I thought the numbers would be OK but they have been better than I expected so far. I thought around 3m for the primetime screenings but actually last night was closer to 4m. Not sure what ITV will have been expecting but I imagine they're pleased so far.


I think The Force Awakens will go to BBC1 with it being a Disney title. They should have Spectre and Jurassic World next year, both of which you'd think could do good numbers. I think Spectre to Christmas Eve or Day with Jurassic World on New Year's Day could be a good shout. Possibly Minions for the Christmas Day 3.10pm slot? Then for Christmas 2018/New Year 2019 they'll have Fantastic Beasts. So a decent pipeline - films have been their biggest successes this Christmas so it'd be worth getting some more titles in, I think.

Oh i forgot about Disney. It's possible BBC1 will screen it to an even bigger audience then. Most likely boxing day.

Depending how strong BBC's schedule is on NYD 2018, JW will do well.

Minions could be the 3:10pm Christmas Day film. At least people will know it's a premiere unlike Despicable Me 2 which was wasted in a Saturday early evening slot, and people just thought it was another showing of the first film probably.

All these huge films should certainly strengthen the schedules over the next couple of years.

Harry Potter is doing very well, and they would be wise to leave it another 12 months until they show it again. There is something very Christmassy about them - at least four of the films actively reference Christmas, and Hogwarts always looks gorgeous in the Snow.

I've no idea about these sorts of things so I'm going to wildly guess...

How much more has BBC1 spent over Xmas on new shows compared to ITV? They've invested in some significant special programmes so my guess is £10m.

What would a 3year deal with Disney cost? £90m? I can't see the BBC Trust being willing to spend a huge sum on imported programming.

These numbers may be way out but if I was Lygo I'd want to splash out on locking up Disney in the same way sky have. Lots of films filling lots of hours to lots of viewers who are the right sort of age group.

Hopefully the BBC would counter this with the sort of British PSB that people desire.

Some Not Going Out ratings, ahead of its return in a few weeks time - most figures dug out from the ratings archive, thanks to NeilVW.

Overnight ratings*
Highest-rated in a series in bold


Consolidated ratings*:



* Some episodes were delayed in parts of the UK; hence the consolidated ratings (which exclude opt-outs) are in some cases lower than the overnights (which include opt-outs)

Apologies if it has already been mentioned, but how did the final episode of Deal or No Deal do on the 23rd? Also any numbers for the final Channel 4 Racing yesterday?

And was Raiders of the Lost Ark a big afternoon draw?

Film rights appear an absolute maze of short term/long term associations with even specific individual films being standalone deals. The Lion King is a case in point-how long did C4 have the rights before they rather wastefully premiered it? Its quite strange. The problem is that film right acquisition doesn't make the news these days, it would be interesting to have some kind of insight into the process from terrestrial and SKY perspective. People say Potter has been away, but hasn't the franchise been on SKY at times? There was a Harry Potter channel at one stage iirc.

With regards to the BBC, the link with Disney goes back well over a decade, in fact almost complete in 21st century terms and I assume the idea has been to provide a raft of children focussed animations for holiday daytime and early evening. With the Disney acquisition over time of Star Wars and Marvel presumably the "price" has gone up, but the argument of BBC acquisition was melded in with issues surrounding Whittingdale and Licence Fee discussions as to whether the BBC should be involved -and I certainly don't think the BBC should be holding back in bidding for major film rights as it is part of a rounded schedule imo.

Found this comparatively ancient snippet from Broadcast:

http://m.broadcastnow.co.uk/1183235.article

That indicates a past dual deal with ITV, but suggests the BBC had an exclusive deal for animations including Toy Story-and it appears to have been the case since. Kevin Lygo though does seem to have a more aggressive attitude towards driving ratings and I guess the premiere Disney tie up would be very tempting (although when the contracts become available is another story).

EDIT: Sorry, although that story is traceable via Google it seems to require sign in to view it when the link is followed. It is from 2001.

Not Going Out has been one of my favourite comedies - shame it's never been that big in the ratings.

Star Wars might be sold under a separate deal like a don and Indiana Jones so TFA may not end on BBC One

I am taking my tree and decs down tomorrow. Because of some rather bad things that happened during previous New Year periods, I can no longer use festive Christmas decs to celebrate the New Year. I have to separate Christmas and New Year.

Christmas is the joyful period where lights, trees and celebration can be highlighted.
New Year is more of an observation and I do hang "Happy New Year" banners and have a string of lights up to commemorate it. But they are different lights to what I used at Christmas.

Would anyone else have them the other way around? I think I would. Jurassic World would suit Xmas Eve better I think and similarly Spectre on New Year's Day just feels right.

Either way, a cracking lineup of movies in store on ITV next year that I don't think even Netflix / Now TV can spoil.

They're showing a Christmas special of their "sitcom" Give My Head Peace.

I like that, agree about Spectre feeling right for New Year's Day. It seems unlikely that Sherlock will be there next year so it could definitely tap into an audience, probably starting at around 8pm.

Jurassic World could go anywhere really, Xmas Eve could work, as could Boxing Day. It would probably be better starting a bit earlier than Spectre, at around 7pm or 7.30pm so either of those days could work as Xmas Eve will be a Sunday and Boxing Day a Tuesday, so (you'd think) there won't be as much soap to fit in.

You could probably play either of them on Christmas Day, but they'd probably perform better away from there. They'll have to get thinking about what to put there though, I can't see them using Maigret again and I'm not sure Victoria would do all that much better.

They might well have Minions and The Lego Movie to use next year as well.

I can't see Spectre performing as well as Skyfall's ITV premiere did - its not nearly as good a film.

I looked up the Sky EPG just to see what NI had on whilst Jonathan Creek was on in the rest of the UK.

9.00 Give My Head Peace - A Beginner's Guide (I think it's a compilation edition perhaps with some talking heads)
9.30 Give My Head Peace - I think this is the new Christmas edition
10.00 Mrs Brown's Boys (repeat) - a different episode from the one showing at 10.50pm in England and Wales because that one lasts for 35 minutes and NI have only got 30 minutes available before the news.

Sorry to hear that. My parents would never let us take the decorations down until after the 6th, they were/are very superstitious and woulld never allow it. So I guess it's one of those things that has kind of followed me in later life.

I prefer Spectre tbh.

It feels like Christmas Eve on ITV again right now

The BBC have had plenty of Disney films on in the early mornings on BBC 1 and I have enjoyed crying through the Tinkerbell stories over recent days.

Though probably that says more about me than their likely success in the ratings.

Gnomeo and Juliet is another good animation rather lost in its breakfast slot this week.

Lots of British talent in all of the above.

So right - deja vu with BBC too

No I think that would be a better fit actually.

So Jurassiic World Christmas Eve would fill up most of primetime. Then Christmas Day I would use a film premiere (like Minions) in a 4-5ish slot leading into an Ant & Dec vehicle.

Then Boxing Day Victoria at 9pm, and NYD swallowed by by Spectre.

Given the Disney titles have done well for ITV this Christmas, it would be a no brainer to use some more next year.

I don't really like "BBC Bashing" either seeing it or conducting in it, but what were they thinking sticking an Antiques Roadshow "Best Of" clip show to lead in to Ethel and Ernest with the later being 90 minutes long? Jonathan Creek will not have much of a lead in I fear Ethel and Ernest will be steam rollered by the lazy yet prosperous ITV sticking Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire on.

Antiques Roadshow will be absolutely fine. It might not do the 5m+ it does on Sunday, but it will be over 4m from the BBC news lead in. Ethel & Ernest will be fine too.

Harry Potter on ITV will be on higher than 3.5m tonight.

Studios could sell them on a franchise by franchise basis. Between the different studios you've got new films slated for...

Bond
Potter
Star Wars
Avengers
Pirates
Justice League
Planet of the Apes
Sherlock Holmes
Fast and Furious
Transformers
Turtles
King Kong/Godzilla
Monsters (Mummy, Frank, Drac, Jekyll, Invisible Man)
X-Men (including Deadpool and Gambit)
Jurassic
Mission Impossible
Indy Jones
Star Trek
Bourne
Avatar
Men in Black

Then you've got the animation studios...

Pixar - Toy Story, Wall-E, Inside Out, Nemo, Monsters, Cars, Coco
Disney - Frozen, Big Hero, Ralph, Zootopia, Moana, Tangled, Gigantic
DreamWorks - Shrek, Panda, Dragon, Madagascar, Captain Underpants
WB - Happy Feet, Lego, Storks, JL
Fox - Ice Age, Rio, Trolls
Illumination - Minions, Sing, Pets, Despicable Me, Grinch Stole Xmas.


Hollywood works via tentpoles and BBC, ITV, C4 and Five could do the same.

The trailers for the new season of shows on ITV looks good. Hopefully they perform well.