ITV Ratings and Schedule Crisis

A may be wrong on this but didn't the BBCs decision to move Trevor';s World of Sport actually help viewing figures?

I don't really support the idea of pulling things just because they don't make an impact straight away but re scheduling something can work if its done well and a move to 10.35 isn't as bad as 11.30 or whatever ITV have done.

The thing is ITV needs to get good ratings and if they don't then it loses them money, I guess thats the problem and I suppose it'll only get more common wth the increased pressure they will be under

Of course but if they let the ratings build up they'd get the cash - they seem to want it instantly instead of waiting a tad longer. It worked fine for decades but now with the new system they are doing worse than ever before.

...But if they did that, the advertisers would be up in arms and start to put pressure on the network. The BBC are the only ones nowadays who can afford to leave a show on even when it gets poor ratings. I remember Channel 4 moving a few progs around this year (names of which escape me!).

Well in the case of Sweet Medicine they have given it 8 weeks to produce good ratings, its only the final 2 of 10 episodes which will be on in a late slot

In the case of Family they gave it 6 weeks and also added an extra late repeat on a Thursday night.

Also both these changes are less severe than previous ones because they are not happening immediately, the Family change doesn't occur until the 6th November so will be in all listings magazines. Also unlike previously they've got new programmes lined up to replace them, its not a case of 'now in a change to the schedule here's A Touch of Frost (or Only Fools in the case of the BBC)'. Therefore it isn't a 'scheduling crisis' as the wannabe Sun reporter said in the first post

didnt i hear that sweet medicine had slightly good ratings last week?!!?

What’s that Sweet Medicine being replaced with? Some sort of Holiday show I think. What’s the name again??

I wonder if its like a 'Holidays from hell' program with people going on and on about holidays or is it some sort of studio show with Mark Durden-smith trying to give away Cheep holidays??

The New ITV Schedule

6.30pm ITV News, with Ant and Dec
7.00pm Emmerdale - Ant and Dec move in and hilarity develops on the farm
7.30pm Coronation Street - Ant and Dec move in and hilarity develops on the Street
8.00pm The Bill - Ant and Dec become DIs and hilarity develops in the station
9.00pm Ant and Dec Idol - Ant and Dec vote themselves as the best, ever
10.00pm ITV News, with Ant and Dec
10.30pm The Big Film - Ant and Dec - The Movie, starring Trevor McDonald

The BBC could be just as bad if they wanted!!

5:45 - BBC News, With Ian Wright
6:05 - Animal Hospital - Ian has a Jab up the A***
6:35 - Friends like these - With Ian Wright
7:35 - The National Ian Wright Lottery Show - Ian shows us his balls
8:05 - Casualty - Ian arrives after falling ill from the Jab at the Animal Hospital
9:00 - Party Political broadcast on behalf of the Ian Wright Party
9:05 - The Ian Wright News and Sport - Up to the minute news of Ian Wright.
Etc Etc

At least Ant and Dec are Watchable.

It's called Holiday Showdown, 2 families choose their ideal holiday, and send the other family on it. Or something. I was looking forward to this Mother In Law show, when's that coming on ?

After Thursday's "Sweet Medicine", the final 2 episodes will be shown in the graveyard Sunday night slot. Seems a bit daft really, the reason it hasn't performed as well as ITV had hoped was because of the BBC's Cantebury Tales drama's doing well. They've finished now, Sweet Medicine had weathered the storm, they may as well have stuck with it really.

But there you go, the axe man has cometh in the shape of Nigel Pickard, he did say he wasn't prepared to accept any weak spots in the schedule and would take decisive action. But any loyal viewers to these shows will felt hard done by, and to be honest the actors in them will probably be equally miffed as it can't do their reputation any good either.

I can understand them moving Family that is been doing really bad in the ratings and at least it gave it more of a chance than Fortysomething But I can not believe their are moving Sweet Medicine yeah I know it struggled in the ratings halfway through but lets face it was up against Canterbury Tales and it even beat some of the episodes in the ratings in my opinion it deserves at least another series.

I dont think there is any chance of another series of Sweet Medicine being commisioned - I do think its a bit stupid moving it when there is only 2 weeks to go although its quite a good series and I am enjoying it, it wasnt a patch on Peak Practice which ITV shouldnt have got rid of as IIRC Peak Practice got higher viewing figures than Sweet Medicine currently does.

[quote="This Is Granada"]

...if you are on medication!