DA
Source: MediaGuardian
This doesn't look like good news for EastEnders, I'm still watching it and I have been enjoying it recently, but it's a bit up and down at the moment, not really sure what's going on, anyway, just thought I'd post the article.
Quote:
Just three years ago ITV said there would come a day when Emmerdale overtook EastEnders in the ratings.
Now it appears the ITV1 soap may be on the brink of passing its BBC1 rival to become the nation's second-favourite soap.
On Monday an email was sent round to all ITV staff by the Granada head of drama, John Whiston, which highlighted the fact that in the battle of the soaps, Emmerdale was closing the gap on its BBC1 rival.
"About three years ago we said that there would come a day when Emmerdale overtook EastEnders and became the number two soap in Britain. It was just one of those things you say, like I bet Liverpool are going to win the Champions League. Be nice, but you don't really expect it to actually happen," he said in the leaked memo.
"Well, with the story team on fire, the writers charging along brilliantly, a fantastic production team and a cast to die for, all I can say is... watch this space."
According to official audience figures, in June 2004 there was a difference of six percentage share points between the performance of Emmerdale and EastEnders. But by June 2005 this had been reduced to less than two.
And for the last month Emmerdale has been running at an average of one percentage share point behind EastEnders.
Overall, comparing this June with last June, EastEnders is down around 3% year on year. Emmerdale is up a fraction - an impressive achievement against the background of the increasing popularity of multichannel TV.
According to ITV's autumn launch brochure, it is now watched by an average of 10 million people, six times a week.
However, in the six months to date, EastEnders' share has remained constant. From January to June 2005 it averaged 47.2%, the same as it did over the equivalent period last year.
The BBC disputed claims that its audience share is falling. A spokesman said: "EastEnders' audience share has remained very consistent year on year. What these figures show is that more people are watching Emmerdale earlier in the evening. Ultimately this is good news for soap fans."
A decade ago Emmerdale was floundering. In 1993 it killed off unwanted cast members with an air crash over the village.
Since then it has built on its ratings by increasing the number of episodes and introducing stars such as Patsy Kensit, who plays sexy Sadie King.
Latest viewing figures have topped 10 million thanks to the success of Charity Dingle's doomed wedding.
In March this year the soap celebrated its 4,000th episode. It went head to head with EastEnders in an hour-long special, denting the London-based soap, which equalled its lowest ever ratings, with just 6.2 million viewers.
EastEnders premiered with 17 million viewers on February 19, 1985, but ratings have dropped since its heyday.
Last year it hit a low - suffering the loss of two bosses, Louise Berridge and Kathleen Hutchison, and being savaged by critics for sensationalist storylines, implausible gangster characters and its unremittingly miserable tone.
The new BBC controller of continuing drama, John Yorke, has taken over control of the show, bringing in Kate Harwood, the woman behind classic literature TV adaptations including Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.
Actor Jessie Wallace recently announced she is leaving the soap. Insiders claim that other characters are expected to disappear as Mr Yorke tries to turn the show around.
Now it appears the ITV1 soap may be on the brink of passing its BBC1 rival to become the nation's second-favourite soap.
On Monday an email was sent round to all ITV staff by the Granada head of drama, John Whiston, which highlighted the fact that in the battle of the soaps, Emmerdale was closing the gap on its BBC1 rival.
"About three years ago we said that there would come a day when Emmerdale overtook EastEnders and became the number two soap in Britain. It was just one of those things you say, like I bet Liverpool are going to win the Champions League. Be nice, but you don't really expect it to actually happen," he said in the leaked memo.
"Well, with the story team on fire, the writers charging along brilliantly, a fantastic production team and a cast to die for, all I can say is... watch this space."
According to official audience figures, in June 2004 there was a difference of six percentage share points between the performance of Emmerdale and EastEnders. But by June 2005 this had been reduced to less than two.
And for the last month Emmerdale has been running at an average of one percentage share point behind EastEnders.
Overall, comparing this June with last June, EastEnders is down around 3% year on year. Emmerdale is up a fraction - an impressive achievement against the background of the increasing popularity of multichannel TV.
According to ITV's autumn launch brochure, it is now watched by an average of 10 million people, six times a week.
However, in the six months to date, EastEnders' share has remained constant. From January to June 2005 it averaged 47.2%, the same as it did over the equivalent period last year.
The BBC disputed claims that its audience share is falling. A spokesman said: "EastEnders' audience share has remained very consistent year on year. What these figures show is that more people are watching Emmerdale earlier in the evening. Ultimately this is good news for soap fans."
A decade ago Emmerdale was floundering. In 1993 it killed off unwanted cast members with an air crash over the village.
Since then it has built on its ratings by increasing the number of episodes and introducing stars such as Patsy Kensit, who plays sexy Sadie King.
Latest viewing figures have topped 10 million thanks to the success of Charity Dingle's doomed wedding.
In March this year the soap celebrated its 4,000th episode. It went head to head with EastEnders in an hour-long special, denting the London-based soap, which equalled its lowest ever ratings, with just 6.2 million viewers.
EastEnders premiered with 17 million viewers on February 19, 1985, but ratings have dropped since its heyday.
Last year it hit a low - suffering the loss of two bosses, Louise Berridge and Kathleen Hutchison, and being savaged by critics for sensationalist storylines, implausible gangster characters and its unremittingly miserable tone.
The new BBC controller of continuing drama, John Yorke, has taken over control of the show, bringing in Kate Harwood, the woman behind classic literature TV adaptations including Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.
Actor Jessie Wallace recently announced she is leaving the soap. Insiders claim that other characters are expected to disappear as Mr Yorke tries to turn the show around.
Source: MediaGuardian
This doesn't look like good news for EastEnders, I'm still watching it and I have been enjoying it recently, but it's a bit up and down at the moment, not really sure what's going on, anyway, just thought I'd post the article.
