Originally Posted by H of De Vil:
“At least launching it before Poldark starts, is not competing with another drama looking to attract a similar audience.
I think Victoria should manage a figure over the 5.8m Maigret got, obviously depending on what BBC1 show at 9pm. But BBC1's strong target skewing schedule on Sunday's will undoubtably play in their favour in this drama battle.
So Cold Feet I think is garunteed a Monday slot, DCI Banks on Friday and Paranoid Wednesday.”
The difference between Maigret and Victoria is that Maigret got the Monday slot whereas Victoria is getting Sunday. Monday is easier as total viewing is higher as people have work the next day and are back in their normal evening routines, whilst Sunday night is part of the weekend. Depending on BBC1's offering I'd agree it's better than launching against Poldark though.
Maigret got a Corrie lead-in whilst Victoria will take an X Factor lead-in. The Sunday XF launch last year got 6.5m (peaking at 7.4m at the end). Not sure what it'll do this year but you'd assume it'd be lower given that it's getting lower each year. I'd guess it'll begin with a 5 but probably still be an above average lead-in. ITV need to get promoting XF with a better trailer than the one they're currently using if they want to get it off the ground. The big Casualty episode will be tough competition for the launch this year.
Last year they launched The Trials of Jimmy Rose in that slot to 4.1m on a fraction of the hype. BBC1's competition (3.2m for Partners in Crime) was probably easier than what Victoria will face (especially if Victoria faces the sitcom season which will be tough) but nonetheless it should definitely launch with more than 5 million, and it'll need to for it to be worth ITV's while and to stand it in good stead against Poldark in week 2.
I'd agree that Cold Feet will get Monday, Paranoid will get Wednesday, The Level Thursday and DCI Banks Friday. I'd be tempted to swap Cold Feet with Paranoid as Cold Feet is guaranteed some sort of audience and that Wednesday slot is tough for a new drama as BBC1 will have a Bake Off enhanced drama there. But I can see why they'd want Cold Feet on Mondays.
Originally Posted by Jonwo:
“I'm guessing they're saving the second Maigret for December. Wonder where Dark Angel will go? I'm guessing that'll slot in either before Cold Feet or on Fridays for two weeks before IAC.”
There are a few places it could slot into. There will be 3 Sundays between Victoria and IAC that it could take 2 of (with Maigret in the other?). More likely though I think is for Tina & Bobby to go on those 3 Sundays with Dark Angel on either Monday or Wednesday either before or after the 8 parters. There's also Tutankhamun and HIM to slot in. HIM will probably get a weeknight. Not sure if the plan is to strip Tutankhamun or run it weekly. I'd run it weekly. As there are 4 episodes it'd have to go on a night where they're running a 6 parter and not an 8 parter. So Thursday or Friday (I'd favour Thursday) based on where I think the other dramas will land.
That leaves Maigret, which I think they'll air at Christmas. They normally have a couple of dramas over Christmas so that could be one of them. They've got hour long specials of Birds of a Feather and Vicious as well. Wonder what they'll run on Christmas Day instead of Downton? I'd imagine it'll be a much weaker offering (the advertisers never liked them "wasting" Downton on Christmas Day, it was Fincham who always pushed the idea and he's now gone) and I don't necessarily think it'll be a drama.
Making things up is a new low Dan. 
