Eurovision Song Contest - Belgrade 2008

I would assume that viewing figures don't reflect this, in the same way football viewing doesn't include everyone watching in pubs.

No one know the real rating of this show,

all we know is that there was 7millions tv showing it last night, how many people were watching said tv is another question and the BBC must know this fact

I don't think we're going to agree so I'll make this my last post.

Eurovision was heavily advertised on the BBC up to the date it was shown and so most people would have known when it was going to be screened.

I'm not sure of the figures, but I can guess that the selection show doesn't get huge viewing figures anyway, at least compared to the actual show, so I doubt the gap between them would make much difference.

Although BGT was on at the same time, it shouldn't matter what is on at the same time, if people want to watch Eurovision they will, even if they record it for later.

I'm not saying people don't want to watch Eurovision, I am one that does watch it, the point I was making is that it's an unfair competition and most people would agree that something has to be done. The most extreme would be the BBC withdrawing altogether as it's funded by license payer's money.

I see you're point now. I think the audience share was lower than last year though.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7419477.stm

wow in that interview he's really is not happy, I can't believe that Simon cowal and Bruice agrees with him.

only just saw it the now ,

Does it shock you?

I can believe it. It seems a very silly thing to make up.

Wogan looks rough. His toupee's even offset slightly. Must have been literally pulling his hair out over the votes.

The phrase bad loser springs to mind, though I agree with him those knocked out in the semi-finals shouldn't vote individually in the final.

I doubt the BBC could afford all of his script writers. He doesn't stirke me as the sort of person able to be funny 'on the fly'.

Clarkson would be an interesting choice I think.

How about Scott Mills?

I'm not really much of a radio-listener, but I've heard him narrating some "themed countdown" type music programmes on TMF, with fantastic sarcasm.

Which now also makes me think of Simon Amstell.

When Amstell first took over as host of Never Mind The Buzzcocks, an article in Radio Times explained his Popworld legacy for the benefit of viewers unfamiliar with Amstell: "He gives popstars exactly the respect they deserve - i.e. none!"

That's exactly the sort of person that Eurovision needs!

Think you are misinterpreting BARB viewing figures. The BARB figures are not "how many TVs were tuned to the channel" figures they are "how many people were watching" figures.

If two or three people are watching one TV in a BARB home they count as two or three viewers, not just one. BARB count the people watching in their panel homes not just the number of TVs tuned.

If BARB report 7 million people watching the contest, that would suggest far fewer than 7 million TVs were tuned to the contest, as many homes have two or more people watching the same TV.

Of course BARB ratings are based on domestic viewing - so don't reflect pubs and some parties - and are based on a small-ish (couple of thousand) dwellings - but they are the best stats we have, and are deemed reasonably accurate statistically.