Just got the data on viewing figures for this series of BB.

This is the worst ever BB for ratings if you look at the figures for the first five weeks.*

And in contrast to previous years, viewing is actually falling against C4's key demographic groups (16-34's and Housewives with Children). The normal BB rating pattern is for ratings to increase as the series comes to a climax.

I think this clearly illustrates the way that C4/ Endemol have bolloxed up BB this year.

* From BARB

so where can we compare these viewing figures then?

Ratings are similar to last year as far as I know... Bit down perhaps... The voting is obviously very down... Hardly a a giant failure though.

There are may explicit and extenuating reasons for this apparent wash-out but that's all I'm going to say.

I have posted at length about it elsewhere...

It is a disaster to Endemol, cos guess what pays the bills........ The voting. Hopefully, although I am not holding my breath, Endemol will learn and find a few ways to make sure that we get[SIZE=4]a more interesting bunch of wannabees next year.[/SIZE] and perhaps a revitalised concept, the format needs a serious revamp. Along the lines discussed elsewhere on this very forum.

Just to make sure everyone's working off accurate figures:

· To date (Fri 23 May -Thurs 3 July) the fourth series of Big Brother has averaged 4.4 million viewers and a 22% share of the available audience.

· The average this week (Fri 27 June -Thurs 3 July) is 4.2 million and a 20% share of the available audience. Peak viewing this week was for Tania’s eviction on Friday 27 June which averaged 5.2 million viewers and peaked at 5.7 million and a 27.5% share.

· In terms of audience profile, the peak time evening shows have averaged 43% 16-34s and 44% ABC1s.

· This week (Fri 20 -Thurs 26 June) Big Brother’s Little Brother has averaged 1.9 million viewers and a 13% share. Peak viewing on BBLB this week was on Tuesday 1 July, which averaged 2 million peaking at 2.2 million. This brings the series average to 1.7 million and an 11% share

· Since Big Brother 4 began (Fri 23 May -Thurs 3 July) E4’s share of its core 16-34 audience in multi- channel homes has averaged 5.2%, ahead of Sky One (4.2%) ITV2 (1.6%), UK Gold (1.5%) BBC3 (0.9%). E4 was also ahead of BBC2 (5.0%) and Channel 5 (4.1%) in terms of16-34 year old viewers, in multi-channel homes

· Since Big Brother 4 began, E4’s share of individuals has averaged 2.99%, which is very similar to Sky One (3.0%) and ahead of ITV2 (1.19%), UK Gold (1.47%) and BBC3 (0.62%)

Since consolidated figures are currently not available for all dates. Figures for both C4 and E4 are mainly unofficial overnight figures from BARB. These do not take into account viewers who may have recorded the programmes on video.

Ratings IMO are much more important to people than revenue from Text voting. There's a lot more money on the line if ratings fall than if voting falls. What happens is that C4 estimate the amount of people watching the adverts, and if they get this wrong, which they definately have for BB this year, then they have to either provide additional advertising, or pay money back to advertisers.

There's more revenue riding on viewing figures than there ever would be from voting/ texting revenue

see 'ratings plunge!!' thread

I knew that it wouldn't take you too long...

Last year in BB3 they made £5 million from advertising and £5 million from voting.