I think that's a fair comment. It gets discussed because it used to be such a juggernaut, but it obviously isn't any more (and hasn't been for at least a couple of years) so there isn't much more to say. The numbers aren't down much from last year, when the exact same discussions were taking place.

You just shut down the whole thread with this post - one of the best posts I've ever seen here.

See my post further above. I have done just that.

That would kill Ninja. It's best spot is the Total Wipeout slot feeding in to the Voice probably.
Yes TP should be swapped with MTP which would increase MTP ratings a bit.

ITV has no reason to panic. It won't have to face GBBO next year so can sacridice Mr and Mrs against SCD next year. They've got a strong schedule early next year against not a lot.

You know I watched the x factor live last night, first time god knows how long, to me it just all felt a little flat, even when the contestants were singing it all seemed a little erm flat.
I used to love thd x factor years ago. It was exciting tv, but now since its been on for years it just feels all samey samey, maybe thats why people dont watch it as much.... just look at the soaps for example. Does anyone know shat I mean or does it sound abit silly?

No Dan - you are a big part of the problem. You yourself turn this thread into a circus on your mission to defend Simon Cowell and his TV shows. If you didn't go around with your head up Cowell's arse, there would not be such a dislike/scrutiny towards X Factor. You constantly replying to negative posts creates more of a talking point.

Its the same discussions every week nevermind last year !!

Take Me Out gets 3m viewers. Sometimes 2.8m and it isn't up against SCD.

It's clear why. They have their chosen one (Matt Terry) and didn't want to put anyone through who could feasibly challenge him. So they wasted time building up acts that they knew were not going to get through while giving minimal airtime to the likes of Ryan and Freddie who actually needed to build up a base for the live shows. The boys have had it particularly bad because they've been fishing in the same pool as Matt for votes.

It's like the Louisa Johnson show all over again. We saw what that did to the ratings last year and they've done it again.

You picked a bad week to tune into The X Factor - it was a flat show compared to the first two weeks IMO. Can't help wondering if they're more focused on Halloween so let this one drift by.

In my opinion, the host is as important as the format and the slot. Holly, Phil and the rest of the ITV2 brigade don't cut it for me on prime time. In the 80/90s you had genial entertainers as presenters now just vacuous non entities.

So you're suggesting I shouldn't bother correcting people's inaccuracies? It's their fault they have agendas, maybe if they didn't have their little hate parade going on, I could intelligently discuss with them each week. Fudd, for example, is often very critical but at least his points are thought-out and somewhat reasonable.


Also they can take big comfort that it's top of its genre, up 50% from The Voice's 4m.

There has been loads of talk over the years about the financial side of things, people suggesting certain contracts are loss making. I expect when GBBO starts on Channel 4 that will be a major focus.


What's the point of that though. You show those more established programmes now, get a maximum of about 0.5m extra, and then when easier slots come around in Winter and Spring you've already used up those hit shows, plus you've practically killed them off in the process.

So you'd be leading into The Voice or SNT with new shows, which would be slammed as providing a poor lead in, or depending on where TVUK is scheduled, you may end up airing a Saturday schedule entirely made up of new shows in January, and we've been there before.

That's true, but that in itself is a story. Asking the thread to park XF is like asking the tide to go back. XF has been a constant throughout for more or less the entire life of the thread. Its hard to ignore a show that is so central to press and television in the early 21st century and has made such an impact nationally-and with its creator being such a larger than life character. We have followed its rise, and we are following its fall. The same to a lesser extent with DOI(which hit the ground running, fell and then expired) and ofcourse Bakeoff, whose fortunes will no doubt come under microscopic scrutiny-as will any BBC like replacement.

But ratings is what still brings posters here.

Exactly. All this let's leave XF alone as it still gets 6 million viewers is nonsense.

When it was in its pomp those same posters couldn't stop talking about how great it was yet now we should leave it alone.

Although it's not got the ratings it's still a big ITV show so talking about it is justified.

They don't have a "hate parade", last week you jumped on people who criticised X Factor who weren't even regular posters. The fact of the matter is that you have an agenda.

You can't intelligently discuss things because you'll never change your opinion. You totally glossed over today's disappointing rating and went off on one about Pointless! Anything you don't like you ignore.

You also lead a hate campaign against The Voice. So nobody can criticise X Factor, but you can criticise The Voice?

I accept this comment but still feel that the discussion is excessive. I don't feel like the story of TXF decline is currently moving at any real pace. Nothing has changed in the last few weeks but the discussion is still excessive and usually just the same points being repeated week after week. That's the point I'm making.

This comment gets trotted out so often. Last year it was- "XF will definitely get axed in 2016, they're gonna replace it with the Voice which rates millions upon millions higher!" - and look how that turned out. I bet ITV are relieved they didn't do that.

Even in 2013, when the show was pulling in 9m for results shows, people were saying "oh it's definitely gonna be axed in 2016." These sorts of posts happen every renewal year!

[quote=Andy23;84320198]There has been loads of talk over the years about the financial side of things, people suggesting certain contracts are loss making. I expect when GBBO starts on Channel 4 that will be a major focus.



What's the point of that though. You show those more established programmes now, get a maximum of about 0.5m extra, and then when easier slots come around in Winter and Spring you've already used up those hit shows, plus you've practically killed them off in the process.

So you'd be leading into The Voice or SNT with new shows, which would be slammed as providing a poor lead in, or depending on where TVUK is scheduled, you may end up airing a Saturday schedule entirely made up of new shows in January, and we've been there before.[/QUOTE]

Well the present situation clearly isn't working, or can you see success in 1.9m for Meet The Parents. Or you think ITV are doing their best? Whatever ITV do schedule wise, you seem to think they can't do any better, and anyone who dare suggests otherwise, has no idea what they are talking about.

BBC manage (bar the default audience) to rate well in various areas of the schedule without having all new shows in January. Each big show gets support, and support from a show they know is it a hit. Now I know it works dfferently on ITV, but the principle is still the same.

The schedule above woud be eight episodes of each Tipping Point, The Chase and NWUK. That doesn't mean none of them can play in January. Pointless manaes to have a series of celebrity virtually all year round.

Why would they be killed off. If they are strong dependable formats, they can recover in January.

Putting new shows against SCD is killing them off straight away. What's the point of making them then?

Youre exactly right, but also more and more ITV are sticking with these shows that pull in so few viewers. They don't help themselves.

Meet The Parents had failure written all over it, but ITV must have thought Holly Willoughby would save it, just like Play to the whistle which is also underperforming, but they brought it back.

What you have preferred instead of Meet The Parents last night?

Wossy unusually high. Did they have a big A-list line up last night?

I've been saying this for weeks and used Dawn French as the example of getting it right. Now Holly is good on MTP but I wasn't expecting that.

Sarah Millican or some similar comedienne would have been more interesting. Just imagine the late Caroline Ahearne doing a show like that.

Maybe ITV should just put some family film repeats on against Strictly.