I don't think ITV are so keen to move CS to Sundays, as ratings are lower and the soap is down on weekdays. It would be more logical to show Endeavour after CS.

ITV have just aired an advertisement of ITV Encore launch date.

I'm really unsure whether this is going to work. Are they going to take the dramas that rate well on ITV3 and move them to ITV Encore? And are they using only ITV dramas or buying in some BBC old ones and US imports?

Itv are airing more 'modern drama' on Itv Encore. So stuff like the 3 part serials like The Widower, maybe Broadchurch will be rerun on Encore rather than Itv3. Itv3 will probably stick to the crime dramas and stuff like Heartbeat. I think Itv Encore will end up canabalising Itv3's ratings.

Yes, Law & Order: UK was on a Sunday in 2013 rather than a Wednesday, but it ran from mid-July to mid-August, one of the lowest-rated periods of the year. Hence the average consolidated total TV audience during its summer run was basically the same (26.0m) as it was for the first six episodes of the recent March/April run (25.9m). The change of day was cancelled out by the change of season, in terms of available audience.

Law & Order 's official average share (inc +1) fell from 22% in summer 2013 to 20% for the first six episodes of the recent series, so its loss of competitiveness suggested by the -8% fall in volume is real, albeit far from catastrophic.

Source: Broadcast magazine.
Note: Broadcast apparently did not put a magazine out on 16 August (at least online) so I have estimated the share for the 4 August episode which rated 5.44m as 21% (total TV audience of 26.0m), based on the other total TV audience figures.

Yes I saw that yesterday and like you dont get Encore at all. At a time when ITV2/3 seem to be struggling to reorganise their content seems odd.

Seems like a pointless move to me as this will new channel will probably split ratings with ITV 3 and use up money that they could use on other programmes. However, I do support the creation of ITV Be, as it will move most of the reality and spin off shows from ITV 2 and make ITV 2 into a real contender as an entertainment channel. ( It might sound odd coming from me, but since ITV 2 has shed some of its more gross reality shows and cut down on the soap repeats, it has become a lot better).

As tempting as it is to declare this another mis-step by ITV (I know I am tempted) I wonder if it is one of those cases where on the ratings surface it makes no sense, but to the bean-counters it looks like a winner. I guess it's all about directing the right demographics to the right content at the right time.

Hello campers! I am back from my hiatus! It is interesting to see the comments on Clarkson on here! I am baffled at how such a non news story became big news! I have been trying to put this into context. And I have come to the conclusion that actually, he is just a bit thoughtless and "human" rather than being a racist. The rhyme he was reciting was something many of us said when we were kids. It becomes embedded into a human psyche. I still inadvertently say it sometimes, albeit to myself. It is difficult to just wipe away from your consciousness things we were taught when we were kids. In honesty, it is a terrible word to use these days (as is everything else in life: one council made the bloke playing Jesus in a passion play wear a high-vis jacket and was told not to "use real nails"), but he didn't call anyone it. He wasn't being racist. But on the other hand for someone who relies on the public broadcaster to provide his livelihood he really should have been a bit more thoughtful. People do actually need to stop being so precious though. If the Queen farted everyone would demand she abdicated. You can not ever stop human beings from being human beings. They have flaws and thoughlessness is one of them.

Well it's only going to be on Sky, so ratings will be poor from this thread's point of view.

In theory the more channels you have, the more chance floating viewers will stop on yours and end up watching one of them, especially on Sky where there are a million channels showing repeats that all seem to survive somehow.

ITV3 already has a reputation for being full of old skewing stuff like Heartbeat so in this case it doesn't need to reposition anywhere.

I have no doubt that ITV Encore can make a bit of money but how is it going to impact ITV3 which has already lost share this year?

Taking the Sky shilling eases the ratings pressure considerably. This is the latest gambit in ITV's attempts to diversify into pay-TV, following ITV3 HD and ITV4 HD being launched behind a paywall (albeit never exclusive to Sky and now on Virgin too).

To be fair Clarkson does seem to have the thoughlessness of about 10 men - but on this I completely agree - it was a non story.

Will a Clarkson on edge of being sacked effect Top Gear if the dare not do anything slightly risky?

If he was sacked he'd end up in a car show on Channels 4 or 5 within 6 months, to half the ratings.

I don't think he should be sacked and I don't think he will be sacked. He's a buffoon. He hasn't been racist to anyone and he hasn't killed anyone. Some people found what he said offensive, but of course those same people have likely offended others in their lifetime - we all have offended and we all have been offended. If he was directing his comments at an individual then he should have been instantly dismissed. It's a "Gordon Brown bigotgate" scenario really. A storm in a teacup that will be forgotten by Friday!

As he said he always assumed he'd be sacked for something he did say rather than something he didn't. I doubt many of the people complaining could recite the PC version of that rhyme without thinking about it first.

The LA Clippers story earlier in the week showed what a true racist really is - and it isn't someone who innocently recites a rhyme from their childhood and realises as he is doing so it's not seen to be as innocent now as it was then.

I to don't think he should be sacked, but he is an idiot. Everyone makes mistakes we're not all perfect. Although I agree with BBC that they should give him one last chance.

Much better episode of BGT tonight. The 2nd to last act in particular was very good.

I predict a drop from last week to around 9.8m inc+1.

Yeah I'm thinking 9.5-10m for BGT tonight, a bit lower than last week.

Was a much better episode than last week's dull affair though.

Amazing Greys will drop to 3.2m inc+1
Prey 1.4m
Americans 0.5m


Does anyone think the rpt of Prey will do more harm than good to the main show as viewers know they can watch it on Saturday instead of Monday? It will either gain mre viewers of spread them out over the week.

So basically some could dismiss any ratings rise on monday beacause of this repeat, whilst some will be able to blame the repeat if it does drop? Can not wait for tuesday moring

ITV didn't bother repeating Law & Order in weeks 1 and 4 so I doubt that anyone will be relying on the Prey repeat.

Prey will drop on Monday. Its breakdown wasnt good, it had a peak of 6.8million watching in the first 10minutes but the audience nosedived after that. The core Itv drama audience wont have enjoyed it too much due to the shaking camera effect [guerilla filmaking] and it was quite gritty including some scenes of violence and stabbing. Shows like Vera and Midsomer murders are an easier watch for those viewers so tend to rate and hold up better.

Have you got its breakdown, can I see a link? If it did drop then I will be interested to see it please. Thanks

I havent got a breakdown on me. But Broadcast says:

Therefore for it to average 5.98million across the hour, it must've dropped quite sharply throughout - probably down to around 5m towards the end.

The Metro is reporting that Graham Norton is the No1 choice of BBC bosses for Strictly, however he is insistent that he is too lazy to do it.