I think BGT was denting the Voice a little last year because BGT would start 20mins before the Voice ended so a few Voice viewers would tune over to BGT. Also because of BGT, the Voice had to start at 7pm which is quite early for spring. I hope BBC schedules the Voice series two launch for 7.45pm/8pm so it can claim that timeslot before BGT returns two weeks afterwards. A 7.45/8pm start is much better than 7pm, and also means clash against Saturday night takeaway is smaller. BGT would then have to start either early at 7pm or late at 9pm to avoid the Voice, neither times are good for a family audience.

Very funny. I'm not one of the nation's perverts, but I do enjoy sport. Maybe C5 should buy the Beach Volleyball. Would fit right in with their sleazy schedule (if we're going along with your mindset).

The argument I put to you last week that C5 is going down is ringing ever truer. I don't know where Desmond is taking the channel, but it's going down the drain. Viewing figures, shares and the lack of quality programming back up my claim.


Poker is a sport. Otherwise, why would Sky show it on Sky Sports?!

As I've said, I think the Bundesliga would be perfect for Sunday afternoon's on C4. Highlights of the Saturday games at teatime on Sat, with the live game around 2.30pm (the first game of Sky Deutschland's 'Doppelpass').

I agree about the smaller sports. They should really go on a Saturday morning, instead of the Everybody Loves Raymond/Frasier repeats. Or take the highlights and make their own Trans World Sport type-show.

I think ITV will just schedule Britain's Got Talent directly against it, using the argument that they're not instigating a clash because Britain's Got Talent has always aired across that time. Going into the series, Britain's Got Talent is in a healthier state than The Voice though things can change very quickly.

It would be no worse than Sundays though surely, and certainly no worse than Easter Sunday which has the usual 4pm kick off.

With ITV's strong Monday night line up I doubt they'd want it in primetime anyway, but late afternoon I'd have thought would be an option, unless there is a 3pm blackout if there is a full league fixture list that day.

Yes, so much has changed in the past week. Hence why you brought up the loss of Europa, something we've known about for 17 months now.

I'm well aware of your opinions by now thank you, but they are irrelevant to me. Just another person that doesn't get the channel. Repeating them to me every 5 minutes is just dull and unconstructive I'm afraid.

I wonder if given the tepid reaction to last years 'the voice uk' whether this year the series will launch as dramatically. Perhaps itv was its natural home. There would have to be significant changes and an uplift in ratings for the bbc to justify a third run but maybe it was all teething problems. Its ratings fall was significant but im not sure a run into summer helps it either. This series will be watched closely as a make or break one

I agree. I think ITV moving BGT earlier last year ironically helped out The Voice massively at the start. It may have a trickier time of it this year without that media frenzy boosting its profile.

I agree with Brekkie - I think it'll come back reasonably well. I'm not expecting the peaks of last year but at the same time it shouldn't see any big drops as viewers know what to expect this year.

I'm not quite sure why they're only having three live shows this year - that seems to suggest a major lack of confidence in that aspect of the format. True it's where the show shed viewers last year but at the same time there were many ways in which that could have been fixed. Slashing the shows seems to be a bit of a cop-out, and still means they'll be getting rid of more than one act each week which doesn't really resolve one of the key complaints last year i.e. that viewers didn't have a chance to get to know the contestants.

ITV will have a bit of time to take a look at The Voice, see how Takeaway stacks up against it and then make a decision regarding scheduling. If the BBC start The Voice at 7.30pm-8pm start then BGT will just go head to head.

Have Sky found another match to replace Southampton v Chelsea? They can't be impressed at losing that match.

I presume there must be a blackout in place between 3pm and 5.15pm due to the Football League schedule. But if I was ITV I'd accept an evening kick off and simply switch the Monday night schedule to Tuesday. The spare Emmerdale can be used to create a Tuesday hour long.

Well this is sad/expected:

NBC has shifted it's struggling series "Smash" to 9pm on Saturdays. Pretty much dead.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...ge-2/#comments

The Voice will miss BGT - mark my words, it created a reason for viewers to tune in for the evening and acres of publicity re the clash. On its own The Voice is just a 2nd rate talent show that will create a collective yawn with the general public.

Actually, you were the first to bring up sports rights mate.

I'm well aware I don't get the channel, and it seems that I'm in the majority. I'd love to know what you see in Channel 5!

Could have been worse. Could have been 2.15am.

Still, a better slot than ITV found for its mega ratings busting FA Cup replay....

I see George has been cock a hoop today about his football ratings. Anyone would think 10m had tuned in, not the sort of numbers the lunchtime regional news gets...

Cowell's 2nd rate talent shows did very well in the ratings for many years though!

Perhaps you should run the news at 9pm then so as it would outrate the content you are putting there currently. The 9 o'clock news has a nice ring to it........

And as for the lunchtime KO for the FA Cup, police were worried that not all the northerners would be out of London by sunset if it started any later

Do we have confirmed Easter schedules now? Sorry if posted, but have largely been away for the past week. Is Creek confirmed and what's it up against?

Only Good Friday schedules confirmed so far. No Creek on Good Friday.

I know you are conflicted by hating both itv and THe Voice. I hope Voice does well enough t o be renewed, thus draining the BBC light entertainment budget for another few years

If it's airing Easter Sunday Creek'll be against Foyle's War, which returns Sunday week for a three episode run. If it airs on Easter Monday, it'll be battling for viewers against Coronation Street/Broadchurch (which will be on episode 5).

I think it'll probably return with around 8 million (Little bit higher than the final ratings, especially if they avoid Takeaway as much as possible for the first week) and then hover/possibly climb throughout the blinds as I would assume they'd give it a Doctor Who lead in? I'm looking forward to it anyway, depsite how many people seem to will it to fail

Either ways its not getting a free run as it will start mid way through a big hitting itv show.

The Ten has a better ring though.

BONG!!

You shouldn't have vacated the slot. The Beeb did the public a great service by meeting the popular desire for a heavyweight news bulletin at 10pm each day.

It's the worst mistake ITV have ever made; even at the time it didn't make sense to me and I was only 11 and had no idea about viewing figures.

I started my ratings obsession when I was nine.

I have a feeling on the night of Voice's launch, Itv will have Simon Cowell on Saturday night takeaway for one of the Undercover pranks and they will trail it a lot during the week before to promote that episode. It wont be good for Simon Cowell's PR once again when/if his appearance on Saturday night takeaway is beaten by the Voice.