Apparently not. According to Radio Times website at the moment 9pm is The Bourne Identity Although still early so may change.

ITV are truly bizarre if that is the case as Al Murray, Piers Morgan could both work in that slot. I can definetely see a lot of those decisions changing before it is all confirmed!

I can see The Colour of Money moving to 9pm tomorrow, as remember these schedules will not be confirmed until tomorrow.

Law and Order should do well in that slot, I'm hoping for a 6m+ debut.

I don't know what will air at 9pm, maybe Moving Wallpaper but I though that wasn't due until Q2. Maybe it will be the return of Headcases.

As for Blue Murder, as Zoe said, I can see it taking a Wednesday slot from March, with The Fixer taking the slot after it ends.

Very interesting.

It would also balance the books across the whole week.

Ideally, ITV should be showing:-

- Drama
- Factual
- Comedy
- Entertainment
- Sport

Across the whole weekday 9pm slot, but that's very unrealistic. Come September time, sport will be often weekly, and even more often into early to May 2009.

ITV need comedy running through the year, I feel, on Thursday nights. They have potential as they have one hit in Benidorm, and can generally fill the gap in comedy, as BBC1 are lacking, and Channel 4 don't reach to a family audience.

I still think there needs to be a 9pm slot where there's some entertainment, I've always suggested there be a half an hour show: 'Live at the South Bank', a sophisticated take on Top of the Pops that aims to appeal to everyone without being glossy, and works alongside 'The South Bank Show' sometimes.

Then, perhaps some ITN produced documentaries at 9:30pm on a Friday following that. That's kind of entertainment/factual. Stuff like 'Paul Burrell: What Really Happened' on Channel 4, focusing on celebrity culture and human interest stories.

One night a week for factual should be easy to fill, as travelogues are always good fillers.

I think 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' needs to move away from weekends once and for all, and play out on Tuesday's at 9pm, making the step up from 8pm, where I think it will get 4m minimum. It could run sixteen times a year in that slot, and can act as fillers.

Of course, I'm not taking into account The Bill moving to 9pm, which I disagree with, as I think it's settling into 8pm, and achieving a better audience than it has done in recent years, where it has been 4-4.5m, now achieving over 5m on a regular basis.

But with it at 9pm, perhaps this should happen:-

Thursday
9:00pm The Bill
9:30pm Moving Wallpaper

Friday
9:00pm The Bill
9:30pm Live at the South Bank

Something like that would break up Thursday & Friday quite well, and it might become a unique selling point in ITV's week?

ABC
19:00 ABC News 1,115,000
19:30 The 7.30 Report 1,216,000

Seven
18:00 Seven News 1,657,000
18:30 Seven News Extended - Bushfire Edition 1,731,000
19:00 Today Tonight 1,513,000
19:30 Home and Away 1,141,000
20:00 How I Met Your Mother 963,000
20:30 Desperate Housewives 971,000
21:30 Brothers & Sisters 750,000
22:30 Boston Legal 510,000

Nine
18:00 Nine News 1,462,000
19:00 A Current Affair 1,252,000
19:30 Two and a Half Men 1,240,000
20:00 Customs 1,518,000
20:30 Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities 2,584,000 (peak 2.8m)
21:30 Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities 2,419,000 (peak 2.71m)
22:30 Nine News Special: Bushfire Crisis 1,100,000

Ten
17:00 Ten News at Five 1,200,000
18:30 Neighbours 777,000
19:00 The Biggest Loser 864,000
19:30 So You Think You Can Dance Australia 1,066,000
20:30 Good News Week 760,000
21:30 Dexter 472,000

Superb for Underbelly. The most watched launch of an Australian TV comedy or drama series ever.

Harry Hill's TV Burp? If he's being squeezed out of Saturday by Colour Of Money

I didn't think The Colour of Money would be airing so early. I was expecting it to be 9pm material.

I'm glad Whitechapel held up well.

So ITV move Harry Hill to Friday maybe. Talk about changing a already good format.

I can see The Colour of Money being at 9pm when the schedules are confirmed tomorrow.

I agree, I'm really pleased about Whitechapel too.

Actually this was just idle speculation on my part with no evidence whatsoever to back it up.

It's simply that TV Burp would easily get the better of QI (an annoying clash for me, though, as a big fan of both shows) particularly with a big lead-in from Corrie. Then Harry would provide a strong lead-in to Al Murray.

Going with other people's suggestion of Moving Wallpaper, it seems daft to me that ITV1 should put comedy up against comedy particularly as MW and Al's Happy Hour (and thus Multiple Disorder?) didn't do brilliantly in the ratings.

Do ITV think their comedies might perform better against relatively underperforming BBC1 comedies? Wouldn't MW just boost the ratings for QI?

2008 (until 9/02/08)
9pm Average: 4.19m (17.5%)

Mon: 4.05m (17.1%)
Tue: 4.35m (18.2%)
Wed: 3.96m (15.9%)
Thu: 5.31m (22.7%)
Fri: 3.25m (13.7%)

Monday nights were bad- it started off well with over 6m for Wire in the Blood, but then The Palace came along and fell from low 4's to low 3's. Tuesdays were the 2nd best weekday of the week with Midsomer, Taggart doing well, though it was was brought down by Ladette to Lady.

Wednesday nights were poor with Honest declining to under 4m. Thursdays were ITV's best 9pm weeknights with Trial and Retribution bringing in a steady 5m+ audience. Fridays were appaulling due to Echo Beach and Moving Wallpaper.

2008 (until 09/02/09)
9pm Average: 4.57m (18.9%)

Mon: 6.94m (27.5%)
Tue: 2.70m (11.6%)
Wed: 4.10m (17.3%)
Thu: 3.77m (15.6%)
Fri: 5.37m (22.7%)

2009 ITV1 9pm is up about 0.4m from last year.

The "Monday Night Thrillers" have rated amazingly, averaging nearly 7m. That is a whopping 2.9m and 71% up from last year. Tuesdays have been trash, with the cheap documentaries bringing in less than 3m.

Wednesdays have seen the biggest fluctuations, with football matches pulling in good 5m+ audiences. But some shows, such as Stockwell, have rated poorly with just 1.4m. Thursdays have done quite badly, with documentaries. Fridays have been one of the best, with T and R once again brining in reliable 5m+ audiences.

So, funnily enough last year's weak links of Monday and Friday have been sorted. Monday night, in particular, has been a huge success and has probably single-handedly helped raise ITV's 9pm averages year-on-year.

But last year's best days of Tuesday and Thursdays are now rating appaullingly, well down from last year. At least Champions League football is returning to Tuesdays in a few weeks time and should sort it out. Thursdays is the difficult one - I think it'll be the slot that The Bill will get later in the year. Fridays have done well so far this year with crime drama Trial and Retribution hold up well, though it'll be interesting to see what will replace it in a couple of weeks.

I'll do something similar for BBC1 later

Then watch the longer 45 minute edition of QI on Saturday!

Not seen the ratings for that version posted on here, but would be interesting to see what the combined audience is for both. I certainly do not see the point in watching on BBC one, and if others fell likewise that could be hurting its ratings.

Michael.

2008 (until 9/02/08)
9pm Average: 4.83m (19.9%)

Mon: 5.22m (21.9%)
Tue: 4.86m (19.9%)
Wed: 5.41m (21.6%)
Thu: 4.14m (17.5%)
Fri: 4.59m (19.2%)

Monday nights were the 2nd strongest of the week with various programmes. Tuesdays did well due to Mistresses pulling in consistent ratings of 4.5-5m. Wednesdays was the highest rated 9pm slot of the week, but it actually fluctuated a lot. Some shows got around 4m, but the average was enormously helped by an England match getting over 9m.

Thursdays were the weakest of the week, with shows like Fairy Tales flopping. Fridays rated decently with a variety of shows.

2009 (until 09/02/09)
9pm Average: 4.59m (18.9%)

Mon: 4.76m (18.8%)
Tue: 4.30m (18.1%)
Wed: 3.97m (16.7%)
Thu: 6.03m (24.8%)
Fri: 3.74m (15.7%)

2008 BBC1 9pm is down about 0.2m from same stage last year.

Many different shows have been shown on Monday, and it's held up quite well at 4.8m. Tuesdays ok, while Wednesday dipped below 4m with shows like Secret Life of Elephants. Thursdays are the best of the week with 6m, due to the success of Jonathan Creek and Hustle. Friday's haven't done well at all, nearly a million down from the same stage last year.

BBC1 v ITV1
The 9pm averages so far this year are basically the same for both channels: 4.6m (19%).

ITV sees a nice rise from last year, when it trailed the BBC by 0.4m.

Last year, BBC1 beat ITV1 4 days of the week - ITV's only victory being Thursdays with T&R. This year, ITV have beaten BBC1 3 days of the week.

The problem is, that ITV's averages have sometimes fallen much too low such as Tuesdays (2.7m). BBC1's worst day (Fridays) gets a million better.

So, while ITV1 can get the big figures that Mondays and Fridays show, it is more prone to getting poor figures. The BBC on the other hand is more likely to get reliable, if unspectacular, ratings at 9pm. Considering this is currently BBC1's weakest time of the year at 9pm (looking at the shows that have aired), I can see it extending its lead over ITV1 by quite a bit in the coming few months.


P.S. That is meant to say "2009" in my previous post.

Underbelly did very well last year considering it was not shown in Victoria and there is a third series in the pipeline. Aussie drama is doing really well at the moment with Packed to the Rafters and City Homicide doing 1.4-1.8m.

I think it would be wise to air Blue Murder on Wednesdays as they need something to compete effectively against The Apprentice when it returns unlike last year where ITV1 was beaten due to the poor performance of Rock Rivals.

I saw this on the BBC website at work today and wondered who I would find to be the first person to post this on the thread today.

I wasn't wrong...


I disagree.

The wider interest in preserving a publicly-funded BBC - which doesn't have to pursue ratings to satisfy advertisers, sponsors or subscriptions - is by having BBC1 remain the nation's most popular and most-watched channel. That way, the anachronism that is the licence fee can be better justified.

The solution is simple. The BBC must take on board the Trust's comments and show its children's programming every day at an time when kids are home from school and can see them. I suggest the public interest would be served by having them in a regular slot from 4.30 to 6pm.

On BBC2, that is...



Run that past me again?

Whitechapel loses over a million viewers on the week, and sees its audience drift away further over the hour last night, setting it up for another fall next week, whilst WDYTYA loses a mere 300k on the week and gains viewers over the hour.

And that's the show "faltering slightly"?

Eh?


"...but if it's an ITV1 drama, then a million less will come the week after. And a million less the week after that"


Is Foyle going to turn into Heartbeat, perennially stuck in 1945 between VE Day and VJ Day as a result of the hasty decision to axe the series and show a "final" episode set at the end of the war?


Bloody hell, not another sodding ITV cop show?!

Is this a UK version of the American tripe that runs on cable channels? Can't see it doing very well to be honest, against WDYTYA as well.


I've seen QI XL getting c1.8m in recent weeks, which is an excellent figure and gives it a combined audience of more than 6m, with a further repeat of the 30 min version on BBC2 at 10pm on one night in the week.

I agree that it's stupid scheduling by the Beeb to run an extended version of this and HIGNFY. I never know whether to watch the first edited episode or the fuller version a day later. I'm sure it harms the ratings for the first showing.

Note that on Wed 25 Feb, Sky will have Real Madrid v Liverpool and Chelsea v Juventus in the CL.

Sky Sports may only be available in approx 25% of homes but still that could very seriously dent an FA Cup replay on ITV (which on that night could not feature a big 4 team).

If one of Man Utd or Chelsea's FA Cup ties go to a replay, ITV may try and show it on a different date.

Robbie, I think you're wrong about Whitechapel falling and falling.

I think it's a good drama and something you might enjoy. It doesn't really go with the ITV crime formula, as it has a bit of comedy, and different faces in, (not Robson Green).

For the third episode, Unforgiven rose from the 5.6m to over 6m. And Above Suspicion rose too. That's already two crime dramas.

Also, I think Whitechapel was given 'false' ratings the Monday it began because of the snow. A million or so who watched Whitechapel have probably returned to their non-TV routine.
And, of course, Whitechapel remained with a similar share of the audience, which backs up my point that I don't think it has dramatically fallen because people have lost interest or anything?

So, I disagree. If ITV make something good, and put it in the right place, people will watch.
Your beloved BBC are best at doing that. And the BBC is the nation's favourite channel, I don't think it chases ratings - just look at the whole Strictly Come Dancing thing where it didn't go head-to- head with the X Factor. Everyone knows that when SCD rivals the X Factor, it beats it.

Actually ITV1 moved The X Factor later, out of SCD's way. The previous year ITV1 had deliberately place The X Factor in an earlier slot to try and dent SCD - but forgot about the lead in SCD would have and (unluckily for them) SCD had a strong series, and TXF a weak one.

As for ITV1's upcoming schedule...

Friday works well as a drama night. Repeats of Taggart'd do better there than Al Murray. They only chance they have with comedy is if they move the Harry Hill hour from Saturday to Friday (with TV Burp offering a lead in to You've Been Framed). But Murray and Moving Wallpaper need better slots that the Friday 9pm slot if they are to succeed.

Law and Order looks ok on a Monday night, and with ITV1's reputation restored somewhat in that slot it should at least gain 6m for the opening episode.

Are the FA Cup Replay's really scheduled for that week? Usually they try and avoid Champions League weeks for the simple reason the big 4 would have to miss and mess about with their fixtures. EDIT: Just looked at the FA Cup Round dates, and the sixth round is on March 7th, so there is no where else for the fifth round replays to go. The two rounds are ridiculously close together.

Piers Morgan should do ok with a 7m+ lead in from dancing on Ice, but Sharon Osbourne isn't exactly the hard hitting celebrity needed for an opening show. Couldn't he have kept within the theme of the night and grabbed Torvil and Dean?

On to Saturday's and why isn't Colour of Money given a lead in from Saturday Night Takeaway? Also, is Primeval returning that night and if so, where? Before Colourof Money?

I think Friday will remain a comedy night after the success of Benidorm when it moved to the 9pm slot. I quite like the idea of putting Blue Murder and The Fixer on Wednesdays. It provides a relevant lead in from The Bill and The Fixer cannot justify a second year with a Corrie lead-in.


Their drama's have actually shown a reasonable ability to hold their audiences in that Monday slot. L&O seems to be getting positive feedback but I can't help but feel that ITV's bad luck in drama will hit again and the show that loses viewers faster than the others will be the show that they commissioned for 13 episodes! I hope it does well, though.


Indeed, I would have liked Ant & Dec. They have done a few interviews recently for the papers and while everyone knows about Byker Grove, they had some interesting stories about how their friendship built and some setbacks. They would be a good laugh, appeal to the DOI audience and do the serious bit in terms of the phone in scandals.


I think Primeval might be getting held over until March and run alongside BGT for a while with All Star Mr and Mrs at 6pm, BGT at 7pm and Primeval at 8pm. Primeval would have to start 3 weeks before BGT to be finished before the final.

I'm sure they will change Colour of Money. I suppose they might be thinking of Duel which struggled in a later slot and want COM on earlier, but it would surely benefit from the lead-in?

Benidorm is the only comedy that has been successful in that slot, though. Maybe it could offer one other comedy a lead in (maybe Mumbai Calling in the summer?), but otherwise comedy has been poor for ITV1, simply because BBC1 have comedy at the same time - there's no deviation.

I think The Fixer deserves another shot at Monday 9pm. I know it failed there last time, but with the right promotion and the 'Thriller' brackets ITV1 have over Monday's it should do better.

I'm not sure about Blue Murder on Wednesday's against The Apprentice, I don't think it'd be able to claim the audience it'd grab on Friday nights. I'd argue maybe just air Taggart repeats against it rather than try and fight too hard - don't sacrifice new drama's against it unless it's something with a proven audience (eg. Midsomer Murders)


Fingers crossed for it. One thing that ITV seem to find sustainable are police dramas.



They would've been great, and should be easy to call in. Simon Cowell's another possibility, Jerry Springer of course - big names, had contorversy in their times, and know Piers well.


Maybe they're trying to keep Colour of Money out of the grips of Let's Dance and Casualty, and instead pitting Saturday Night Takeaway against the big hitters. In fairness, Total Wipeout finishes soon I think so early evening should be easier for ITV1 to negotiate. Also, Colour of Money should get a TV Burp lead in which isn't too bad. So thinking about it a bit, maybe it's not such a bad scheduling decision as I first thought.

Thanks about Primeval. ITV1 are going to be strong on Saturday's then. But Sunday's will be weak. Are they ever going to get the weekend's to work together ever again?

I'm not sure about Primeval, it's just a prediction based on current scheduling.

I assume Sundays will end up with the strange combination of Beat The Star, Heartbeat/The Royal and then probably Kingdom at 9pm and possibly even Headcases at 10pm (was that recommissioned?). Depending on what BBC1 serve up, I suppose it could be good for 5m between 7pm and 10pm. But that won't make up for the awful Sunday daytime share.

According to The Sun, Richard and Judy's ratings hit the floor on Monday, to 8,000.

It does look as though Sunday will have the Beat The Star/Heartbeat or The Royal/Kingdom. It might be an idea to put All Star Mr and Mrs in the Sunday slot instead of Beat The Star, as I'd imagine that Mr and Mrs attracts an older demographic than Beat The Star.

As for Friday at 9pm, I don't know what will get that Friday 9pm slot, Moving Wallpaper maybe? Or Headcases?

As for Benidorm, apparently the episodes will all be 1 hour this year. I don't know if that'll work tbh.

I agree. If they really do have to put an entertainment show on a Sunday it should be Mr & Mrs. But an ideal Sunday schedule after DOI would look something like this:

7pm-Heartbeat/The Royal
8pm-Kingdom
9pm-Lewis/Midsomer etc

I also saw about Benidorm being hour long episodes. It could work, but I definetely think it needs the Corrie lead in as it proved last series as the audiences go well together. Other comedies will work better on Thursdays I think, but Benidorm definetely needs to remain on Friday.

It will be interesting to see if they keep Pushing Daisies in the Friday 10pm slot for the enxt 10 weeks...

ITV Media reports:

In The Line of Fire: 2.7m (12%)

Tuesday nights at 9pm don't seem to improve on ITV, and this show was very viewer specific, and I was very surprised it was even shown on ITV1, especially in the 9pm slot. Considering the low budget of the programme, wouldn't it have been more suited to ITV4 with its male demographic.

I'm sure even movie repeats could do better on a Tuesday nights from 8pm-10pm? Maybe ITV should pursue that option as it's trying to cut costs.