Can we confirm whether that BBC2 F1 figure includes or not the BBC HD simulcast figure? I note TG and James May are expressly stated to do so, but not the F1?

F1 will have surely won the slot easily if BBC HD hasn't been added. Even if it is included, then its a 5.2m dead heat with S&B, and a fantastic performance.

I've just asked the same question - was F1 definitely shown on BBC HD channel? If so, I'll alter the rating. I wasn't sure because the DS article seems to suggest normal programming (ie. Family Guy) was shown.

Yes, it was for sure.

Martin Brundle said so at 9pm after the switch.

OK, I've edited it. It got about 5.9m including HD.

Do we know when BBC1's 8.5m 15-min peak was?

That's really quite an astonishing figure. Presumably it must have been whilst Operastar was on?

That was the 5-minute peak, as Sam Hodges on Twitter mentioned that (and he usually mentions 5-min peaks). Not sure what time exactly it happened though. The figure seems to suggest it happened at a time when 22m people were watching TV, which would mean before 7pm.

Brill. Easy win then for the F1.

With people proving able to switch, perhaps BBC2 will air more Andy Murray in prime time this year without interfering with EastEnders?

Wow, great HD rating for it as well. Must be BBC HD's most watched programme in a long long time. Not bad for a late addition to the schedule.

Impressive stuff. Enough to keep it on the Beeb for a few more years I wonder? Or will its apparent booming popularity just entice greater commercial interest from BSkyB and the like that will ultimately lure it away?

The BBC will most likely only be able to keep one of Six Nations or F1. I think at the moment, F1 would be better for them because the cost is cheaper per hour than Six Nations, it fills up many more hours in the schedules, it pulls up their All-Day shares significantly (which is particularly important to the Beeb), it also generally rates as well if not better than Six Nations games bar the 5 England matches, and ratings for F1 are currently at a ten-year high with loads of interest in the sport. But there'll be intense competition from Sky and ITV for the rights next time, that's for sure.

theres no chance

First, keeping So You Think You Can Dance in the picture () that is the BBC's second live entertainment show, after Strictly Come Dancing. In comparison Popstar to Operastar is behind The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, I'm A Celebrity and Dancing On Ice. So I'd say expectations/requirements are ever so slightly different.

We all said the Results Show was on a hiding for nothing in that stupid slot, and so it's proven. Saying that it should've performed better. As for the main show...I'm going to be cautious to say it's flopping yet. If it drops next week then yes - it's most definitely a flop. I guess, though, considering the lead in and lead out it should have recorded much stronger figures. Not so much ITV's answer to So You Think You Can Dance? but Life of Riley!

(EDIT: This is me thinking it through carefully but not wanting to fully backtrack on my earlier statement )

Some stirring from The Mirror about Daybreak. Not sure I believe it but you never know...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/tv/ne...medium=twitter

Well, the teams are unlikely to agree to a new deal with Bernie (or whoever he sells to) without a commitment to FTA rights, as they all want F1 to get the biggest possible audience. So I can't see Sky getting the rights.

And we know how much "intense interest" ITV had in F1 - they handed the rights back early, and couldn't wait to get the coverage off air in time for Coro St. They would have gone off air last night at 8pm in time for Operastar - with mere highlights at 10.15pm.

Given the amount of sports rights we are led to believe ITV is going to acquire - exclusive Euro2012 coverage, Six Nations etc - you have to wonder where all the cash has come from recently. Not all from Cowell shows, surely?

Perhaps a windfall tax is due on ITV profits?

Brilliant prime time ratings for the F1 yesterday. It's a shame most of the races are on during the daytime, as the few prime time races over the last few years have easily been pulling in similar ratings to the Champions League football on ITV1. In fact even the daytime races always pull in more viewers than daytime football does on ITV1. I think if anyone considers the F1 to still be a niche sport they will need to revise their opinions.

Can't afford to pay £4m to its breakfast flop presenters, but can go it alone on £70m+ Euro2012 rights for 4 weeks and an attempt to steal back the F1....?

I think it ceased to be "niche" many years ago. The ratings were always decent, even when buried within Sunday Grandstand.

Even 20 years ago, a peak audience of 11m watched Mansell win the 1992 British GP.

And Mansell was SPOTY in 1986 and 1992, Damon Hill twice in 1994 and 1996.

that is not completey fair, just because you spend an amount on one show or one timeslot, it doesnt meant it can spend it on another, so its possible they dont see Breakfast as an area they wish to invest alot more money in, due to low returns.

DanccI assume Aussie ratings will be late tonight, due to the public holiday?

Also on the topic of F1, im not sure I approve, its hardly a very socailly responbile sport, it might as well just be a game of who can emmit the most carbon the fastest.

I would suggest doing it on bikes, but ive seen the ratings for that on ITV 4.

Are you sure about that?
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56953

It might just be me, but I dont count the carbon off set schemes as carbon neutral. I am pretty sure the cars are not by themselves carbon neutral.

Also they are wasting alot of petrol at these races.

Yes, we'll get them later than usual. There could also be less data released than normal.

Don't know if it's been mentioned but Five's version of The Bachelor will star Gavin Henson.
That should get it some column inches.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13753762

I had forgetten about that, not sure tis right to use a celebrity, it will only increase the odds the show will attract the wrong type of girl, im sure he wont find love, but yeah I guess coloum inches are possible.

Meanwhile the AI scores are on the way back down again. Thursday's instalment of the ITV breakfast show logged just 62 out of 100. The rest of the week didn't fair much better, all in the 60s range.

http://twitter.com/MediaweekAUS These guys gave a quick update.

Mon TV: MasterChef's biggest audience of the year as
1.90m tune in for Heston Blumenthal's burger & chips

Mon TV Seven #1 22.3%.
MChef 1.9m
7News 1.61m
TT 1.5m
BBT 1.4m
9News 1.31m
H&A 1.26m ARace 1.16m
ACA 1.14m
ABCNews 1.06m
ComeFly 1.05m
about 1 hour ago via web

Where have I been? I didn't even realise they had commissioned this.