because ad rates are really low in early Jan. March ad rates are much higher despite the viewing figures probably being lower.

BBC One has become the default channel for many so it isn't overly difficult for them to launch anything both pre and post watershed considering how well the likes of University Challenge, The One Show, Mastermind, A Question of Sport and Miranda have performed opposite the soaps - the potential is there.

And if the BBC were that eager to launch something off the back of EastEnders they would've used the 8pm slot on Tuesday instead of clogging it up with Holby City so I have little sympathy with them on that, either.

That's true, but even with the above taken into account, in previous years they've normally had 2 new non-factual/repeat shows in the January Saturday schedules. Last year it was TMO and Primeval, year before it was TMO and Mr & Mrs etc. This year it's only 1 (TMO). Seems a bit odd that they had more new stuff in the summer schedules last year (Odd One In, P&T, Marriage Ref) when ad rates are just as low or even lower compared to at the moment.

Edit: Sorry, forgot about Jonathan Ross. Okay, I guess that works out to 2 new non-factual/repeat programmes which is similar to last year. Still though, that's less new content than their summer schedule, which I find a bit weird.

Most folk have...

The summer schedule is surely going to have less new programming with Euro 2012 to schedule and I reckon they'll air filler against the Olympics...which begs the question why Saturday nights seems so barren now considering they should be saving money over the summer.

Haha .


I imagine during the summer after the Euros, they'll be showing Primeval on Saturdays (basically just burning off what will most likely be its last ever series) and that rumoured Andrew Lloyd Webber vehicle based on Jesus Christ Superstar? So maybe there won't be as much filler as you might have initially thought. But I agree that their Saturday schedule at the moment looks quite barren and could've done with an entertainment show in the 8.30pm slot.

If I was them I'd wait until after the Olympics before airing those shows though; there's no point showing new programming against what'll probably be the ratings event of the year. Though that would mean the late summer should be ok for them but could that result in Jesus Christ Superstar and The X Factor running on the same weekend?

As has been said many, many, many times before, if Holby was moved, Corrie would be taking that 8pm within weeks. Tuesdays would then be severely hampered for BBC1.

Well if it was not for BBC Two tonight i'd be stuffed TV wise. Theirs nothing like a bit of fawlty towers. Classic comedy nights usually do well for BBC Two.

I've said before that I'm surprised ITV haven't taken the risk with Coronation Street with Holby City there anyway. Even if it's hurt by Holby it would do a damnsight better than anything else they've chucked there. It'd benefit the night more than it's benefiting Thursday's where it looks so random and leads to a real inbalance across the week.

And even if Coronation Street does move there without Holby City opposition BBC One could still make something of the night - I said in my reply to Robbie that other shows have performed very well opposite the soaps and they have so it shouldn't particularly hamper BBC One that much.

Think I'll watch The Talent Show Story, sounds interesting.

Considering that Casualty just spent the idea seasons budget on one episode, should they not have not even one promotion, its a rare day when Casualty rivals some of the stunts done for ER during sweeps.

Oh, good, we have a face to put to ITV's entertainment director. Seriously for a second, I bet Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor would not have got to peaks of 19 million had *that* not occurred in 2009. Obviously both have came back down to earth since, but it does make me wonder if both would have been as successfully if that didn't happen.

Was I the only one not watching ITV tonight?

I expect about 55m were not watching ITV tonight!

Although it might not be a hit in the ratings, I like stuff like this.

I miss the likes of 'It shouldn't happen to a TV presenter' etc that ITV used to show, various behind the scenes of TV stuff. There were loads of them and then suddenly there are none.

Don't worry, this thread is even less representative than Twitter.

True enough. It probably helps that modern British comedy is so bad.

It's surprising GOLD isn't rating better given the apparent demand.

im not too worried about the ratings, it just seems odd to leave the thread for 2 hours and return to find the thread almost almost complete agreement about how good an ITV show is. Seems to go against the all laws of Ratings Thread Physics.

I agree - this is one either for people like us ( ) or for people who like a bit of nostalgia.

Pretty good programme, not sure how they will stretch it to 5 episodes though.

Primeval is absolutely filler. Rates terribly and was shown ages ago on pay TV to equally disappointing figures.

on Primeval, whilst true this series is going to flop (I already got the DVD) dont forget ITV are going to air the Canadian series, so they wont want to kill this series completely.

I sort of meant in terms of cost. An episode of Primeval must cost them much more than the usual 'filler' programmes. I agree, it'll rate terribly in the summer - it averaged 3.8m last Winter, so in the summer and viewers who've already seen it taken into account, the next series will probably be around 3m or below.

The laws of Ratings Thread Physics is the more an ITV show is praised the lower the figure it gets in the overnights.

Not really when you look at the posters involved. If it was Robbie/ronant/Chris1964/Georged123 sat round having the same chat, then yes!

Still not convinced Talent Show Story will have done much ratings wise. There's been a lot of clip shows over the festive period and ITV's looks on paper to be a bit too self-indulgent to be a mainstream success. But it had SuBo in it so who knows!

Is Casualty worth checking out on iPlayer? Why was the episode so long?