Originally Posted by Score:
“There's clearly an issue with BGT as those ratings are not good (well, they are for most shows but not for BGT). I do think the length has something to do with it. 150 mins a night (which is essentially what it is) every night is a big commitment and not one everyone has time to make. 90 mins is much more manageable and the semi finals have noticeably dropped since they expanded. The quality of the show itself and the production isn't a problem, so there are clearly other factors at work.
I stand by what I said yesterday that stripping it isn't benefitting the show anymore. When there was a real buzz about the live shows and everyone was talking about them during 2007-09, they definitely benefitted from airing nightly but now they don't have such a buzz (which is natural as the show has aged) I don't think stripping them helps at all as whilst people are willing to watch a show every night if people are talking about it at work etc each day, when a show isn't coming up in day to day conversation, people are less likely to commit to watching it every night. When it isn't such an event, the sheer quantity of it puts people off and they tend to either dip in and out or not bother at all. ITV need to realise that whilst the show is still capable of huge numbers it is ageing and isn't the event it once was and need to adjust the scheduling accordingly.
A weekly show live on Saturday nights would be fine IMO, and would boost the ratings for the live shows nicely. It'd also allow press coverage for the show to build up over the week and a bit of momentum to build, which just isn't happening with these stripped weeks anymore as people and the media aren't willing to commit to it/give coverage to it every day for a week, whilst weekly it would be more manageable and inviting and each show would be more of an event. The final would probably be boosted to as the show has been timeshifting really well for the auditions, but the stripped nature of the semifinals makes timeshifting it less of an option, and in turn a lot of those viewers simply don't bother with it. A weekly show would allow people to continue to timeshift, so those viewers would then stick with the show, and in turn the final would be boosted as people tend to make more of an effort to watch that live rather than record it, so they'd see bigger figures there too. I think they need to look at doing it next year - it'd boost their Q1 Saturdays no end too and I think the show would massively benefit from it and running it nightly doesn't seem to be working anymore.”
I wouldn't make the shows weekly. Firstly, it'd move the format closer to The X Factor when there really needs to be some differation between the two programmes. Secondly, as Andy says, a final in a few weeks doesn't exactly set the pulses rating - the immediacy is part of the lure. Also, X Factor, Dancing On Ice, Strictly etc. work because there's an ongoing storyline each week with the acts to keep the press and audience intrested. In Britain's Got Talent the stories exist only for a couple of nights, unless you have another SuBo moment. It's lacking momentum at the moment but I think it'd lose more if they switch it to a weekly show.
The performance show tonight has to be up. It has no excuses with weaker opposition (though Planet Earth could equal EastEnders rating considering how it did Sunday) and poorer weather across the country compared to yesterday. The Apprentice will hurt the Results Show and considering it couldn't even manage 8m against a show about hoarders (by the way - new drama on ITV: The Hoarding Midwives) it could be below 6m. The Apprentice could actually benefit from the increased 'reality' audience - I'm half expecting it to at least hold on to last week's figure now.
As well as the late start, it's worth noting the results show doesn't have the same lead in as it had last year; Stape week hooked far more viewers to Coronation Street than this year's quite low key affair.
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