[RobbieSykes123]

Originally Posted by James J

You are by far my favourite poster on DS.

So insightful, so unbiased and so positive yet realistic in everything you write.

I adore your contributions, thank you so much.

You exist beyond the politics, beyond the bias, beyond the nonsense and serve to be THE definitive voice of this thread, always backing yourself up with accurate figures and thoughtful word and never coming across with a whiff of arrogance. I salute you rzt, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

He's a bit of an ITVista on the quiet...

[mrmattybeck]

Predictions for splash I'm going for about 5.8m I reckon

[Dancc]

Originally Posted by NeilVW

The RAJARs are out a week on Thursday, 31 January(

The TV ratings will be overshadowed that day. I literally cannot wait to see the figures for the new R1 breakfast show. Things are so bad here in Northants with our limited FM choice that even Heart is preferable.

I'd be amazed if there isn't a hefty drop for Grimmy. I have no idea how hefty though. And presumably R1 are expecting a drop of some kind, so it'd be interesting to know what sort of audience they are expecting. I can see there being a lot of spin along the lines of "listener figures are down overall but up amongst younger listeners." It'd be great if the younger listeners shunned it too and it was down on Moyles, but probably won't happen.

[NeilVW]

Originally Posted by Brekkie

You've been busy then!

Perish the thought of so many kids! <shudder>

Originally Posted by James J

Found the synopsis for Christmas Day Ratings Thread episode.

Brilliant. I'd watch

[Andy23]

Originally Posted by Dancc

The TV ratings will be overshadowed that day. I literally cannot wait to see the figures for the new R1 breakfast show. Things are so bad here in Northants with our limited FM choice that even Heart is preferable.

I'd be amazed if there isn't a hefty drop for Grimmy. I have no idea how hefty though. And presumably R1 are expecting a drop of some kind, so it'd be interesting to know what sort of audience they are expecting. I can see there being a lot of spin along the lines of "listener figures are down overall but up amongst younger listeners." It'd be great if the younger listeners shunned it too and it was down on Moyles, but probably won't happen.

I get the feeling they will 'hold up well', mainly because of the lack of choice in many areas. Losing younger listeners is the only thing which won't be able to be spun positively.

It'll be interesting if the papers run negative articles as so far they have been nothing but sycophantic, as of course they all hated Moyles so Grimmy is therefore better by default.

[Charnham]

Originally Posted by Dancc

The TV ratings will be overshadowed that day. I literally cannot wait to see the figures for the new R1 breakfast show. Things are so bad here in Northants with our limited FM choice that even Heart is preferable.

I'd be amazed if there isn't a hefty drop for Grimmy. I have no idea how hefty though. And presumably R1 are expecting a drop of some kind, so it'd be interesting to know what sort of audience they are expecting. I can see there being a lot of spin along the lines of "listener figures are down overall but up amongst younger listeners." It'd be great if the younger listeners shunned it too and it was down on Moyles, but probably won't happen.

I am sure in these modern times, the BBC does know what is going on with its Radio Breakfast shows, be it iPlayer listens / streams, or Twitter, both may not crude (certainly true for Twitter) but they will give the BBC some idea what is going on.

However even if total listeners go down, as long as they dont drop in the target demo the BBC can spin it, infact if the % of listeners in the target demo is up, then the BBC will be able to say that the show is better targeting the demo, something commercial radio station, are more focused on.

[Andy23]

Originally Posted by Charnham

I am sure in these modern times, the BBC does know what is going on with its Radio Breakfast shows, be it iPlayer listens / streams, or Twitter, both may not crude (certainly true for Twitter) but they will give the BBC some idea what is going on.

However even if total listeners go down, as long as they dont drop in the target demo the BBC can spin it, infact if the % of listeners in the target demo is up, then the BBC will be able to say that the show is better targeting the demo, something commercial radio station, are more focused on.

iPlayer listens will definally be down, as there is generally nothing worth listening back to, even if you like the show, most links are only a few mins in and out of songs. If you missed it it wouldn't be a big deal.

[Charnham]

Originally Posted by Andy23

iPlayer listens will definally be down, as there is generally nothing worth listening back to, even if you like the show, most links are only a few mins in and out of songs. If you missed it it wouldn't be a big deal.

that is a good point, the promo material did have "with added music" on it.

[wizzywick]

Originally Posted by Andy23

Are you still using your "critics hated line" even after it was pointed out that at least one critic hates everything. Twitter loved it which is usually your benchmark of success.

Why are people so excited that Great Night Out doesn't seem to be doing well, would they prefer another police drama instead? You can never tell what people here actually do watch and what sort of programmes they actually do like!

I for one am disappointed that Great Night Out hasn't proved successful. I have been waiting for ITV to come up with new drama formats and when they try them they fail. I think the only way for these dramas to get noticed and succeed is to shake up the entire schedules. Yes their soaps perform consistently solidly, but ITV is viewed by most as largely soaps and reality. If you don't like those genres then you are unlikely to tune into the channel to actually watch something that might be appealing to you.

[Andy23]

Animal Antics looks quite similar to the Planet's Funniest Animals.

The difference being that that was a US import ITV used as a filler at 2pm in the afternoon or on ITV2 at 3am, not in prime time.

[NeilVW]

Originally Posted by Andy23

Animal Antics looks quite similar to the Planet's Funniest Animals.

The difference being that that was a US import ITV used as a filler at 2pm in the afternoon or on ITV2 at 3am, not in prime time.

I'm watching the timely Winterwatch-branded special on BBC Two - quite a brainwave by the Beeb to play out a 1963 documentary (presented by Cliff Michelmore and others) about the Big Freeze of that year.

Brits love programmes about the weather, and this is a welcome treat in the schedules - it could beat Tim Brooke-Taylor and Richard Hammond.

EDIT: it was billed in the Radio Times and therefore planned some time ago, so it's good fortune that the show is airing during snowy weather across much of the UK.

[iaindb]

Originally Posted by Andy23

Animal Antics looks quite similar to the Planet's Funniest Animals.

The difference being that that was a US import ITV used as a filler at 2pm in the afternoon or on ITV2 at 3am, not in prime time.

Right slot, wrong channel. I gather it ended up on BBC1 because CBBC and CBeebies had a furious row over who should screen it. They both wanted the other to have it.

[Dancc]

Originally Posted by NeilVW

I'm watching the timely Winterwatch-branded special on BBC Two - quite a brainwave by the Beeb to play out a 1963 documentary (presented by Cliff Michelmore and others) about the Big Freeze of that year.

Brits love programmes about the weather, and this is a welcome treat in the schedules - it could beat Tim Brooke-Taylor and Richard Hammond.

EDIT: it was billed in the Radio Times and therefore planned some time ago, so it's good fortune that the show is airing during snowy weather across much of the UK.

Missed that one. Hope it's on iPlayer, but it might not be if it's one from the archives.

62/63 was an absolutely extraordinary winter for cold I'm told, surpassed only by 46/47. I was alive for neither.

I bet this doc makes all the mayhem caused by our current 5cm look all the more silly!

[AlexiR]

On the subject of Great Night Out I'd suggest the greatest problem it has at this stage might be that its an hour long. I think its much easier to make the case for a repeat run and trying to grow an audience with a 30 minute comedy than an hour long comedy drama. Ultimately what ITV really need on the comedy front is to find a good 30 minute sitcom and then keep plugging away with it. They can grow an audience for that and I'm just not convinced they can for an hour long comedy drama.

In other news any word on how Sky's early hours showing of the Fringe series finale did? Predictably the numbers weren't great in the US.

Originally Posted by jake lyle

Yes that it remains very healthy! Last year against no American Idol the same episode had a 3.5 (Fox had the Finder at 9 after a one hour Idol). So a 3.0 against American idol is pretty decent given that they share a similar skew. Big Bang repeating well is hardly news.

That's some incredible spin. In no way, shape or form is Grey's Anatomy getting a 3 in the demo proof that its still very healthy. Equally that it got beaten by a Big Bang Theory repeat doesn't paint a pretty picture and remember that repeat was also against American Idol and airing in a slot with fewer viewers available. That Grey's can't muster more than a 3 for an original episode is not a good sign regardless of whether it was airing against American Idol.

[Dancc]

Originally Posted by AlexiR

In other news any word on how Sky's early hours showing of the Fringe series finale did? Predictably the numbers weren't great in the US.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...e#post63682021

[NeilVW]

Originally Posted by Dancc

Missed that one. Hope it's on iPlayer, but it might not be if it's one from the archive.

Not sure if it will be available later, but if you go on iPlayer before it finishes at 18:30 you can do a Live Re-Start and go back to the beginning.

[iaindb]

Originally Posted by NeilVW

I'm watching the timely Winterwatch-branded special on BBC Two - quite a brainwave by the Beeb to play out a 1963 documentary (presented by Cliff Michelmore and others) about the Big Freeze of that year.

Brits love programmes about the weather, and this is a welcome treat in the schedules - it could beat Tim Brooke-Taylor and Richard Hammond.

EDIT: it was billed in the Radio Times and therefore planned some time ago, so it's good fortune that the show is airing during snowy weather across much of the UK.

Well-made, gimmick-free documentary with spiffingly posh BBC accents. Love the incidental music. It seems that all black-and-white documentraies used the same composer who just sent them all the same piece of music.

Programme produced by Anthony Jay, the co-writer of Yes, Prime Minister.

[Brekkie]

So potentially a huge number of available viewers tonight - but little on offer from BBC1 and ITV. I guess some of those unwatched Christmas DVDs might get an outing tonight.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-rad...er-been-so-bad

[F1Ken]

Originally Posted by Brekkie

So potentially a huge number of available viewers tonight - but little on offer from BBC1 and ITV. I guess some of those unwatched Christmas DVDs might get an outing tonight.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-rad...er-been-so-bad

Great article there by the Guardian

"It's freezing, everybody is broke – and between the hours of 5:30pm and 8:30pm tomorrow, television will become a terrifying post-apocalyptic wasteland where Splash! is best thing on"

Brilliant! Couldn't have put it better myself.

Ken

[Fudd]

I expected there to be a lack of boost to the shows last night; the episode threads were no greater than normal and, while it's not a great source, they can be used as an indicator of a swerve in ratings. It's a shame for Great Night Out though; I think it's great though it strikes me as a friends version of Friday Night Dinner which went into decline in the second series.

Originally Posted by D.M.N.

Interestingly, I note that Great Night Out last week went from 3.51m (15.7%) live to 4.69m (16.1%) in the officials [inc +1] - a good timeshift. Maybe the slot is completely wrong?

Possibly. Maybe it'll see an uplift after next week once Celebrity Big Brother goes off air? I think it deserves better than it's getting.

[Charnham]

cant argue with that comment from the Guardian either, wish I had a Death in Paradise S1 boxset right now

[Dancc]

Originally Posted by F1Ken

Brilliant! Couldn't have put it better myself.

Ken

To be honest, whilst the article was mildly amusing in places, I'm tempted to upgrade tonight's TV choices if The Grauniad doesn't approve. It's become such a whiny stuffy publication lately. No wonder they are losing readers hand over fist and have to keep upping the cover price every 5 minutes.

No doubt regardless of whatever else might be on, MG's TV highlight for this Saturday, next Saturday and the Saturday after that will be Borgen on BBC4 anyway. I'm shocked other programmes being broadcast have even been acknowledged!

[iaindb]

Originally Posted by Brekkie

So potentially a huge number of available viewers tonight - but little on offer from BBC1 and ITV. I guess some of those unwatched Christmas DVDs might get an outing tonight.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-rad...er-been-so-bad

Wasn't there a time when Blockbusters was screened 6 days a week on ITV (Monday to Saturday)? Something BBC1 and ITV1 should have considered for Pointless or The Chase.

My mum's viewing tonight:
5.30 Wheel Of Fortune (Challenge)
6.00 Play Your Cards Right (Challenge)
6.30 Dad's Army (BBC2)
7.00 You've Been Framed (ITV+1) (Nearly typed ITV1+1 there)
8.00 In It To Win It (BBC1)
8.50 Casualty (BBC1)

Once upon a time Casualty would have been a shoehorn for 14m or more on a night like this. At the very least it should be producing 7m tonight. Under 5m last week was a tut-tut figure.

[iaindb]

Originally Posted by Dancc

To be honest, whilst the article was mildly amusing in places, I'm tempted to upgrade tonight's TV choices if The Grauniad doesn't approve. It's become such a whiny stuffy publication lately. No wonder they are losing readers hand over fist and have to keep upping the cover price every 5 minutes.

No doubt regardless of whatever else might be on, MG's TV highlight for this Saturday, next Saturday and the Saturday after that will be Borgen on BBC4 anyway. I'm shocked other programmes being broadcast have even been acknowledged!

Oh dear, someone's taken offence at the Guardian's dismissive attitude to Channel 5.

Operation Daybreak and an NCIS double-bill not exactly the most inviting of Saturday night line-ups.

[F1Ken]

Originally Posted by Dancc

To be honest, whilst the article was mildly amusing in places, I'm tempted to upgrade tonight's TV choices if The Grauniad doesn't approve. It's become such a whiny stuffy publication lately. No wonder they are losing readers hand over fist and have to keep upping the cover price every 5 minutes.

No doubt regardless of whatever else might be on, MG's TV highlight for this Saturday, next Saturday and the Saturday after that will be Borgen on BBC4 anyway. I'm shocked other programmes being broadcast have even been acknowledged!

I agree. I don't buy the Guardian or any newspaper any more. The journalism in them these days is minimal. Thank god for the BBC News website.

The newspapers haven't got long left. They might have longer if they improved the quality. The Independent is the best now I reckon.

Ken