Exactly. Its what XF and The Voice (UK, at least) both have wrong, and why Strictly still cleans up.

Target audience. You're making a Saturday night TV show that airs from 8pm onwards. You want people to tune in, loyally, every week.

So why aim it at a young audience and try half-heartedly to do everything possible to engage that audience, in doing so, alienating chunks of your older viewers?

Strictly knows exactly who is in the house, on the couch, watching TV at that time of the day and of the week, and makes a fun show that that audience wants to watch. And so it does well.

I do wonder if the return to the old guard, older judges, and the booking of recognisable faces to do Judges' Houses suggests that they've finally recognised that and are going to stop chasing a young audience that isn't as interested. (of course SOME younger people will watch it, but demographics-wise it's a drop in the ocean)

and what really doesn't make sense is after making all that effort to try and target the younger audience they then keep picking the same old dated songs for the contestants to sing

Yes definitely I do think they've recognized that now! ( At least I hope so....)

And that is exactly why Strictly always does well, because it doesn't pretend to be anything that it isn't......maybe it's because the contestants that go on it are already celebrities....?

I just hope that Simon Cowell doesn't come out with that same old tired line of.........." Y'know, this is why we make this show......to find somebody like you"!

I always end up shouting at the televisión when he inevitably ends up saying that

Love how hardcore fans still go "this year it will turn around, it'll be better than ever".
Same song for how many years now? 5? 6?

I've been in and out of TXF since Dannii joined and I honestly thought last series with Olly and Caroline hosting, the panel having Rita and Nick with a generally young, feel good atmosphere to begin with, that it would work out. How wrong was I?

I just think they're forcing it along now. I can see this series being the last now The Voice and The Voice Kids will soon be on ITV.

Strictly will kick Help The Aged....sorry X Factor's butt this year, like every year!

I just hope they don't stick with the whole Gogglebox editing during the auditions where they have endless shots of people in the audience looking like gawps or shown saying "OMG THAT WAS AMAZING!!!!!" in the most annoying voice imaginable.

Let's show a load of ugly people looking even more ugly with mouths wide open. This is what the Grate British public want to see at 8pm on Saturday night whilst eating their takeaway/pizza.

They seriously need to strip it right back to 2006. Who knows, X Factor might even get a winner who goes on to have a career with longevity (i.e. still having hit singles 2 years after winning) and crack America (well, that's where the big money is).

We are watching the slow slow death of Simon Cowell

It's been reported that Simon Cowell is going to sign a massive ££££*.*££££ deal with ITV to keep The X Factor and BGT going for another three years.

I haven't a clue how The Voice is going to do next year. It might be total overkill.

Money talks.

I do wish the BBC had managed to keep hold of it

I can see ITV trying to turn The Voice into TXF if it does fail this series, using ex judges on that etc.

Blame the government. lol

Still, Simon is gonna need all that money from ITV to pay Nicole, Sharon and Louis's wages. No doubt Simon will help himself to a nice little Christmas bonus in his wage slip.

Outside of DS Forums i.e people on Facebook, Twitter and the people who i know are excited about this panel - obviously im not saying its all 7m viewers but I do think the wider, more general viewing audience are more excited about this so called "pensioner X Factor" (where non of the judges are actually technically pensioners ) than in the past

Completely disagree.

I enjoy both SCD and X Factor.

This years panel on X Factor could be one of the best yet as I like all the judges.

It's going to be a really fun year for the show. If the talent is of high standard then the viewing figures will reflect that.

Here're reasons why X Factor COULD do bad, these aren't excuses but factual reasons for lower ratings;

- It's a Bank Holiday. This is known to drop TV viewing figures massively.
- It's a sunny bank holiday, most people will be out.
- They haven't released an official trailer for the show.
- The viewing figures for ITV are down as a whole.
- The schedule around X Factor is awful.
- Clashing with 30th anniversary of Casualty.

These are big problems for the show. However, i still believe it will rate well.

I do think it will be brilliant. Nope, i'm not a 'hardcore' fan, i missed the entire series last year as it was awful, but i loved the 2013 series and i loved the earlier series' featuring Louis, Simon and Sharon. I can almost guess the atmosphere of this year's show, and an atmosphere I'm fine with watching.

Simon has no say on song choices. Your statement has no proof it and is built up on presumptions. It's very rare Simon 'dislikes' an act nowadays and the public can make their own decisions on who to vote for etc. We've had unsuccessful winners who Simon's supported, say Ben Haenow, he dropped him. People thought he wanted Fleur to win, fi that was true he'd of made her win!

No, but throughout last year's show, on every X Factor related post fans commented their hate towards the judges. Even on Simon Cowell's page, people demanded him to bring back Louis and Sharon, look for yourself if you don't believe. Overall, the reaction to this year's panel is mostly positive from everyone i've seen. And sure, that's not 7 million (should be 10 million as that's what the final achieved inc catchup) people but a small percentage of comments are negative about this year's judges. Any real fans, who've been watching since day one will be happy with this year's panel and so will XF 2013 viewers.

You might hear it from Louis or someone but this is from AN UNRELATED SOURCE. They don't have to lie for promotion!

Cheers pal

It's expected on here, what is of interest to one person is not considered "worthy" to others. It's very childish but meh

Agree.

Honest opinions should be allowed.

X Factor last year was down in the ratings, no one considered it event TV anymore, hence, panic changes to hosts, 3/4 of the panel, etc.

A lot of press was negative last year.

Being " honest" it's really under pressure now.

The knee jerk changes, panic getting Louis and Dermot and Sharon will NOT help, the panel is now 3/4 over 60, but the target age group is teenagers who buy pop music.

It's like having three 60' year old DJs on Radio 1.

I know the people I discuss things with, friends, work, social media, it's not a talking point. Great British Baje off, is discussed a lot, this isn't.

It will struggle.

Um Simon Cowell is 56 and is a lot more relevant to today's generation than the likes of Grimmy. Sharon and Louis will bring the oldies back but will also be great entertainment to us younger ones as well as Nicole. Also the likes of Calvin Harris being lined up as a guest judge is huge for the show. I think a younger fresh guest judge each week would be a great idea. It isn't the age of the the judges that brings in youth (look at last year's ratings). Viewers like stability and dislike too much change so bringing back 3 extremely popular judges will be a success imo.

Yeah didnt think Simon was over 60 - if you're gonna make a point then get it right ahaha. Though i do agree with some of what was said. No it isn't event TV but not a lot in this genre is - just look at The Voice, BB, BGT and i don't even think strictly is as big of event TV, but its close. Im a celeb is the only one i see which really gets everyone going on twitter from who i follow and thats probably because its only around for 3 weeks.

XF needs to focus on being a staurday night show before the music sold afterwards because it is two very dfferent audiences - more so now than ever. They can still plug acts from the show afterwards.

Also don't underestimate teens just wanting young people on the panel. The year with Sharon Louis Gary and Nicole was far more popular with my classes than last years youth panel

This is the most I've looked forward to it coming back in a while, TBH.

Is he? He's known as an old-hat TV personality and that's about it.

It's not a show for young people it's a middle aged ballad fest