Disagree. I think they will commission more or extend current, less expensive dramas as budget cuts bite.

A cheap, family show wouldn't work as well post watershed as it could in Who's timeslot. I'm in complete agreement, however, that currently strong ratings are easily warding off any threats but you can bet some in the BBC would jump at the chance to replace Who with something cheaper.

Don't have a problem with 6.20 or 6.45. It's moving the start-time back and forth, week to week I take issue with. I'm glad the impact has been minimal so far and I take comfort in your confidence it won't matter but I'll be happier when the timeslot stabilizes. Have you heard what the budget is for the 2009 specials?

I've never thought Who gets the credit it deserves for merchandise sales. You think it would guarantee the shows budget, wouldn't you?

I like your understatement!

Doubtful. The BBC can only keep making its argument for public funding by fulfilling its remit - providing varied and quality programming.

What they are likely to do is commission fewer expensive dramas but for longer series, and on 18 month (rather than 12 to 15 as at present) cycles, and continue to get the most from cheaper BBC Three dramas by means of repeating them on BBC Two. More co-production will also be key.

Doctor Who will be safe as it is, i.e. 14 episodes on a 12 month cycle, because it is a flagship programme, is very cost effective and also sells well. We've also had RTD point out that it has extremely strong support within the BBC now.


If the BBC were solely profit minded, then possibly, otherwise I can't see it. The BBC *wants* to make the expensive quality dramas, and when they are successful, why would they abandon them just for the sake of cost saving?


Saturday schedules have long been flexible, with series moving back and forth according to needs. I don't accept the argument that a moving timeslot harms the show. Having it start early, when the audience is lower, can limit the numbers - but not badly (as we've seen).


No idea - I would assume the same per hour figure, pro rata, as the standard episodes.

Are a couple of million still switching off as soon as I'll Do Anything starts?

Whilst I certainly run, my youngest enjoys it, so the telly stays on for him

The fact that the Beeb will happily churn out more of their cheaper dramas is shown in the extended runs given to shows like "Waterloo Road" and the year-round stints that the formerly serial "Casualty" and "Holby City" now have. But as long as they still make the shorter, more expensive quality shows like DW and "Ashes to Ashes" as well, I won't grumble.

From the main ratings thread...

iPlayer viewings for April:
1) 18-Apr - Doctor Who: Partners in Crime- Streams: 433493- Downloads: 69766- Total: 503259
3) 24-Apr Doctor Who: The Fires of Pompeii - Streams: 372292 - Downloads: 32103 - Total: 404395
5) 24-Apr Doctor Who Planet of the Ood - Streams: 275936 - Downloads: 40065 - Total: 316001
11) 20-Apr Torchwood Exit Wounds Episode 13 -Streams: 148701- Downloads: 36959- Total: 185660
17) 09-Apr Doctor Who The Runaway Bride - Streams: 58961 - Downloads: 2490 - Total: 129359

(but that total for TRB looks wrong?)

K

Yes I switch over to Doctor Who Confidential.

Saturday 4th May 2008
18.20- The Poison Sky: 5.9m (32.5%)
* 15 minute peak: 6.2m (33.6%) between 18.45-19.00

15-Minute Breakdown:
Time
18:15 …. 4.7 (28.4%)
18:30 …. 5.7 (31.8%)
18:45 …. 6.2 (33.6%)
19:00 …. 5.5 (29.8%)

Second most watched show of the day, behind Britain's Got Talent which got 8.5m (39.1%). Doctor Who beat the opposition on ITV1, Kids Do The Funniest Things, which got 3.9m (22.7%).

So even Britain's Got Talent lost a million or two.

Yep, looks like (as stated previously) the overall number of viewers was down (bank holiday, good weather).

Yep, I was just getting in before the naysayers!

It's alright for the mo, they are busy on another thread

Aye, I noticed. I do wonder why so-called fans are quick to relish or indeed rubbish the ratings!

thought Who was 'event television' in that people would go out of their way to sit down and watch it as a family?

Not people who have possibly towed their caravan to the other end of the country for the weekend!

The easy availability of timeshift could mean that the family viewing of "event TV" is also timeshifted (after all, there is no reason why it wouldn't be, now that it is widely available, and easy to do).

my dear mossy I want any series that I like or watch to do well in the ratings, if the episode warrants it but I am also willing to accept there is the possibility that some tuned into the first part, didn't like what they saw and thus didn't bother following it up by tuning in for the conclusion.

I know the ratings for the day were down overall, but I do worry that an earlier time slot will make the show slip in people's minds. Putting it closer to 7pm again will help I hope. I do think this has been a terrific season so far.

Anyone know how that dreadful Nancy show is doing in Doctor Who's old time slot?

I actually thought last nights episode would have stabilised in the ratings. After all, the ratings have dropped every week for 5 consecutive weeks now; 8.4m, 8.1m, 6.9m, 6.4m and now 5.9m. A loss of 2.5million viewers is not good for any show. The series is currently averaging 7.1m.

19.05- I’d Do Anything: 5.3m (27.6%)

Worse than DW.

Good stuff! Glad to see the schedulers plot to artificially inflate the viewing figures for 'I'd Do Anything' by giving it Doctor Who's 7pm time slot is failing miserably.

Yes, very meanspirited of me, I know . . . .

I agree with you. DW is a far superior show and shouldn't be treated this way by the BBC to make way for IDA.

Alarmingly though, IDA didn't appear to drop any of its audience from previous weeks.

Final figures in for "The Sontaran Stratagem"

7.06m on BBC1 (Plus an extra 1.035m from BBC3 on Sunday)

17th for the week by individual episode and 8th for the week by series (and the second most watched non-soap drama).

So while I'm sure we'd all like the figures to be higher (well almost all of us) putting them in context shows a more accurate picture of how the series is doing compared to everything else.

any idea what the final figure is likely to be for part two?