A few observations :


Red or Black was the bitter icing on ITV's poisonous cake. Putting it on either side of the X factor was a disastrous move, as I presume most people switched off and decided to go out instead of watching what most consider to be a flop. Not only did it harm X factor's ratings, it probably harmed Jonathan Ross' too, since most people decided to just go to bed after seeing the dismal offering after X factor, or watch MotD.

I think the poor ratings might mean ITV finally realise they've got to be assertive with producers like Simon Cowell and tell him to pack up and leave. Although he still commands a 9m rating, that's certain to go down as the format is exhausting, fast.

ITV need to realise they cannot go on putting the same shows over and over again, and more importantly trusting the same people over and over again. Cowell has far too much power over them. The same thing happened with Julian Fellowes, who became an ITV god. They gave him a blank check, and he duly cashed in with the aptly named "Titanic" and a second series of Downtown Abbey that had Fellowes laughing all the way to the bank. Now they have let Cowell destroy any creativity that was still on the network, instead replacing it with his content.

Er... it's still the middle of August? It's itv that have decided that autumn starts now. And yes, the BBC are guilty of showing a film repeat but they also launched new runs of Total Wipeout and Casualty last night.

And I don't see anyone complaining about itv sticking on endless two hour repeats of Midsummer Murders and Lewis in primetime, as they did last Tuesday, post Olympics.

I would suggest thought that a lot of afternoon BBQ's were on going and that people who went to pub gardens for refreshment perhaps stayed in that location.

Why, if the weather is no effect, did you make this comment the other day: "I see it could be 30c on Saturday. What a shame.. "

A lot of people would have been on their way back from day trips to the coast or sat outside in pub gardens.

A hot weather day will always have an effect on evening viewing numbers.

Not sure these numbers will lure our absent ITVistas out of the bunker.

Shame, as I am missing them...

This is all getting so emotional, just like the old days... BBC vs ITV... Ratings comments WAR!!

In other news... Do we have any beak downs for XF to see if a lower second or first half dragged down the average?? And although ITV must have won the night (be worried if they didn't with XF back), what sort of share did BBC1 get for their stable Saturday (with new material in the form of Casualty, Secret Millionare, and Total Wipeout)

And isn't it funny when the "hot day, people went out" excuse is being played here, but doesn't work for shows like EastEnders??

Really!! Didn't last night's X-Factor get more than the grand finale of The Voice?

R/B did predictably awful.

X Factor did okay I think. We all said it was going to have troubles this year. And thats a decent peak.

Doctor Who/Strictly should also give it a boost in the coming months as Saturday nights become king.

The Voice and BGT also had much better promotion than X Factor. Not sure how ITV went from the great BGT promotions to just dull dross.

Once the weather is better, things will be better; not 'amazing' but better. Least it might shake ITV a bit and get them to make sane rational decisions.

Wonder if Red or Black could be dumped to after Jonathan Ross?

We shall see in the coming weeks, but I do not think The X Factor will fall like The Voice did.


I assume it is the same trust the BBC have in the same viewers each year as Strictly returns as per usual?


The fact is that Simon Cowell helps deliver the strongest non-soap ratings to ITV every year. And Julian Fellowes has creasted the biggest drama hit with worldwide critical acclaim for years. They are going to put trust in the people who deliver these things, even if they don't always get it right.

Low, but I still think X Factor will improve week on week.

It's probably because of the weather. If it's not as warm next week we could be in for higher ratings, I don't think it'll fall like The Voice.

Yes, the BBC did have some new offerings, as they usually do. ITV did decide to launch X-Factor in August, as per usual, but they are not complaining about last nights ratings, I'm sure...


Really? There were many posts in this forum saying "Why haven't ITV given it a go during the Olympics"

The simple fact is, the commercial channels make money by viewing numbers. BBC are not in this position and it is understandable that commercial channels will not invest in new programming no-one would watch during this summer.

I love the fact the BBC air new episodes of Merlin during X-Factor as a genuine alternative for viewers, so they can do it.

Yeah cause The Voice COLLAPSED across the auditions
Wasn't till the Lives were it became a big big problem. Lets not re-write history here.

Anyway next week is the test:
If it rises - good - this will depend on by how much, whether its 'X Factor good' or just 'decent'
If it stays - bad - sign that the overall audience is dropping, can be raised later though.
If it falls - bad - but doubtful.

This year will however be down on last year most likely, as it doesn't get that amazing start to inflate the figures. Which isn't a good thing.

Terrible for X Factor. I suspect it will be a very bad series. Nicole, I have no personalty so just call me Miss Dull As Dishwater, is not going to bring in new viewers. Big mistake having her on the panel. Then there is the small matter of Doctor Who going head to head with the X Factor live shows and of course Strictly Come Dancing's return. There are rumours Strictly has signed up at least two of Team GB's Olympics medal winners. X Factor 2012 is doomed.

Well there was 3 BBQ's out of 5 houses near me last night between 6 and 10 so...

But the share is pretty meh for XF if it had got 8 mill but a 45% share then maybe you could put it down to the weather etc but i guess it won't be until the officals come in that we can see if people avoided it or just recorded it

It's a low launch but it'll improve. Most people watch the live shows anyway, I think the general public are starting to catch on how manipulated and fake the auditions are (not that the live shows aren't mind you).

Red or Black = Flop. Glad to see it do badly as it's glorified gambling sponsored by loan sharks.

Wasn't it like that back in 2009, when the launch was lower than that in 2008, but still managed to pick itself up?

Was it still the highest rated show on television last night? If so then it shouldn't be a problem.

I personally am not trying to create an ITV vs BBC thing here. I think both channels compliment each other well throughout the weekends in Autumn and Winter. We are lucky to have the BBC and a large commercial channel offering new alternatives throughout the cold weekends.

BBC:
Merlin, Doctor Who, Strictly, Casualty, Lottery Shows, Total Wipeout and various new drama.
ITV:
New YBF, The X Factor, The Cube, The Chase, Downton Abbey and various new drama.

Though I have loved the Olympic coverage of the past few weeks, and kudos to the BBC for getting it spot on, I am looking forward to the new drama line-ups on both the BBC and ITV this Autumn/Winter.

It won't go below 5m, but only because of the media frenzy. Cowell still has the big papers on his side to pipe up X factor, the Beeb doesn't. The reason the Voice flopped was because the latter stages were similar to X factor.




You seem to have mistaken me for a BBC fanboy. Strictly should have ended 4 years ago. Total Wipeout should never have been comissioned. Embarrassing TV. But they wanted to "compete" with ITV for "Jeremy Kyle contestant" type of viewers...



Fellowes lost any credibility with Titanic. Ditto for Cowell with RoB. They are living off past glories now...

I read in the news that they are getting some of the Olympians (Mo Farah is one of them) to be mentors. Maybe that could have some impact on the ratings for XF?

Yes, but The X-Factor always seems to rise across the live shows with a high rating final. Surely, this is where their format has a winning formula throughout while The Voice is lacking.

What the hell would Mo Farah have to say to a bunch of nobodies who want to be singers?

God they really are desperate if that's true. Hopefully Mo tells them where to stick it.

Throughout the UK??

Only in the South East really. Parts of East Midlands at a push.

Some will be desperate to cling on to these figures simply because they hate X Factor / Cowell / ITV.

I'd bet my house on it that the show will rise, and when we get into the live shows will be back to normal, continuing to rise to the final.

Doesn't The Cube get around 3-4 million nowadays, and why doesn't that get criticised?

Perhaps you should wait a couple of weeks for the real Autumn Saturday schedule to kick in. And to coin your words But lets not let that get in the way of another BBC bashing!!