Just because last years series dropped 20pct, does not automatically mean this year's launch would've been down 20pct if they'd made no changes. In 2010 Britains Got Talent series was 20pct down from 2009, but yet in 2011 the launch rated about the same as 2010 which came off a very strong 2009. For Dancing on Ice in 2010, that series rated 10pct worse than 2009 series which was down from 2008 series. But the 2011 launch rated better than 2010 even though there were hardly any changes in the format or judges. Strictly had a dodgy series in 2009 which rated worse than 2008, but the 2010 launch was its best rating launch to date. Just because there was a big 20pct drop last year for xfactor, you cant just assume there was bound to be a big automatic drop for the launch this year if there wasnt any changes. There were so many different variables and factors in favour of last nights launch compared to 2012, it would have been surprising if there hadnt been some kind of ratings rise. I know people like using American Idol as an example as its ratings have been falling every year but that's just one example. For every American Idol, there are 2 or 3 examples where you could show the ratings for shows which might've dropped a couple seasons in a row and then the launch for the subsequent season still rate in line with previous years. Effectively what youre saying is if XFactor didnt make any changes at all, it would've launched with 6.5million last night - thats a massive exaggeration on the low side. Even in the bad state it was in towards the end of last series, it would never had launched as low as that last night even if theyd done absolutely no changes to the lineup or format or less promotion.

Stepping Out had a peak of 5.3m. But was this at five to 8 when people were waiting for X-Factor? And, did I Love My Country increase because of Stepping Out? And, did Break The Safe limp to a non-reported death? Break The Safe is actually a dull and very nasty little game. Does not belong on Saturday nights at all.

You've been shot down.

I think after the dismal ratings last year, people weren't expecting much from last night. However, given the quite positive response, word-of-mouth and such should help it grow a fair bit.

Surprised not many ratings have been reported yet - it's Sunday morning and you know what we're usually like here.

I think X Factor may be able to crack 9 million without +1 for tonight's edition.

Very sad news. Sir David Frost has died at the age of 74.

Haven't seen it being reported in the news, strangely.

Well it is now on BBC News with a full obituary. He died of a heart attack whilst cruising on the Queen Elizabeth. Very brilliant journalist and interviewer.

And yet you're the one usually saying that once these shows have lost it, they can never get it back. BGT was definitely a big result when it stopped the huge declines from 2010 - that could so easily have been it all over for the show post SuBo had they not been able to slow it down. Although even with an earlier launch time, far better promotion, a heavily hyped ratings war, Simon's return and the introduction of David Walliams, it was still down a bit on 2010.

As I said, I don't think it was ever going to be down 20% this time around. And that's because they have really pushed it this year, aware of what might happen if they didn't. You seem to be trying to discount the rating because they've made changes to the show and scheduling and promoted it well. When that's exactly the job of producers and schedulers so if they've made changes and the ratings go up then it's a job well done, surely?

And again, it's all worth nothing if they can't keep this going until the end of the series. BGT steadied itself after 2010 and since then has held it together. But if we're looking at 7m for a live show in November none of this will matter. But what it does is give this series a chance. Whereas last year launched so badly that the whole series was doomed to be a disaster.

DS report:

It has been confirmed on BBC news thread here http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1884667

Sir David Frost dying the night of the new version of Through The Keyhole.. Now that is creepy.

Why have they missed out Pointless?

So that's:

Stepping Out: 3.54m (20.9%) / 3.66m (21.5%)
The X Factor: 8.78m (40.0%) / 9.20m (41.9%)
Through the Keyhole: 5.14m (26.2%) / 5.38m (27.4%)

The Puppet Game Show just scraping 1m. ... well, not really a surprise.

Through the Keyhole did really well it seems - it's 5.38m (27.8%) with +1 included, not quite 5.5m but it's probably tape-checked.

X Factor at 9.20m (42.1%) with +1 included.

"The average of 8.78m is up 680k on the ninth series launch show but down 2.5m from 2011."

They are talking rubbish again. They are comparing the 8.8m (exc +1) figure to the 11.3m (inc +1) figure. They should have compared it to 2010 if they were to do that - it's 2m down on 2011.

Stepping Out's share of 21pct is alright I suppose. Could've been worse. But you can take off about a million from its ratings for next week, will be down to only 2.5m vs. Scd.

That peak of 5.3m was definitely people tuning in early for TXF.

Surely the lowest CBB figure ever with an abysmal 1.37milion?

So far, it bodes well for Strictly Come Dancing and Atlantis.

So not great for Stepping Out now we have the actual figure, but did it increase through its run? And does that mean anything anyway as more people are likely to switch on the TV by the time you go from 6.30 to 8?

Bit worrying that Your Face Sounds Familiar had similar figures in the depths of summer on some extremely hot days, admittedly against lesser (I think?) competition. No point changing that next year though as a singing show into a singing show would be insane...

And yet, still a really solid line-up there. Even if Stepping Out burns off next week, if Keyhole can hold up that's a better X Factor Saturday than many they've had..

That's not awful for Stepping Out. The share is pretty good actually, but the audience is low. Starting at 6.30pm won't have helped. Overall though a solid night for ITV, against a poor one for BBC1.

1 million for the puppets!

That Puppet Game Show is clearly going for dubious records with that dreadful figure. Casualty looking at a lean Autumn if that is a sign of things to come. And as expected for MM.
Very poor for BBC1 really.Clearly Strictly and Atlantis cannot come quick enough, though Atlantis is an unknown quantity-Beeb bosses don't have the comfort of Merlins reliable core audience against XF.

Even Total Wipeout was doing better than the puppets in that early slot.

The BBC tried something new, and it hasn't worked.

These +1-included shares aren't correct - see D.M.N.'s post for the correct ones. You can't add shares from different times together.

Calculation to use (I worked this out when I had the Attentional trial: it seems to be what they do):

Edited--misread post

It's slightly amusing to see some of the attempts at excusing X Factor's ratings... 'but but it launched later! It was advertised for weeks! Returning judge!'. Well yes, these factors were all geared towards a hope of hooking viewers in and it worked. Job done, end of. Though of course the real test will be tonight's installment and the weeks to come.

I do think rating of the night is Through The Keyhole! I don't think anybody could have anticipated that. As already commented though what a tragic coincidence that David Frost died the same night as his former show's relaunch.

So using Through the Keyhole:

5.38 / 5.14 x 26.2% = 27.4%

Yep - I've got the hang of it now.

Still don't know why the Pointless Celebrities rating hasn't been reported (may have been higher than 3.5m though).

Do we have an exc +1 peak for X Factor (with the shares aswell - DS don't seem to bother anymore)?