Following on from earlier, story on the BBC website concerning 30 years of BARB...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16671101
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16671101
The Ratings Thread (Part 30)
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Originally Posted by RobbieSykes123:
“Aunties' Bloomers started with massive 19m audiences because of the sheer amount of unseen BBC outtakes that were never released to AOTN - it was almost as if for years folk had been crying out for the BBC version. (Interestingly, I noticed a few BBC clips on the new Xmas episodes of AOTN, with BBC1 having now ditched Bloomers and Outtake TV).
Caught in the Act was a blatant YBF rip-off but dressed up as a quiz format to get round the copycat allegations. Actually, it did have some funny clips IIRC and it was to the best of my knowledge all British, something YBF never was and still isn't.”
“Aunties' Bloomers started with massive 19m audiences because of the sheer amount of unseen BBC outtakes that were never released to AOTN - it was almost as if for years folk had been crying out for the BBC version. (Interestingly, I noticed a few BBC clips on the new Xmas episodes of AOTN, with BBC1 having now ditched Bloomers and Outtake TV).
Caught in the Act was a blatant YBF rip-off but dressed up as a quiz format to get round the copycat allegations. Actually, it did have some funny clips IIRC and it was to the best of my knowledge all British, something YBF never was and still isn't.”
Caught In The Act certainly wasn't all British, in fact they made a selling point of the fact it was an international show by having Richie link up with foreign correspondents and do some teeth-grindingly unfunny banter with them. Of course, that show was a massive hit, it never went under ten million, but never came back because it wasn't the kind of thing you'd do under John Birt. And it got those huge ratings despite absolutely everyone hating it, home video cock-ups were just such a big draw.
The BBC light entertainment department were in a right state in the early nineties, only the Generation Game and Big Break were doing anything, and they were accompanied by dozens of cheap and nasty flops.
A few years back we had BBC outtakes on Alright on the Night and ITV outtakes on Outtake TV. I seem to remember the highest rated Auntie's Bloomers ever being when it was on at 8pm on New Year's Day 1995.
Originally Posted by RobbieSykes123:
“I can only remember BBC1 having comparable success with Casualty, briefly, before it returned to Saturdays. Things like Love Hurts, Dangerfield and also 999 (the dramatised documentary series with Michael Buerk) did well and won their slots there in the early 90s too, but it was generally slim pickings for the BBC - probably not helped by the 9 O Clock News, of course, which meant BBC1 rarely won the 9pm vs 9.30pm battle anyway.”
“I can only remember BBC1 having comparable success with Casualty, briefly, before it returned to Saturdays. Things like Love Hurts, Dangerfield and also 999 (the dramatised documentary series with Michael Buerk) did well and won their slots there in the early 90s too, but it was generally slim pickings for the BBC - probably not helped by the 9 O Clock News, of course, which meant BBC1 rarely won the 9pm vs 9.30pm battle anyway.”
When you look back, the BBC1 9.30 schedule used to be quite regimented in the nineties, with drama on Tuesdays and Fridays, documentaries on Wednesdays and comedy on Thursdays - apart from once a month when they showed Crimewatch. Only very occasionally would they deviate from that. You forget what a big show Love Hurts was in its day.
Originally Posted by Joe40:
“Snooker final overrunning horribly on BBC2 (6 frames in two and a half hours).
Should have been 8 frames this afternoon, and 11 tonight.”
“Snooker final overrunning horribly on BBC2 (6 frames in two and a half hours).
Should have been 8 frames this afternoon, and 11 tonight.”
It underran massively yesterday in any case, both scheduled slots finished early. Good job they don't put MOTD2 on BBC2 on snooker nights anymore, as they used to.
The Masters always used to be a big one for overrunning, I remember back in 2000 it ran about three hours over and they had to do a re-racking, whatever that is. I only remember if because Gimme Some Truth, the Yoko Ono-produced Lennon documentary, was on after it, and David Vine had to say "Gimme Some Truth follows - and the truth is, we've got a great final here!"
Originally Posted by iaindb:
“Of course, YBF used to have studio links with silly gimmicky bits. Harry Hill's method of just showing clips with him narrating out-of-view is a much better way of doing it.”
“Of course, YBF used to have studio links with silly gimmicky bits. Harry Hill's method of just showing clips with him narrating out-of-view is a much better way of doing it.”
In those days there presumably weren't enough clips to fill up a whole half hour. They did two specials before it became a series, of course.
Sky One also did a YBF-esque series, The Secret Video Show with Chris Tarrant, which did a series before You've Been Framed did, although I'm pretty sure that had loads of filler stuff in as well. They did a special version of that on Red Nose Day 1991, with Tarrant making great play of the fact they were the first home video series, but I don't think they did any more after that.
Originally Posted by wizzywick:
“In several of todays papers it has been reported that Simon Cowell is furious at the BBC's supposed launching of The Voice at the same time as BGT. He has declared war on the BBC and accused them of being pathetic and childish. He then goes on to say, almost as if contradicting himself, that he "poached" Alesha Dixon as a way of getting back at the corporation as they are becoming "cocky and smug".
Alesha denied this. She said she not once received a phone call from Cowell. It was through her agent that the job become available.
Now, the BBC have ALWAYS said that The Voice WOULD NOT clash with the X-Factor. It isn't clashing with the X-Factor. They have ALWAYS said it will air in the Spring. It IS airing in the Spring. The only vacant slot due to six nations rugby, Let's Dance etc. is the April-June slots.
It seems Cowell must be worried about The Voice. As are ITV who bid for the rights. I'd say the BBC are aware that The Voice won't get the figures BGT gets, but if it manages to dent the viewing figures for BGT and maintains a healthy 6 - 6.5 million viewers each week, then I reckon The Voice can be deemed a huge success. BGT audience figures, especially with the marmite David Walliams, and actually not particularly popular Alesha Dixon, may not exceed 10 million this year. Interesting times for Cowell indeed.”
“In several of todays papers it has been reported that Simon Cowell is furious at the BBC's supposed launching of The Voice at the same time as BGT. He has declared war on the BBC and accused them of being pathetic and childish. He then goes on to say, almost as if contradicting himself, that he "poached" Alesha Dixon as a way of getting back at the corporation as they are becoming "cocky and smug".
Alesha denied this. She said she not once received a phone call from Cowell. It was through her agent that the job become available.
Now, the BBC have ALWAYS said that The Voice WOULD NOT clash with the X-Factor. It isn't clashing with the X-Factor. They have ALWAYS said it will air in the Spring. It IS airing in the Spring. The only vacant slot due to six nations rugby, Let's Dance etc. is the April-June slots.
It seems Cowell must be worried about The Voice. As are ITV who bid for the rights. I'd say the BBC are aware that The Voice won't get the figures BGT gets, but if it manages to dent the viewing figures for BGT and maintains a healthy 6 - 6.5 million viewers each week, then I reckon The Voice can be deemed a huge success. BGT audience figures, especially with the marmite David Walliams, and actually not particularly popular Alesha Dixon, may not exceed 10 million this year. Interesting times for Cowell indeed.”
Pot, kettle and black, Cowell, perhaps he's rattled that BGT and TXF are losing viewers, Red or Black flopped, TXF USA wasn't such a big success and American Idol has started badly. I never notice him complaining when TXF flattened the competition a couple of years ago, but now his ageing shows are losing viewers he's not happy.
As Bootcamp is The X Factor's dip in figures, I think the Battle Round could be where The Voice sinks or swims. I watched the US version and really enjoyed the audition rounds but lost the will to follow the show at the Battle Round - it was far too long winded and padded out; and it didn't helpthat a couple of acts I liked went out over what I perceived to be weaker acts.
The X Factor damaged itself with this approach in the opening show last year, maybe hoping to steel The Voice's thunder but all it should have done is warn the voice that the British public dislike a loss of say at a head to head stage. If I was the UK producer I'd at the very least make the Battle Round a live public vote stage.
And if I was the BBC I'd schedule the show in the old Stricly slot of around 6.30-8 and keep it out of Britain's Got Talent's range for the time being. If it's a success in the early slot they can think about being more competitive with it the following year.
The X Factor damaged itself with this approach in the opening show last year, maybe hoping to steel The Voice's thunder but all it should have done is warn the voice that the British public dislike a loss of say at a head to head stage. If I was the UK producer I'd at the very least make the Battle Round a live public vote stage.
And if I was the BBC I'd schedule the show in the old Stricly slot of around 6.30-8 and keep it out of Britain's Got Talent's range for the time being. If it's a success in the early slot they can think about being more competitive with it the following year.
Originally Posted by Score:
“ I think when Family Fortunes returns and TV Burp returns with new episodes they should have TV Burp at 7:15pm, ASFF at 7:45pm, TMO at 8:45pm and TJRS at 10pm. TJRS is better suited to 10pm and TMO would be a more appropriate lead-in than ASFF. The main reason for going in that order though is that BBC1 will have Let's Dance at 7/7:15pm and Who Dares Wins/In It To Win It at c8:30pm. Therefore it makes most sense to avoid putting the very young skewing TMO against the young skewing Let's Dance, and instead put the show with larger appeal to older audiences (ASFF) against it, with TMO against the old skewing lottery quiz. Next year they'll have Saturday Night Takeaway back too which will help.
I wonder if they'll consider moving The Jonathan Ross Show to another slot. I wonder how he'd do on a Sunday at 10pm after DOI for instance (and indeed after Downton in the Autumn)? Might be worth trying if his ratings don't perk up much once TTSS ends.”
“ I think when Family Fortunes returns and TV Burp returns with new episodes they should have TV Burp at 7:15pm, ASFF at 7:45pm, TMO at 8:45pm and TJRS at 10pm. TJRS is better suited to 10pm and TMO would be a more appropriate lead-in than ASFF. The main reason for going in that order though is that BBC1 will have Let's Dance at 7/7:15pm and Who Dares Wins/In It To Win It at c8:30pm. Therefore it makes most sense to avoid putting the very young skewing TMO against the young skewing Let's Dance, and instead put the show with larger appeal to older audiences (ASFF) against it, with TMO against the old skewing lottery quiz. Next year they'll have Saturday Night Takeaway back too which will help.
I wonder if they'll consider moving The Jonathan Ross Show to another slot. I wonder how he'd do on a Sunday at 10pm after DOI for instance (and indeed after Downton in the Autumn)? Might be worth trying if his ratings don't perk up much once TTSS ends.”
Yeah, that schedule would make more sense. I think Jonathan Ross is definitely more suitable for the 10pm slot - Sunday would be an interesting idea. I'm not sure he'd rate that much better than on a Saturday night but it'd be worth a try for a couple of episodes to see how it goes.
Just onto a wider point: with TV Burp apparently ending after the upcoming series, the pre-XF slot will be vacant this Autumn. I think it would make most sense to move Take Me Out there - it'd mean two series this year but from next year onwards it would be once a year in the Autumn. I reckon it'd be able to get 5-6m there because it'd have the XF boost and I doubt it has much of an audience crossover with SCD. Then in Q1, they could either reshape the schedule so that DOI is split over the weekend (though I think that's unlikely given how reluctant they have been to do that) or simply stick with a similar Sunday schedule and on Saturdays have ASFF & SNT between 7-9pm and a new show at 9pm, which overall would be better rated than their current Saturday lineup.
I hope if TV Burp ends, ITV can find a decent replacement. Take Me Out sounds like a good idea, but for a fairly cheap and profitable alternative All Star Family Fortunes.
Friday: I'm shocked to see L&O: UK beat Hustle. Who saw that coming? I know I didn't. And 5m inc. +1. It really does work well in the Friday slot. It's been on lots of various nights in the past IIRC...Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday I believe. If they leave it in the Friday slot for the next series (I assume its getting one?!), ITV should be fairly safe. Corrie did very well, and good to see a 9.4m rating for the second episode. Surely we're looking at 10m+ for tomorrows episodes for Becky's Exit. A few months ago I would have thought 11m was possible, but the last few weeks have been low for January so I can't see that happening now.
Saturday: TMO as solid as ever.
at The Talent Show rating of 2m. 2m in the 8pm hour on a Saturday night is totally unacceptable. And then JR's rating is dire too. Something needs to be done. They should have took a gamble with DoI this year and split it over Saturday/Sunday. It's been around the 8m level for several years now so I think it would have been a risk worth taking. Unless they think WaH will totally collapse without it, but I can't see that happening since its been going for quite a long time now.
As for the BARB Top 10 chart. Obviously its a joke. I'll use the unofficial one that D.M.N. posts which is much more accurate. Also good to see they included HD in their chart. I was expecting it to be omitted.
Saturday: TMO as solid as ever.
at The Talent Show rating of 2m. 2m in the 8pm hour on a Saturday night is totally unacceptable. And then JR's rating is dire too. Something needs to be done. They should have took a gamble with DoI this year and split it over Saturday/Sunday. It's been around the 8m level for several years now so I think it would have been a risk worth taking. Unless they think WaH will totally collapse without it, but I can't see that happening since its been going for quite a long time now.As for the BARB Top 10 chart. Obviously its a joke. I'll use the unofficial one that D.M.N. posts which is much more accurate. Also good to see they included HD in their chart. I was expecting it to be omitted.
With regard to ratings, the feminists used to loathe it when Benny Hill topped the ratings in the early 80s. At his peak this comedian could attract 21 million viewers and even at the end of his career, when his material was becoming stale, 12 million people watched his shows. Only Morecambe and Wise did better in the ratings.
Originally Posted by Steve Williams:
“The other thing that's always baffled me about Ross is the order of the guests which is often completely illogical. Last night I note Noel Fielding was last on, which is ludicrous because no viewer, and especially no ITV Saturday night viewer, is watching for him, so they'd just switch off before the end. And that's on a show also featuring Daniel Radcliffe and David Attenborough. The big names go last, surely?”
“The other thing that's always baffled me about Ross is the order of the guests which is often completely illogical. Last night I note Noel Fielding was last on, which is ludicrous because no viewer, and especially no ITV Saturday night viewer, is watching for him, so they'd just switch off before the end. And that's on a show also featuring Daniel Radcliffe and David Attenborough. The big names go last, surely?”
In that situation I would have thought it made more sense to start with a big name (Attenborough) and end with a big name (Radcliffe) with the smaller name that nobody really cares about sandwiched between the two. That way you stop people instantly switching off and give them a reason to stick around until the end. Of course the more preferable route would be not to book the guests nobody wants to watch in the first place.
Originally Posted by Glenn A:
“Any predictions for DOI tonight, I'm going for 8 million.”
“Any predictions for DOI tonight, I'm going for 8 million.”
I can't see it been that high with the extended show tonight. I reckon about 7.5m
Rather shocking mid-winter primetime percentage for ITV1, given that the BBC's offering is nothing more than workmanlike and win by default rather than inspiration.
The Magicians surely will not return, it does not matter how brilliant and skillfull the acts are, magic has lost the power to fill enough people with awe to make an impact on its own. Paul Daniels and David Nixon before were in the right place at the right time.
The Beeb will have to go back to the drawing board. Danny Cohen wanted standout shows (like SCD and hopefully The Voice) all year around on Saturday nights-still has some way to go on quarter one.
Just an afterthought-attended the matinee SCD tour show at the NIA Birmingham today. Someone should sign up Nancy Dell'Olio for something or other-she was comedy gold.
EDIT: There is only one viable slot for Jonathan Ross-Friday nights at 10.35-but he has rather burnt bridges where that is concerned.
The Magicians surely will not return, it does not matter how brilliant and skillfull the acts are, magic has lost the power to fill enough people with awe to make an impact on its own. Paul Daniels and David Nixon before were in the right place at the right time.
The Beeb will have to go back to the drawing board. Danny Cohen wanted standout shows (like SCD and hopefully The Voice) all year around on Saturday nights-still has some way to go on quarter one.
Just an afterthought-attended the matinee SCD tour show at the NIA Birmingham today. Someone should sign up Nancy Dell'Olio for something or other-she was comedy gold.
EDIT: There is only one viable slot for Jonathan Ross-Friday nights at 10.35-but he has rather burnt bridges where that is concerned.
Originally Posted by rzt:
“Yeah, that schedule would make more sense. I think Jonathan Ross is definitely more suitable for the 10pm slot - Sunday would be an interesting idea. I'm not sure he'd rate that much better than on a Saturday night but it'd be worth a try for a couple of episodes to see how it goes.
Just onto a wider point: with TV Burp apparently ending after the upcoming series, the pre-XF slot will be vacant this Autumn. I think it would make most sense to move Take Me Out there - it'd mean two series this year but from next year onwards it would be once a year in the Autumn. I reckon it'd be able to get 5-6m there because it'd have the XF boost and I doubt it has much of an audience crossover with SCD. Then in Q1, they could either reshape the schedule so that DOI is split over the weekend (though I think that's unlikely given how reluctant they have been to do that) or simply stick with a similar Sunday schedule and on Saturdays have ASFF & SNT between 7-9pm and a new show at 9pm, which overall would be better rated than their current Saturday lineup.”
“Yeah, that schedule would make more sense. I think Jonathan Ross is definitely more suitable for the 10pm slot - Sunday would be an interesting idea. I'm not sure he'd rate that much better than on a Saturday night but it'd be worth a try for a couple of episodes to see how it goes.
Just onto a wider point: with TV Burp apparently ending after the upcoming series, the pre-XF slot will be vacant this Autumn. I think it would make most sense to move Take Me Out there - it'd mean two series this year but from next year onwards it would be once a year in the Autumn. I reckon it'd be able to get 5-6m there because it'd have the XF boost and I doubt it has much of an audience crossover with SCD. Then in Q1, they could either reshape the schedule so that DOI is split over the weekend (though I think that's unlikely given how reluctant they have been to do that) or simply stick with a similar Sunday schedule and on Saturdays have ASFF & SNT between 7-9pm and a new show at 9pm, which overall would be better rated than their current Saturday lineup.”
Yeah I think they should do that with TMO too, as i think it'd benefit from the XF lead-out. SNT, ASFF and TJRS (under contract until the end of 2013) would make a solid schedule, and if Keith Lemon's Lemonaid does well in the Spring they may well put that in Q1 to fill TV Burp's slot too. If they were to split DOI they could use it as an opportunity to change things around slightly - SNT at 19:00, DOI at 20:00 and TJRS at 22:00 would do for Saturdays, and Sundays could have ASFF at 19:00, DOI at 20:00 and a new drama at 21:00. That schedule would allow a new drama to benefit from the DOI lead-in (and would allow it to be a post-watershed drama) whilst WAH could go on Wednesdays at 8pm where it'd still have a Corrie lead-in and provide that new drama slot with some good numbers.
On another note, DOI's running times are a bit weird this year. In 2010 and 2011 the shows were generally too long, and the first 2 shows this year were too (2 hours for shows with 7 or 8 contestants is ridiculous). This week's 140 mins is too long (although with 13 contestants maybe it isn't too bad, but next week the show is shortened to just 105 mins with 12 contestants. That actually is pretty short considering last year the same show was 140 mins (and XF normally has 120-135 mins for 12 acts, and SCD's 12 couples show was longer than that last year without any adverts!). Seems odd, but I think it's a good thing if it is a genuine reaction to complaints that it is too long and drawn out.
Originally Posted by Roscoe Barnes:
“I can't see it been that high with the extended show tonight. I reckon about 7.5m”
“I can't see it been that high with the extended show tonight. I reckon about 7.5m”
Still respectable but it's no way DOI will be as big as SCD now.
So, BBC One's Royal Wedding coverage topped the year in 2011. An England football match to top 2012? Or something else?
ITV1 has allowed itself to become so massively dominated by soaps during the week that it's almost become a specialist channel.
This is where their problem lies, they will get the soap audience but little else.
This is where their problem lies, they will get the soap audience but little else.
Originally Posted by Tassium:
“ITV1 has allowed itself to become so massively dominated by soaps during the week that it's almost become a specialist channel.
This is where their problem lies, they will get the soap audience but little else.”
“ITV1 has allowed itself to become so massively dominated by soaps during the week that it's almost become a specialist channel.
This is where their problem lies, they will get the soap audience but little else.”
They seem to have given up on non soap viewers- most men, most ABC1s, kids- in the 7-9 period three nights a week. However, ITV are in a very difficult situation, suppose they cut the soaps back to three episodes a week and what is put in their place fails. Yet the sheer overkill with the soaps is turning away millions of viewers. Also a very bad period in the noughties when their schedules were dominated by soaps and reality shows has turned some viewers off permanently.
Originally Posted by Dancc:
“Why Geordie Shore? Even Geordies hate that show!
I don't think they should waste money trying to revive Taggart. I would rather see the money invested in bolstering their US acquisitions in case one or two of their mainstays were to be cancelled this season, as a couple are at threat. Dallas is a different one for them and I think it will launch big, but they could do with one or two more.”
“Why Geordie Shore? Even Geordies hate that show!
I don't think they should waste money trying to revive Taggart. I would rather see the money invested in bolstering their US acquisitions in case one or two of their mainstays were to be cancelled this season, as a couple are at threat. Dallas is a different one for them and I think it will launch big, but they could do with one or two more.”
Dallas should do well and it's only 10 episodes so there is not much of a commitment. They have the Dallas documentary with John Barrowman (quite a coup to get him IMO) so they must be confident that it'll do well.
Originally Posted by AlexiR:
“I would prefer Five to invest in new drama rather than trying to revive something like Taggart.”
“I would prefer Five to invest in new drama rather than trying to revive something like Taggart.”
I agree, think Taggart is dead and buried, I think if Channel 5 wanted a new drama, it should be a procedural of some sort, I've always thought a Private Investigator series would be a great idea fo them to do as it's procedural but the cases would vary week on week.
Another idea which I mooted before is to do a drama pilot season like what BBC Three did years ago where they have 6 pilot episodes and the best rated and received gets a series order.
Originally Posted by Glenn A:
“Any predictions for DOI tonight, I'm going for 8 million.”
“Any predictions for DOI tonight, I'm going for 8 million.”
Originally Posted by Roscoe Barnes:
“I can't see it been that high with the extended show tonight. I reckon about 7.5m”
“I can't see it been that high with the extended show tonight. I reckon about 7.5m”
Originally Posted by Glenn A:
“Still respectable but it's no way DOI will be as big as SCD now.”
“Still respectable but it's no way DOI will be as big as SCD now.”
Call The Midwife is on tonight so that might dent it. It'll be interesting to see how well Midwife & Birdsong do. Will Midwife go up (unheard for most dramas these days) or down significantly? Can Birdsong deliver Sherlock sized audiences at 9pm?
Originally Posted by cylon6:
“Call The Midwife is on tonight so that might dent it. It'll be interesting to see how well Midwife & Birdsong do. Will Midwife go up (unheard for most dramas these days) or down significantly? Can Birdsong deliver Sherlock sized audiences at 9pm?”
“Call The Midwife is on tonight so that might dent it. It'll be interesting to see how well Midwife & Birdsong do. Will Midwife go up (unheard for most dramas these days) or down significantly? Can Birdsong deliver Sherlock sized audiences at 9pm?”
I would have said UP but that 8 million figure was so massive I have to doubt it. It could though, but only by a few points and so its pretty much best hope is to be 'stable'.
I think Birdsong will be very big myself. 8 millionish I think. Or high 7's at least.
I think DOI will be down further as well.
Originally Posted by RobbieSykes123:
“Yes, it's funny howFriday was such a big rated slot for drama, at least on ITV. Things like Auf Wiedersehen would get 15-16m there in the mid 80s, sometimes winning the whole week.
I can only remember BBC1 having comparable success with Casualty, briefly, before it returned to Saturdays. Things like Love Hurts, Dangerfield and also 999 (the dramatised documentary series with Michael Buerk) did well and won their slots there in the early 90s too, but it was generally slim pickings for the BBC - probably not helped by the 9 O Clock News, of course, which meant BBC1 rarely won the 9pm vs 9.30pm battle anyway.”
“Yes, it's funny howFriday was such a big rated slot for drama, at least on ITV. Things like Auf Wiedersehen would get 15-16m there in the mid 80s, sometimes winning the whole week.
I can only remember BBC1 having comparable success with Casualty, briefly, before it returned to Saturdays. Things like Love Hurts, Dangerfield and also 999 (the dramatised documentary series with Michael Buerk) did well and won their slots there in the early 90s too, but it was generally slim pickings for the BBC - probably not helped by the 9 O Clock News, of course, which meant BBC1 rarely won the 9pm vs 9.30pm battle anyway.”
What sort of viewing figures did Dangerfield get because once Nigel le Vaillant left, ratings seemed to slump, to below 7 million, and I don't recall it being a high rating series? Casualty did reasonably well on Fridays but its popularity seemed to increase, hitting 15m when it moved to Saturdays in 1992. The 9 o'Clock News seemed to really constrain the BBC's post-watershed slots and viewing figures, so it was probably good that it moved to 10pm in 2000. And in general, Fridays were very good for ITV up to a point - with Corrie, The Bill etc. When EastEnders moved to Fridays in August 2001, all of that changed and ITV no longer commanded Friday nights so much. Post-watershed seemed to be very good for ITV, when you had dramas like London's Burning in your ranks (which was doing quite well until Series 10/1997 when it started to falter). ITV tried to copy the success of LB with Steel River Blues and failed, so it shows that, as well as channels copying formats from other shows, it can copy formats from its own previous shows.
On the subject of tonight, not sure about Birdsong. I predicted 5.4m I think, and I think it'll be pipped by WAH with 6.2m. WAH is not really the ratings banker it was 2 or 3 years ago when it was getting 7-8 million very consistently. The drama onslaught on the BBC is really denting the DOI/WAH combination, and moving Corrie and the end of Heartbeat was really the start of the BBC's revival on Sundays, along with the decline of DOI.
Originally Posted by Pizzatheaction:
“So, BBC One's Royal Wedding coverage topped the year in 2011. An England football match to top 2012? Or something else?”
“So, BBC One's Royal Wedding coverage topped the year in 2011. An England football match to top 2012? Or something else?”
A Euro '12 match certainly seems possible although it'll depend how well (or not) England do. We could very well see some pretty spectacularly numbers for the Olympics as well if any British athletes manage to do well (although I don't believe the official ratings will be for individual events). I suppose the dream situation for the BBC would probably be a competitive UK athlete in the 100m final although that really is a dream.
Originally Posted by Glenn A:
“They seem to have given up on non soap viewers- most men, most ABC1s, kids- in the 7-9 period three nights a week. However, ITV are in a very difficult situation, suppose they cut the soaps back to three episodes a week and what is put in their place fails. Yet the sheer overkill with the soaps is turning away millions of viewers. Also a very bad period in the noughties when their schedules were dominated by soaps and reality shows has turned some viewers off permanently.”
“They seem to have given up on non soap viewers- most men, most ABC1s, kids- in the 7-9 period three nights a week. However, ITV are in a very difficult situation, suppose they cut the soaps back to three episodes a week and what is put in their place fails. Yet the sheer overkill with the soaps is turning away millions of viewers. Also a very bad period in the noughties when their schedules were dominated by soaps and reality shows has turned some viewers off permanently.”
Its a difficult balancing act and ITV haven't been particularly skilful at it in recent times. I think it really is going to have to be a slowly and steady reshaping of the schedule rather than all or nothing. Removing one or two soap episodes from the schedule and then sticking with trying new things in the slot for a year. Rolling back the soap domination can't be done overnight unfortunately. I think they could probably do themselves a favour by not having a run of Corrie at 9PM during BGT final week.
Originally Posted by Jonwo:
“I agree, think Taggart is dead and buried, I think if Channel 5 wanted a new drama, it should be a procedural of some sort, I've always thought a Private Investigator series would be a great idea fo them to do as it's procedural but the cases would vary week on week.
Another idea which I mooted before is to do a drama pilot season like what BBC Three did years ago where they have 6 pilot episodes and the best rated and received gets a series order.”
“I agree, think Taggart is dead and buried, I think if Channel 5 wanted a new drama, it should be a procedural of some sort, I've always thought a Private Investigator series would be a great idea fo them to do as it's procedural but the cases would vary week on week.
Another idea which I mooted before is to do a drama pilot season like what BBC Three did years ago where they have 6 pilot episodes and the best rated and received gets a series order.”
A pilot season certainly isn't a bad idea. Nor is experimenting with a couple of one off's or two-parters based on some crime books. God knows there are enough of them out there and it would likely appeal to their current drama fan base. They might even want to look at how much something like CSI: UK would cost them.
Originally Posted by grimshaw:
“I would have said UP but that 8 million figure was so massive I have to doubt it. It could though, but only by a few points and so its pretty much best hope is to be 'stable'.
I think Birdsong will be very big myself. 8 millionish I think. Or high 7's at least.
I think DOI will be down further as well.”
“I would have said UP but that 8 million figure was so massive I have to doubt it. It could though, but only by a few points and so its pretty much best hope is to be 'stable'.
I think Birdsong will be very big myself. 8 millionish I think. Or high 7's at least.
I think DOI will be down further as well.”
I agree; I expect Dancing On Ice to be down into the low 7s with Wild at Heart and The Skate Off in the low 6s. I think Call The Midwife will maintain it's high 7 rating, possibly rising into the low 8s and Birdsong will rate in the high 6's at the very least from the lead in.
Originally Posted by AlexiR:
“A Euro '12 match certainly seems possible although it'll depend how well (or not) England do. We could very well see some pretty spectacularly numbers for the Olympics as well if any British athletes manage to do well (although I don't believe the official ratings will be for individual events). I suppose the dream situation for the BBC would probably be a competitive UK athlete in the 100m final although that really is a dream. ”
“A Euro '12 match certainly seems possible although it'll depend how well (or not) England do. We could very well see some pretty spectacularly numbers for the Olympics as well if any British athletes manage to do well (although I don't believe the official ratings will be for individual events). I suppose the dream situation for the BBC would probably be a competitive UK athlete in the 100m final although that really is a dream. ”
I expect the Olympics to have some fantastic ratings, the opening ceremony could easily get over 15m.
If England do well in Euro 12 then I expect an England game will be the year's most watched event, if not if will be something Olympic related.
Originally Posted by cylon6:
“Call The Midwife is on tonight so that might dent it. It'll be interesting to see how well Midwife & Birdsong do. Will Midwife go up (unheard for most dramas these days) or down significantly? Can Birdsong deliver Sherlock sized audiences at 9pm?”
“Call The Midwife is on tonight so that might dent it. It'll be interesting to see how well Midwife & Birdsong do. Will Midwife go up (unheard for most dramas these days) or down significantly? Can Birdsong deliver Sherlock sized audiences at 9pm?”
Think Midwife might well go up, or certainly not lose many. Miranda Hart going down a storm on Twitter and trending, currently more popular than DOI on zeebox.
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