Just a few calculations...
Overall drop - 2.36m, 36.8%
Overnight drop - 1.5m, 34.9%
Catch-up drop - 0.86m, 40.6%
So the biggest percentage drop is for catch-up.
I think we'll need to wait until the 7 day viewing figures for episode 3 are published before we get a more accurate idea of how the series ratings are looking. The first episode was always going to get higher ratings due to the press coverage/hype and it being a different presenting team. The question is will the 7 day figures for episode 3 indicate the overall ratings have stabilised or dropped significantly further.
When it comes to ratings perhaps more interesting is the 7 day stats are now available via the Barb website...
- Episode 1 (w/e 29 May): 6.42 million (4.3m overnight)
- Episode 2 (w/e 5 June): 4.06 million (2.8m overnight).
The figures suggest quite a considerable amount of viewers are watching via catchup and other means. So the overall ratings for Top Gear aren't quite as bad as the press are trying to make out.
Ref: http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/
It looks like the overnights for episode 4 indicate a further drop to 2.34 million on the night. Things aren't much greater looking on BARB, as the 7 day figures for episode 3 are 3.44 million (2.4m overnight).
Unfortunately the fact the start of this series was delayed probably hasn't helped. Had it started earlier in the month it might have had time to establish itself a bit before the Euro football started, which may be affecting the ratings. I also wonder what effect the anti-Chris Evans/Top Gear agenda in parts of the media is having on the show, something that's been going on long before this series started. (For the record I've yet to watch last night's episode.)
When it comes to ratings perhaps more interesting is the 7 day stats are now available via the Barb website...
- Episode 1 (w/e 29 May): 6.42 million (4.3m overnight)
- Episode 2 (w/e 5 June): 4.06 million (2.8m overnight).
The figures suggest quite a considerable amount of viewers are watching via catchup and other means. So the overall ratings for Top Gear aren't quite as bad as the press are trying to make out.
Ref: http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/
It looks like the overnights for episode 4 indicate a further drop to 2.34 million on the night. Things aren't much greater looking on BARB, as the 7 day figures for episode 3 are 3.44 million (2.4m overnight).
Unfortunately the fact the start of this series was delayed probably hasn't helped. Had it started earlier in the month it might have had time to establish itself a bit before the Euro football started, which may be affecting the ratings. I also wonder what effect the anti-Chris Evans/Top Gear agenda in parts of the media is having on the show, something that's been going on long before this series started. (For the record I've yet to watch last night's episode.)
I agree 100% with you they should have launched it on their intended date of the start of May, I only watched the first week live and have watched every other week on the i player as I watched Soccer Aid and the Euros every week since but the lower overnight rating no matter how well it does on catch up will be a stick to beat it with. For the record I think it is better than the first few weeks and while it will never be the same as the Clarkson, Hammond & May years it is a pretty good show.
I noticed there's a BBC News article on the subject of Top Gear's ratings, which I can't help feeling comes from their marketing/publicity/spin department...
Quote:
Top Gear: How much do overnight TV ratings matter?
Chris Evans has said newspaper reporting of TV ratings is stuck in the past, and that viewers watching on catch-up services should be counted. Is it time the media rethinks how much importance it places on overnight figures?
Yes, hate people spinning ratings as if catch-up has only been around since their ratings fell rather than the best part of a decade (and widespread for 4-5 years or so!).
I noticed there's a BBC News article on the subject of Top Gear's ratings, which I can't help feeling comes from their marketing/publicity/spin department...
Quote:
Top Gear: How much do overnight TV ratings matter?
Chris Evans has said newspaper reporting of TV ratings is stuck in the past, and that viewers watching on catch-up services should be counted. Is it time the media rethinks how much importance it places on overnight figures?
Matt LeBlanc is allegedly planning to quit Top Gear if his co-host Chris Evans is not removed from the team first, sources have claimed.
The American presenter, 48, is said to be concerned about Evans’s rudeness towards other members of the team, with some suggesting he also is frustrating to film with.
Matt’s indicated he won’t continue on any further series if Chris remains
Source
It allegedly comes just months ahead of the start of filming for the second series, which is due to begin in September.
The rumours also emerged as the show’s bosses face a rapidly declining audience, with just 2.34 million people tuning into last week’s episode. The lowest audience posted by the show's former team, led by Jeremy Clarkson, was 2.36 million in June 2003.
Top Gear gets back on track as ratings rise by 300,000
Chris Evans’ Top Gear may have turned a corner in the overnight ratings after it bounced back from last week’s record low – with a little help from Jeff Lynne’s ELO.
The BBC2 show was watched by 2.68 million viewers, a 12.5% share of the audience, from 8pm on Sunday.
It was more than 300,000 viewers up from last week’s 2.34 million (10.4%)
The bad news...
7 day data on Barb indicates consolidated ratings for episode 4 are only 3.22 million (2.34m overnight), a further drop in consolidated ratings.
It'll be interesting to see how they look next week with the overnights for last night's episode increasing (slightly). Watching it last night the 'Star in the Reasonably Priced Rally Car' section appears to be running a bit smoother, not sure whether if the pre-race talking has been slightly shortened. There was also a higher number of car reviews featured, compared to early episodes.