2.7m for the BBC race package, 0.25m for Sky's.

Did not expect a ten to one trouncing!

How do these compare to Sky's own estimates?

Not too sure, I think DMN probably has the estimates Sky made beforehand. That rating yesterday looks low though, think they would've wanted more than 246k.

Channel 4 inc +1

17.40 - Simpsons Movie - 1.59m
20.00 - Falklands - 1.65m
21.00 - Homeland - 2.46m

I know it was an early race, but then that figure will include those who watched on Sky+ at any point yesterday. So yes they look low to me too.

John Plunkett from Media Guardian seems to have got the Sky F1 figures wrong (he said peak was 455k). Two other sources, including Broadcast's Jake Kanter, say that the Sky Sports F1 coverage actually peaked with 1.0m/22pct.

That's a lot more like it. Maybe John forgot F1 had a dedicated channel and was looking at SS1 figures or something.

Last year's for comparison


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...gs?INTCMP=SRCH

How often do BARB update the panel with numbers who have HD pack and/or SS1 & 2?

Sky did say beforehand they were expecting an average of 1.34m for exclusive races.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...postcount=3472

Actual figures:

Sky F1
04:30 F1: Australian Grand Prix: Pre-Race: 267k (25.4%)
06:00 F1: Australian Grand Prix: Live: 874k (30.9%)
*peak at 7:35am with 1.02m (22.2%).

BBC One
14:00 F1: Australian Grand Prix Highlights: 2.73m (22.9%)
*5 minute peak: 3.28m (26.2%).

Source: Broadcast.

3.2m and 1.0m the respectable peaks then. Down considerably on last few years but nice Sky figure. (posting off phone!)

Do Sky repeat the F1 during the day? Are those figures added in?

Yes and no.

Was just coming in here to say how disappointed Sky would be with the average being below 300k but the actual ratings suggest a very strong performance indeed, albeit slightly below the numbers that Sky were pitching to advertisers.

Nonetheless I think they will be delighted with those figures for a 6am start and even more delighted if a healthy proportion of those watching were new Sky customers. The fact that 267,000 people watched the 90 minute build is a very positive sign - although I think the conclusion of many F1 fans is that Sky's pre and post race coverage will need to improve on yesterday's offering. Broadcast say the average of the whole programme, from 4.30 - 9.00 was 526k (16.68%).

Also delighted to see Homeland continuing to do great business for C4, the series really starts picking up in the next few weeks so it should hold on to those numbers.

Were they pitching a season average or for that particular early start race?

At least Sky have some hard data to work with now. There must be millions of Sky Sports subscribers, like myself, who get the channel by default but have zero interest in F1 and won't watch it.

Tweet from @skymediaupdates

Thats good question, I don't know if I still have the document but I will have a look. I think they had predictions for races based on timings, i.e early morning races, evening races etc.

BBC One
19:00 Countryfile: 6.0m (26.3%)
20:00 Antiques Roadshow: 6.2m (24.7%)
21:00 Upstairs, Downstairs: 4.75m (18.6%)

BBC Two
20:00 The Best of Top Gear: 2.21m (8.8%)
21:00 Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey: 2.57m (10%)

ITV1
15:30 FA Cup Sixth Round: 3.96m
19:00 Dancing on Ice: 6.96m (29.5%); +1: (215k/0.9%)
20:30 Millionaire Mother's Day Special: 5.43m (21.6%); +1: (155k/0.7%)
21:30 Dancing on Ice: 5.76m (22.5%); +1: (237k/1.5%)

Channel 4
17:40 The Simpsons Movie: 1.59m (inc. +1)
20:00 Falklands' Most Daring Raid: 1.57m (8.7%); +1: (212k/0.8%)
21:00 Homeland: 2.11m (8.3%); +1: (351k/2%)

Channel 5
19:45 I, Robot: 922k (3.7%)

5USA (inc. +1)
17:05 NCIS: 302k (1.8%)
18:00 CSI: Miami: 322k (1.7%)
19:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 292k (1.3%)
20:00 CSI: New York: 374k (1.5%)
21:00 CSI: New York: 339k (1.3%)
22:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 255k (1.5%)
23:00 CSI: Miami: 207k (2.3%)
00:00 CSI: New York: 155k (3.4%)

BBC Three
21:00 Being Human: 780k (2.9%)

Dave (inc. +1)
19:30 Man v Food: 329k

E4
22:00 Desperate Housewives: 619k (3.5%); +1: (135k/0.5%)

Film4 (inc. +1)
21:00 Nine to Five: 253k

ITV2
21:00 Benidorm: 700k (2.7%); +1: (186k/1.0%)

More4 (inc. +1)
21:00 River Cottage Spring Collection: 263k

Really
18:00 Don't Tell the Bride: 155k

Sky1
20:00 Don't Stop Me Now: 197k (0.8%)

Yesterday (inc. +1)
20:20 Last of the Summer Wine: 230k

Primetime Shares
ITV1: 22.6% (+1: 0.7%)
BBC One: 21.7%
BBC Two: 9.3%
Channel 4: 5.4% (+1: 1.3%)
Channel 5: 3.9% (+1: 0.2%).

Sources: Digital Spy, Attentional, C4 Sales.

Very rare to see a US import show an increase in ratings these days from its debut episode, am struggling to think the last time this happened? Glee?

So presumably Hill's not signing a multi-million pound deal with Channel 4 then. A lucky escape for them I feel. It'll be interesting to see whether or not ITV have offered him more shows to get him to stay with TV Burp.

Homeland is an all too rare thing these days, a great US import.

Plus with BBC1 increasingly close to collapsing at 9PM with Upstairs, Downtstairs and not much in the way of compelling competition on ITV1 Channel 4 timed the launch of Homeland well. Titanic is the next big challenge.

Let's hope Homeland doesn't get lost in the shuffle next few weeks with Titanic and Silent Witness appearing on the scene. I fear it might.

But so far so good anyway, I've been pleasantly surprised by how well it has held up so far. It just shows what a good show it is that the audience are sticking with it to this extent.

I will believe it, when I see it from another source.

According to Broadcast, last night's Millionaire is the most watched episode for more than 3 years.

Looks like ITV have picked a good time to bring back the "normal" version.

If Tom Watson MP is correct and Rupert Murdoch controls and is aware of what every member of his staff is doing, he should be heartily congratulated for bringing this to our screens.

In reality, I don't suppose he knows a thing about it!!