Originally Posted by sn_22:
“Well I imagine that won't go down too well in some corners - though in ratings terms it won't be too bad.
I feel like it's got the fingerprints of Kevin Lygo all over it. From his interview at Edinburgh and a couple of the big decisions he's taken, he strikes me as rather more ruthless than previous ITV management. On non-priority days like those leading up to New Year, he's not about to spend more than he has to on inevitably lowly rated fare, just to keep up some pretence. More likely likely to bite the bullet, and turn out this line up to get solid audience share for minimum outlay. Going to ruffle some feathers for sure, but it does at least seem like a concerted plan for the channel and I think might do some good to the numbers - which is what he's all about.”
I agree, it seems clear that he's decided not to bother with the usual specials and tat they put out and just go with this. I've no particular issue with it. It's lazy but like you say it'll probably do OK in the ratings (particularly with the 16-34s) and mean they don't have to spend much in what is a pretty dead period for them. Some of the stuff in those slots in previous years has done so badly and they've made a reasonable enough effort on the main days so I can see why they've done it.
Originally Posted by square_eyes:
“Well it's a good way of filling over 11 hours of primetime between Christmas & New Year at what may appear to be lower risk. When you compare it to some of the original drama's put out last year it may be a safer bet ?
Peter & Wendy (1.5m)
Jekyll & Hyde (1.8m)
Harry Price : Ghost Hunter (1.6m)”
Easy to forget just how badly some of those shows did. Looking back, last year from the 27th-31st (the nights of the HP strip) they only broke 3 million outside of the soaps on one night (Wed 30th). HP will definitely get better ratings than the shows did in those slots last year in a quiet period for them. It'll be interesting to see how it goes. Potter repeats have tended to do OK and play particularly well at Christmas. The new movie might help but one every night will feel like overkill to some. If it does alright they might well repeat it in future years (eventually adding the Fantastic Beasts movies to the run).
But the night after the film is on until 10.30pm; adding a Coronation Street would just take the news on Wednesday to 10.40pm.
