This is what I'm thinking. A trailer promoting the Disney/animated films on ITV. There are trailing films on ITV2, so I don't see why ITV shouldn't be trailing their films.

They have pleanty of ad breaks to trail plenty of programming.

Exactly, I know the ITV schedule is going to receive very close scrutiny over the next few weeks but at the end of the day it's low priority, they make just enough effort to compete in a few slots and I bet there will be less analysis in the ITV board room come January than there will be here.

"if only they'd shown this and that to build momentum they would only have been way behind BBC1 instead of miles behind BBC1"

As we saw from those 1988 ratings posted a million pages back this afternoon, ITV were way behind at Christmas even in those days when 20 million would usually watch 321 and beat the BBC at other times of year

That is exactly right. It is not a new occurrence, this has been happening for decades.

Sometime between 2 and 3pm I think as I went out not long after. Yes, was a bit surprised to see it.

Which is a fair point except even in ITV's 'big' periods the BBC has generally dominated recently, especially this year. They've been mediocre at best except for the odd bright spot plus the old reliables Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity. ITV used to dominate the run up to Christmas even if the BBC took the season itself; it can't even manage that now.

Even so, putting in some effort at Christmas may impact how well they do in January. If they have low ratings throughout Christmas, who is going to see their January programming trailers? That automatically gives BBC1 a head start in January as they pull in the viewers at Christmas.

Pull in little effrt and an alternative shedule to the BBC, and viewers will not consider ITV worthy of their time. It will likely create a bad vibe around ITV with some viewers.

The fact they've commissioned a Christmas Special of Victoria for next year, suggest they will be putting up a good offering for Christmas Day. Already this years schedule (despite a few weak points) is miles better than Fincham's last two Christmases.

I'd like to think Lygo views Christmas as a point not to 'give-up' as if the BBC will always win, but to respect their audience enough to put out some good programming.

Look what Skyfall did for ITV. Spectre might not do as well, but 6m+ will be garunteed for a Christmas Eve slot.

Thanks. Was it on a trailer on its own? Or was it with other animations?

I think that's a very good point, no one expects ITV to throw the kitchen sink at the schedule but to make at least some effort. I think Christmas Eve on ITV is very strong but the rest of the period is somewhat lacking.

Thanks Well putting in some effort, will only do them well in the long run. If you put no effort in, that only stregthens the number of viewers who choose to watch ITV.

I don't like all this, ITV don't bother because it doesn't make financial sense. Well first and foremost they are a broadcaster. The business should come second, though close second. They have made millions n profit this year. Use it, and build ITV back up to a stronger channel.

And its nice to see you on here after so long. Have you come to join us again for Christmas?

Last year ITV had several original dramas over Christmas. This year they have a Maigret that they held back, a Midsomer they held back and a Grantchester special. They made an effort in places last year but it wasn't appealing. Also with a schedule it's sometimes not what you put on but where you put it. Last year Christmas Eve on ITV was mainly 90 minutes of soap from 7-8.30pm. Lazy but effective. ITV at Christmas like decent ratings without spending too much.

Agree with all you say. I've always been of the belief that ITV are too short-term in their planning and they should invest in more at Christmas and other lean periods which would help them in the long-term. There's often the argument that BBC1 always holds up because they get a bigger "default" audience and that may be true but there is a reason why they have a bigger default audience in the first place.

That being said, I think the BBC's Christmas offerings this year are pretty poor on the whole.


Thanks, i'm glad someone remembers me! I don't really have the time anymore to follow the ratings too closely or keep up with this thread but I'll try and pop my head in now and again.

I think the soaps are up going into Christmas Day compared last year. Might do better on Christmas Day than some think.

I think eastenders will be knocked by the later time slot. It should be up on last year though as the competitions weaker

I can see why they wouldn't want a whole load of classic clips right next to a new episode, though. It would have been a bit of an overload, and it would have run the risk of showing up the new episode.

It's a shame more fans didn't watch. Stan and Hilda together were hugely important to Coronation St. When Stan had to be killed off, although there was some good writing in the immediate aftermath, within weeks Coronation St had been really knocked off its stride because not only had they lost him, they no longer knew what to do with Hilda for the three years she remained. 1985 was a mess and 1986 wasn't any better with the ridiculous pub fire being a particular low point. And EastEnders had come along and made Coronation St look desperately whimsical and old fashioned.

Sounds like you watched the same era as I watched. They weren't doing much with Elsie, by then.

The 9.30pm start wouldn't be a problem if EastEnders was stronger. It's more of a problem for Mrs Brown's Boys that is pushed back to 10.30pm. Could the soaps be up this year?

I wasn't a big Corrie fan but saw an episode here and there and you certainly knew Hilda Ogden. There was a very funny trio of Hilda, Stan and Eddie Yeats as their lodger. As a teenager Corrie didn't appeal to me, EastEnders was like a breath of fresh air and more to my liking. But certain characters just standout. I can just about remember Elsie Tanner and her final scene walking up Coronation Street at night with dialogue of some of her episodes playing over the pictures.

Okay, well I'm catching up on tonight after a night out and boy this thread was alive tonight! I'm a bit wary of disagreeing with someone tonight but here goes...

Sorry Steve, but I disagree. Xmas was the one time I bought the RT and TT but that was 30 years ago. Yes people get their guides, especially from The Sun, but most probably rely on the EPG.

I can't speak for others but I do not check the EPG much, I certainly didn't before I joined this place. I have barely watched ITV since XF, Tenable and IAC ended so trailers will have a limited effect on me. But you do you need to trailer the heck out of new programmes, that's advertising after all.

The same applies to the BBC, now Apprentice and This Week are done for a while, there's nothing on the BBC worth watching that I can think of but maybe a good trailer will make me think otherwise. You've got to go all Don King on a new format to get people through the doors. ITV certainly did that with In Plain Sight and it seems to have worked.

I have never really thought of this but EPGs don't really sell television like papers and magazines, they're just basic listings. New shows like LIS and Dance³ need to go large on Facebook if they want to raise awareness.

Thanks for the 1988 ratings, Ray. I was visiting a house with no telly (sob!) on Christmas night and Boxing night that year, so I had to record all the programmes I wanted to watch, and play them all back in a mammoth TV binge on the 27th.

I couldn't remember how I'd managed to fit them all on one tape, but then I remembered I had two video recorders by that point! I watched a hell of a lot of telly in the 1980s and 1990s!

What's the point watching celebrities try to dance? Or dive or eat bugs or skijump?

Totally agree, the whole intro with Holly and Phillip walking in and then the Irish lilt of Eamon Holmes greets you

I really like This Morning at the moment, whenever I get to watch it the 2 hours fly by.



It's so boring isn't it! A whole evening taken up by ADP and Ash_M1 argueing with Aaron about very little.

I know you're trying to take them up on their inaccuracies Aaron which I respect, but wouldn't it be easier just to ignore them, or maybe even put them on ignore? The more attention they get ultimatley the more they will carry on. I started quoting one of ADP's posts then realised I couldn't be arsed to get into a massive argument. It's just not worth it.

Yes, I bet Elsie had few significant moments in the early 80s. I remember Ken moaning at Albert, Stan and Eddie being slobs, Len scuffling and Ivy nagging. Maybe I only remember bits and I don't really remember that much.

I was pretty pro-BBC in those days because it was such a loser compared to ITV. I guess I take more interest in the channel that's losing the battle.

I was a huge EE fan and so turned against Corrie because, as you say, it was very old fashioned in comparison. I remember the press praising EE for having non-whites, non-Christians, young people in major roles, hard-hitting stories and simply being more like 80s Britain.

This wasn't really true, Corrie was more like most of the UK whereas EE was like bits of England. But toss in Brookie and Corrie and also EF were very dull in comparison. Even the new Crossroads was more dramatic.

It did not last, within a few years EE was seen as depressing and the likes of Percy, Phyllis, Derek and Mavis made Corrie seem more enticing and warm.

You might say EE and Corrie were forerunners to XF and SCD.

Tipping Point is the perfect marrying of a bland format with a bland host. But it works.

Overnights.tv ‏@overnightstv 25s25 seconds ago
#InPlainSight with @martin_compston bowed out with slot-winning 4.2m/ 20.1% @worldprods http://overnights.tv

Good rating for In Plain Sight.

BBC1 (Top 3: 7pm-11.15pm):
BBC News (10pm): 3.91m (23.0%)
Celebrity Mastermind: 3.76m (19.0%)
Watchdog: 3.61m (17.3%)