DV
Ouch, didn't expect the ratio to be that high, 9:2 is crushing for Chiles' presentation and production. I had expected something like 5:2. The BBC will be delighted.
GE
Indeed. And the fact that ITV boasted about being 'the only ones in Johannesburg' didn't make a blind bit of difference in the end.
Ouch, didn't expect the ratio to be that high, 9:2 is crushing for Chiles' presentation and production. I had expected something like 5:2. The BBC will be delighted.
Indeed. And the fact that ITV boasted about being 'the only ones in Johannesburg' didn't make a blind bit of difference in the end.
SW
Not really, it's not like it's the only match they show, they had massive ratings elsewhere in the tournament. It's the only match they usually simulcast and if they don't show the final live it makes their coverage look ridiculous. There's no way the channels would agree to alternate because it would lead one channel ending with a massive anti-climax, and the World Cup Final is already a rare event, you don't want channels waiting eight years to do it. Indeed that sort of gap would probably see most of the on and off-screen personnel change anyway, and you don't want to lumber people with agreements made eight years ago. Who knows what the coverage will be like in 2018?
In addition, ITV already have everyone there so it's cost-effective to cover the final live, they'd save virtually nothing by just doing it as highlights, and then they'd have to provide alternative programming which would rate just as badly or even worse because it's opposite the World Cup Final. And the Beeb wouldn't agree to it anyway, because if nobody wants to watch ITV's coverage it's not their fault, is it? Why should they suffer? I don't see why we always have to bring adverts into it because that would suggest all BBC programming has an advantage over ITV, which it doesn't.
In the 2002 Jubilee, the Beeb thrashed ITV but nobody said ITV shouldn't cover it, it was a big event, and some people prefer their coverage.
A shame but inevitable. ITV would be better off trying to strike a deal with the BBC for alternate finals - exclusive rights every eight years have to be worth more to them then getting thrashed every four.
Not really, it's not like it's the only match they show, they had massive ratings elsewhere in the tournament. It's the only match they usually simulcast and if they don't show the final live it makes their coverage look ridiculous. There's no way the channels would agree to alternate because it would lead one channel ending with a massive anti-climax, and the World Cup Final is already a rare event, you don't want channels waiting eight years to do it. Indeed that sort of gap would probably see most of the on and off-screen personnel change anyway, and you don't want to lumber people with agreements made eight years ago. Who knows what the coverage will be like in 2018?
In addition, ITV already have everyone there so it's cost-effective to cover the final live, they'd save virtually nothing by just doing it as highlights, and then they'd have to provide alternative programming which would rate just as badly or even worse because it's opposite the World Cup Final. And the Beeb wouldn't agree to it anyway, because if nobody wants to watch ITV's coverage it's not their fault, is it? Why should they suffer? I don't see why we always have to bring adverts into it because that would suggest all BBC programming has an advantage over ITV, which it doesn't.
In the 2002 Jubilee, the Beeb thrashed ITV but nobody said ITV shouldn't cover it, it was a big event, and some people prefer their coverage.
RJ
ITV usually loses when it goes head-to-head with the BBC on a sporting event like the World Cup Final. For many years the channels competed on the FA Cup Final, with the BBC winning the ratings war. For a time in the 60s ITV competed with the BBC on Wimbledon....game, set and match to Auntie.
GS
Who in their right mind would watch a commercial channel when the BBC is showing it too?
I bet all those "Ban the TV tax" twits watched the Beeb too.
Gavin Scott
Founding member
ITV usually loses when it goes head-to-head with the BBC on a sporting event like the World Cup Final. For many years the channels competed on the FA Cup Final, with the BBC winning the ratings war. For a time in the 60s ITV competed with the BBC on Wimbledon....game, set and match to Auntie.
Who in their right mind would watch a commercial channel when the BBC is showing it too?
I bet all those "Ban the TV tax" twits watched the Beeb too.
DA
Adrian Chiles' Mum?
Or anyone else who might prefer the presenters on ITV. I'd like to see viewing figures for the advert breaks rather than the programme as a whole. Why would anyone watch the adverts when they could turn to BBC and watch the half time/full time fun or even leave the room for a pee?
Who in their right mind would watch a commercial channel when the BBC is showing it too?
Adrian Chiles' Mum?
Or anyone else who might prefer the presenters on ITV. I'd like to see viewing figures for the advert breaks rather than the programme as a whole. Why would anyone watch the adverts when they could turn to BBC and watch the half time/full time fun or even leave the room for a pee?
NW
I watched ITV's coverage last night and I liked it, good end to the tournament, other than the England non-goal I think their coverage has been better than the BBC's, I can't abide Andy Townsend, but I'd much rather have him, Chiles and Southgate over Lineker, Hansen and Dixon. But I'm not slagging of the Beeb, as they've been just as good too.
Even if ITV had conceeded defeat and showed a repeat of Midsomer or something, I really doubt it would rate much higher than 3.5 Million. Anyone know what the ratings for Top Gear were? I ended up watching it on BBC HD, but I can imagine loads of people missed it.
Even if ITV had conceeded defeat and showed a repeat of Midsomer or something, I really doubt it would rate much higher than 3.5 Million. Anyone know what the ratings for Top Gear were? I ended up watching it on BBC HD, but I can imagine loads of people missed it.
SW
Three million, apparently. On another forum someone has pointed out that ITV and Sky simulcast the Champions League Final, which is exactly the same as last night, and nobody says Sky shouldn't bother, even though their audience is tiny. The fact is they've covered the tournament all the way through so it makes sense to show the final. Indeed between 2001 and 2004, the BBC and Sky simulcast all England home qualifiers.
I still don't believe that adverts have very much to do with it at all. People don't suggest that The X Factor is at a disadvantage to Strictly because The X Factor's got adverts in it.
Even if ITV had conceeded defeat and showed a repeat of Midsomer or something, I really doubt it would rate much higher than 3.5 Million. Anyone know what the ratings for Top Gear were? I ended up watching it on BBC HD, but I can imagine loads of people missed it.
Three million, apparently. On another forum someone has pointed out that ITV and Sky simulcast the Champions League Final, which is exactly the same as last night, and nobody says Sky shouldn't bother, even though their audience is tiny. The fact is they've covered the tournament all the way through so it makes sense to show the final. Indeed between 2001 and 2004, the BBC and Sky simulcast all England home qualifiers.
I still don't believe that adverts have very much to do with it at all. People don't suggest that The X Factor is at a disadvantage to Strictly because The X Factor's got adverts in it.
SE
I still don't believe that adverts have very much to do with it at all. People don't suggest that The X Factor is at a disadvantage to Strictly because The X Factor's got adverts in it.
Not a good example, they appeal to a completely different audience and they're not screening the exact same thing simultaneously.
Of course advertisments are a major disadvantage to head to head coverage, and ITV have done enough damage to their own reputation with the debacle of missed goals.
In retrospect, it looks as though ITV made the right choice of matches though, the two biggest single audiences of the tournament with the only two England matches in primetime. It seems to have done wonders for advertising revenues, up 45% year on year.
Square Eyes
Founding member
I still don't believe that adverts have very much to do with it at all. People don't suggest that The X Factor is at a disadvantage to Strictly because The X Factor's got adverts in it.
Not a good example, they appeal to a completely different audience and they're not screening the exact same thing simultaneously.
Of course advertisments are a major disadvantage to head to head coverage, and ITV have done enough damage to their own reputation with the debacle of missed goals.
In retrospect, it looks as though ITV made the right choice of matches though, the two biggest single audiences of the tournament with the only two England matches in primetime. It seems to have done wonders for advertising revenues, up 45% year on year.
RD
rdd
Founding member
In a rather unorthodox move, RTÉ decided to let the Apres Match boys do the entire studio presentation on the Saturday night 3rd place play-off! Kinda treated the entire match as one extended joke, which would have been fine if it hadn't been one of the best matches of the tournament. Thankfully it didn't extend to the commentary which was from Stephen Aiken. The "Apres Match" segment featured the normal panel commenting on how accurate the Apres Match crew's impersonations of them were! Funny, but rather bizzare - it would be kinda like if the BBC let Special 1 TV do the entire presentation for a match...
BTW - were the BBC and ITV the only broadcasters to create their own title sequences from scratch? Looking on YouTube it seems most broadcasters used some varient on the official title sequence and theme music, though some it seems were using a sped up version unlike RTÉ.
BTW - were the BBC and ITV the only broadcasters to create their own title sequences from scratch? Looking on YouTube it seems most broadcasters used some varient on the official title sequence and theme music, though some it seems were using a sped up version unlike RTÉ.