight reported on this thread of 2.86m is identical to last year's BARB official of 2.86m.

And of course the BBC's Saturday figure fell approx 32% as detailed on this thread several pages back.

NB. I know all the above are not absolutely precise due to the effect of HD.

I was about to pepper my reply with s but I see D.M.N. quite rightly beat me to it!

Interested to hear why you don't consider it a hit.


ITV obviously think so. They have bigged-up his role in the new Caroline Aherne comedy.

There is a difference between comic vulgarity and plain obnoxiousness. But with those ITV2 ratings, what does it matter...


I can't see the absence of Cowell making an iota of difference. Indeed, his absence may cause some of us to tune in for the first time.

Cowell helps orchestrate the tabloid/social-media frenzy, and gets it the column inches, but I still think millions will tune in simply for the "cute dancing dogs-laugh at the talentless/stupid/fat/ugly/chav" element.

It's one big circus, and the masses will be there irrespective of who the ringmaster is.

Last year's Masters coverage on BBC2 on the Sunday had 3.10m (14.5%) including HD in the overnights: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010...s-billie-piper


So last night's BBC2/HD figure was slightly down year-on-year, although that can be explained by Sky Sports' simulcast taking a few hundred thousand viewers away.

Political Betting article on royal wedding ratings and betting opportunities:

http://www6.politicalbetting.com/ind...-ratings-flop/

are people that stupid? people know full well the show is a Cowell production, the fact he himself isnt on it, wont make them over look the fact his production company will be involved, its the same format as last series, so I see no reason why it would get new viewers.

Thanks rzt.

I think we've probably done this subject to death now but the only other point I would make (ignoring the BBC / Sky split) is that the total Sunday UK TV audience this year was up quite a lot reflecting the McIlroy situation.

Sorry about that - error on my part. The rating I was basing that on was actually for the Saturday coverage last year, as per this MG article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010...or-who-ratings

Sometimes Google doesn't throw up exactly what you are looking for, but it's my fault for not checking the date more carefully.

ESPN was careful not to repeat the mistakes Setanta made before it went bust and it probably helps it's an known brand and it's owned by Disney.

Channel 5 I think will stick with their current sports contracts, they perform well and I think the Europa League they are paying £6m a year which is peanuts compared to what ITV pays for football and the cricket highlights, I wouldn't be surprised if they extend for another three years.

No problem and thanks for your reply!

But will C5 be able to renew it at that price?

The current Europa League contract value looks way out of line with other TV sports contracts and the likelihood must be that next time someone will bid more.

Digiguide has updated for the week beginning Easter Saturday. The big news is that Doctor Who looks set for a 6pm slot (is that its earliest ever start since its revival for a regular series episode?)...

Easter Saturday
BBC1:
17:25 - Don't Scare The Hare
18:00 - Doctor Who
18:45 - SYTYCD?
20:00 - Who Dares Wins
20:50 - SYTYCD? Results
21:20 - Casualty

ITV1:
17:00 - March Of The Dinosaurs
19:00 - Sing If You Can
20:00 - Britain's Got Talent
21:00 - Piers Morgan's Life Stories

Easter Sunday:
- Britain's Royal Weddings continues on BBC1 at 21:00
- United (with David Tennant) on BBC2 at 21:00.

Easter Monday:
- Drama battle at 9pm - Rock & Chips on BBC1 vs The Suspicions Of Mr Whicher on ITV1.
- Giles & Sue's Royal Weddings on BBC2 at 9pm.
- Derren Brown's Faith Healer on Channel 4 at 9pm.

Tuesday 26th:
- MasterChef finals stripped until Thursday.
- When Kate Met William on ITV1 at 9pm.

Friday 29th:
- The Royal Wedding (presumably highlights) runs on BBC1 between 8:30pm-10pm.
- The Million Pound Drop moves to 9pm on C4.

Important to note that this schedule could change once they're confirmed tomorrow, however the Digiguide schedules usually end up right most of the time.

Thanks to Elgin for the above info

Casualty being kept away from BGT which is good. Looks like SYTYCD results might get crushed by BGT though.

The Sun's front page was laughable today, it truly was. One big circus indeed.

I won't be watching. I said last year I was done with the Cowell shows and I meant it. Far too much else on at the minute to bother with another one of these repetitive and long-winded talent shows, where the focus is too much on the judges rather than the judged.

The last BBC1 sitcom to launch in a weeknight 10.35 slot was Outnumbered, which is now pretty much established as a modern-day comedy classic. Someone may be able to provide the figures but I'll wager that even it didn't get up to 4.1m in the officials during that first series.

MBB has hit the ground running. The obvious slot for series 2 is Saturday at 10pm, early enough to increase its viewing figures but late enough for it not to have to water down the material. I imagine something like this would have skewed blokey, so it would probably sit neatly alongside MOTD, another BBC1 late-night ratings hit.

When it was originally bidded, I dont think anyone expected Liverpool in the competition so the price will definetly go up but probably not by much.

Interesting that Rock and Chips is schedule against Mr Whicher, maybe they thought it would do better against a one-off than an established show. I do wonder whether more specials will be ordered because it didn't do so well at Christmas. The Specials for RPG are going to very hard for Dancc to decide on, especially as one of them will be The Royal Wedding.

Any idea of what OK! TV Sunday did?

Thanks

I hope so. The danger is that ITV might drop one of their other sporting contracts and mount a bid for the Europa League, having seen how well the Liverpool games on C5 have faired in recent years compared to some of their own Champions League games. It seems it's as much about the teams as it is the tournament, and Liverpool do not look like making it back into the Champions League any time soon.

But it would be a risky buy for ITV if we take this season as an example. If, as some have said, it's in the contract that you must continue to air the live games on the terrestrial channel regardless of English clubs' involvement, unlike Channel 5 I don't think ITV would be very happy with that situation at all, having to air 5 all-foreign games in primetime on ITV1. It would be okay if they could just stick them out of the way on ITV4 but without this option I am not sure they would be interested.

Therefore Channel 5 is by far the best terrestrial platform for the Europa League right now, as they will at least see the tournament through to the end and give it good coverage throughout regardless. I think Channel 5 would be mad not to try and keep hold of it, even if that means letting the cricket highlights go to do it.

based on the update im guessing we wont have the Doctor Who weekend, some people had predicted, and at least one poster was looking forward to

It's a real shame because, I think if Rock and Chips was on Christams Eve or Boxing Day it could have got 7m+ but the slot and day really harmed it when it comes to the ratings.

I think the ratings of the Easter special will decide if there are any more episodes in the future.