TV Ratings 2023

[cwej]

But that's largely where TV viewing is at now, particularly on overnight data. Corrie is only 0.25m down on last year, which I think is probably in line with its general weekly decline over the year.

The soaps have been in decline for several years now. If anything EastEnders went into decline before Emmerdale and Corrie, but does seem to have levelled out and I think perhaps increased slightly over the last year. But Emmerdale and Coronation Street both still seem to be losing viewers.

As I said ‘I had no idea the soaps were dropping off’… it just had passed me by! Maybe I missed the big drop off but to see Emmerdale at less than 2 million is so surprising to me.

 

[Raining on Me]

To be fair, ITV always shut up shop on Christmas Day - there's little inclination to make the effort advertising wise, especially when BBC1 go the other way (or at least seem to try). It's rarely been any different, except when the BBC fuck up which I believe happened in 2000 when they showed Titanic all evening, so ITV "won".

 

[Raining on Me]

The Emmerdale rating IS appalling, but again ITV soaps don't usually create event episodes at Christmas and you only have to look back over the years to see that, Emmerdale especially, often gets its worst rating of the year on the day. Whereas it can be Eastenders' biggest (which it might be this year, no?). And yet despite what that looks like, Eastenders is less watched than the other two 99% of the time, even though the gap has closed.

It's all a bit meaningless now though, and the decline is ever downwards, even taking into account online catch up. I mean you probably can't reverse it entirely, but the episode numbers seriously need reducing because in a world of streaming options, who's got time for 5 or 6 episodes of soap every week?! They'll improve immeasurably with less episodes you'd think. But then single episodes never helped Holby or Casualty so it's more likely that entire genre is on its last legs, at least in terms of being big and relevant like they once were. Sad, but much like the charts - she's dead luv

 

[Raining on Me]

It's quite grating knowing Eastenders probably could have tipped over 4 million with an earlier slot though. All that effort and build up, it feels like the BBC didn't quite have the faith in it.

 

[lolly]

It's quite grating knowing Eastenders probably could have tipped over 4 million with an earlier slot though. All that effort and build up, it feels like the BBC didn't quite have the faith in it.

Did the content mean it had to be after the watershed? I don't think it matters at all that it was below 4m in the overnights, which matter less and less.

If it did need to be on after 9pm, yes it probably would have hit 4m in the overnights, but those 'lost' viewers will find it on catch up anyway, so I really don't see the point of BBC1 rejigging their entire Christmas Day schedule to accommodate it.

I don't think it's a sign of the BBC not quite having faith in it at all. If anything, I'd argue the opposite - that they DO have faith in the audience finding it on iPlayer later.

The top episode of EastEnders in the last weekly chart I posted had only 1.523m live viewers. With VOSDAL, it was about 2.6m. But as I posted previously, how much of that can there be for a show which finished at 10.45pm?

For comparison, the Christmas Day episode of EastEnders last year which got 3.17m in the overnights ended up after 7 days at 5.16m. I see no reason to think that this year won't add 2m either.

 

[Ellie]

I just think it was poor scheduling. Feature length episode of Call The Midwife, which actually is popular, but they should have saved Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel for Boxing Day or something.

 

[lolly]

I’m sure if Eastenders was on an hour earlier it would have done a bit better, but I suppose Call The Midwife, Strictly and Michael McIntyre all had to go earlier. Would have been better to put Michael McIntyre on Boxing Day.

2022

I just think it was poor scheduling. Feature length episode of Call The Midwife, which actually is popular, but they should have saved Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel for Boxing Day or something.

2023

I don't think the BBC has changed its mind either

 

[Ellie]

Good find

 

[lolly]

Good find

It's only because I was looking at last year's figures for EE only moments before, HONEST

I genuinely don't have a esque memory for anyone's posts

 

[lolly]

And from that same digging around, the Christmas Day episode of EastEnders last year was the most streamed programme on iPlayer for the period from 20 December to 2 January. The BBC has confidence in the audience finding it and isn't particularly concerned with the overnight audience.

 

[lolly]

They were more concerned with dominating the entire day. And it's hard to argue that they didn't ace it. 27% audience share, double that of its next nearest competitor, bigger than the entire streaming market combined, biggest share since 2019 (Gavin and Stacey), and bigger than any other year since 2010.

 

[Rita]

The Emmerdale rating IS appalling, but again ITV soaps don't usually create event episodes at Christmas

Sorry but this simply isn’t true.

Like any soap they would generally always have something leading up to the Christmas Day episode. Apparently Corrie fell out of the Christmas Day top 10 for the first time ever. Why have no story arc leading up to the Christmas Day episode and only have it on for 30 minutes? So strange.

 

[Jark]

Emmerdale has done something at Christmas most years for sure. sometimes they've had bigger storylines and ratings than EE even.

maybe no big Christmas story just reflects it being in a bad state this year? I'm not watching now but heard it was rough in 2023

 

[Rita]

Emmerdale has done something at Christmas most years for sure. sometimes they've had bigger storylines and ratings than EE even.

maybe no big Christmas story just reflects it being in a bad state this year? I'm not watching now but heard it was rough in 2023

I think they generally BOTH get better ratings than Eastenders every year.

Emmerdale has been terrible for quite a while you are right.

 

[lolly]

I did wonder if ITV were just waving a white flag and letting the BBC get on with Christmas Day, but they did schedule Emmerdale/Corrie/Masked Singer/1% Club consecutively, which have been 4 of their biggest shows over the year.

And now I see they have given Nolly a primetime slot for 3 nights starting tonight - a show that has been available on ITVX (and I remember being very heavily advertised beforehand) over 10 months already.

 

[COB]

The Nolly thing is so strange, I feel like it was mentioned back then that it would be on around this time (and it was worded a bit strangely like they were specifically trying it out as an experiment). I hope it gets a good rating on TV, because I did think it was wonderful.

 

[lolly]

I think they generally BOTH get better ratings than Eastenders every year.

Emmerdale has been terrible for quite a while you are right.

EastEnders was #1 on Christmas Day last year (Corrie #2, Emmerdale #3)
2021 was Corrie #1, Emmerdale #2, EastEnders #3
2020 Corrie, Emmerdale, EastEnders
2019 EastEnders, Corrie, Emmerdale
2018 EastEnders, Corrie, Emmerdale

 

[Rita]

EastEnders was #1 on Christmas Day last year (Corrie #2, Emmerdale #3)
2021 was Corrie #1, Emmerdale #2, EastEnders #3
2020 Corrie, Emmerdale, EastEnders
2019 EastEnders, Corrie, Emmerdale
2018 EastEnders, Corrie, Emmerdale

I literally looked up last years in the 2022 ratings thread before I posted and Corrie and Emmerdale were above Eastenders on overnights?

 

[lolly]

The Nolly thing is so strange, I feel like it was mentioned back then that it would be on around this time (and it was worded a bit strangely like they were specifically trying it out as an experiment). I hope it gets a good rating on TV, because I did think it was wonderful.

The BARB data includes pre-broadcast viewing. So I assume that means all ITVX viewing since February will be included.

That seems a little crazy to me in terms of looking at the chart for the week - it's not really comparing like with like, is it, if one programme is having 10 months of potential viewing included.

It does happen already when entire series are dumped on iPlayer etc when the first episode in broadcast (usually dramas, but increasingly with comedy, I've noticed), but that does feel a little different because at least it's still a contemporary show and it's kind of happening 'now' while it is being broadcast still.

 

[Rita]

INTERESTING though as Eastenders clearly get a lot of people who watch the Christmas Day episode who don’t watch the rest of the year.

 

[lolly]

I literally looked up last years in the 2022 ratings thread before I posted and Corrie and Emmerdale were above Eastenders on overnights?

2022

1) The King (BBC, Sky, ITV and GB News) 10.72m
2) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One) 5.44m
3) Michael McIntyre's Xmas Wheel (BBC One) 4.81m
4) Call The Midwife (BBC One) 4.49m
5) Aladdin (BBC One) 4.39m
6) Ghosts (BBC One) 3.92m
7) Doc Martin (ITV1) 3.26m
8) EastEnders (BBC One) 3.17m
9) Coronation Street (ITV1) 2.85m
10) Ant and Dec's Limitless Win (ITV1) 2.69m

 

[Ellie]

I swear Helena Bonham Carter was promoting that Nolly mini series months and months ago. Was it like Archie and put on ITVx first?

 

[Ellie]

The BARB data includes pre-broadcast viewing. So I assume that means all ITVX viewing since February will be included.

Oops, question answered.

 

[lolly]

INTERESTING though as Eastenders clearly get a lot of people who watch the Christmas Day episode who don’t watch the rest of the year.

I do think there is more of a tradition of the EastEnders Christmas Day. I blame Arthur Fowler and his breakdown over the Christmas club money.

 

[Rita]

2022

1) The King (BBC, Sky, ITV and GB News) 10.72m
2) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One) 5.44m
3) Michael McIntyre's Xmas Wheel (BBC One) 4.81m
4) Call The Midwife (BBC One) 4.49m
5) Aladdin (BBC One) 4.39m
6) Ghosts (BBC One) 3.92m
7) Doc Martin (ITV1) 3.26m
8) EastEnders (BBC One) 3.17m
9) Coronation Street (ITV1) 2.85m
10) Ant and Dec's Limitless Win (ITV1) 2.69m

Only down slightly on last year - which I imagine would mirror the year as a whole.



Interesting to see that EastEnders increased and appears to have been the biggest of the soaps.

I
I’m assuming this was false info then?

 

[lolly]

I’m assuming this was false info then?

That tweet I posted? No, I was comparing 2022 (the post before the tweet) to 2021 - look at the date.

 

[Rita]

That tweet I posted? No, I was comparing 2022 to 2021 - look at the date.

Oh, sorry I didn’t look at the date.

 

[lolly]

I swear Helena Bonham Carter was promoting that Nolly mini series months and months ago. Was it like Archie and put on ITVx first?

The first trailer dropped 9th January!

My mother said only yesterday that she couldn't remember if she'd watched it or not, and I can say with absolute confidence that she hasn't gone near ITVX. she just thinks she's watched it because she will have seen so many adverts for it early this year.

I've totally lost track with ITVX and what debuts there or on ITV1. Has that Alan Carr comedy reached ITV1 yet?

 

[Raining on Me]

Sorry but this simply isn’t true.

Like any soap they would generally always have something leading up to the Christmas Day episode. Apparently Corrie fell out of the Christmas Day top 10 for the first time ever. Why have no story arc leading up to the Christmas Day episode and only have it on for 30 minutes? So strange.

Well Emmerdale's Christmas Day episode had a character GET SHOT while Charity battered someone around the head during a hostage storyline which was part of a long running (tedious) story (with dreadful characters) so not quite nothing. Admittedly that's the plot every week.

They've always done something but never to the scale and importance that Eastenders usually places on its episode. I mean who can remember any specific Corrie or Emmerdale Christmases really? Historically they've had PLENTY of day to day wholesome Christmas episodes on the day and no big event. Don't ask me for receipts because I can't remember but it's definitely true

It just seems worse this year because they were half hour episodes

 

[Raining on Me]

I think they generally BOTH get better ratings than Eastenders every year.

Emmerdale has been terrible for quite a while you are right.

Yes, but not at Christmas usually. I think 2020 and 2021 it swapped around, but only fractionally, otherwise Eastenders has almost always been more popular on the day. Just not for the rest of the year - and that includes catch up

 

[Raining on Me]

And from that same digging around, the Christmas Day episode of EastEnders last year was the most streamed programme on iPlayer for the period from 20 December to 2 January. The BBC has confidence in the audience finding it and isn't particularly concerned with the overnight audience.

Maybe faith isn't the right word, they obviously still put effort in to promote it and try and save it from the lows it's fallen to (relatively), and of course they know it'll be found on iPlayer.

But they would have found it on iPlayer regardless of slot. That episode was later than its ever been I think, and I swear Call The Midwife isn't normally 90 minutes (maybe it is), so that seemed an unnecessary bump down the schedule

Given the effort gone into this storyline and trying to continue rejuvenating the soap, grabbing those extra casuals at 9pm or so would have benefitted it surely, as anyone catching up later would have done so regardless.

But of course on the flip side you're right, overnights are a tiny piece of the pie now, and talking about them with meaning is almost becoming like the equivalent of posting the iTunes chart.

On a wider basis it's still got people talking and some viewers back in (including me) so job done in some ways

 

[cwej]

The first trailer dropped 9th January!

My mother said only yesterday that she couldn't remember if she'd watched it or not, and I can say with absolute confidence that she hasn't gone near ITVX. she just thinks she's watched it because she will have seen so many adverts for it early this year.

I've totally lost track with ITVX and what debuts there or on ITV1. Has that Alan Carr comedy reached ITV1 yet?

This brings us back to the absolutely madness of OLD PEOPLE and their refusal to use streaming services even for things they want to watch. My mum and dad have been looking at the adverts for Nolly all week and making it clear they’re interested but have not watched it on ITVX even though it’s completely available to them.

Why are old people so weird?

We did watch Leave The World Behind on Netflix last night though - at their suggestion to watch a movie on Netflix! - so we’re getting somewhere with them…!

 

[Rita]

I’m not sure I get the Call The Midwife beef (well clearly I do as it’s not aimed at the Moopy audience per se) but of course it was going to be scheduled better than Eastenders. It’s a lot more popular, and has topped the ratings on Christmas Day in previous years and also tops the ratings chart when on its series run.

 

[lolly]

This brings us back to the absolutely madness of OLD PEOPLE and their refusal to use streaming services even for things they want to watch. My mum and dad have been looking at the adverts for Nolly all week and making it clear they’re interested but have not watched it on ITVX even though it’s completely available to them.

Why are old people so weird?

My mum believes that ANYTHING ON ANY STREAMING SERVICE is 'ON NETFLIX', and it drives me FUCKING INSANE. Trying to explain to her the difference between that, and Prime (which she has), iPlayer, ITVX etc etc is awful.

I can mention catching up something on iPlayer which she missed on BBC1 (even if it was EastEnders) and it'll be 'oh but Netflix confuses me'. And she will MOAN about missing an episode of it but not even entertain the possibility of watching it. She'll just start moaning about why the BBC doesn't do the Sunday afternoon omnibus any more. Usually just before going on about the cost of the licence fee and how it's all repeats anyway.

 

[Ellie]

This brings us back to the absolutely madness of OLD PEOPLE and their refusal to use streaming services even for things they want to watch. My mum and dad have been looking at the adverts for Nolly all week and making it clear they’re interested but have not watched it on ITVX even though it’s completely available to them.

Why are old people so weird?

We did watch Leave The World Behind on Netflix last night though - at their suggestion to watch a movie on Netflix! - so we’re getting somewhere with them…!

I find it funny as my long divorced parents are much the same. Seeing them separately this week, both were scrawling the TV guide for the listings. Both have smart TVs, access to the obvious terrestrial services, plus Amazon, Disney, Netflix and AppleTV (I share my passwords with mum, and step-mum’s 30 year old great niece is living with them at the moment so she’s sorted them all out over there). Both were pointing out films and shows they’d like to watch which were all freely available on streaming.

The irony being my step mum who is older than both parents, takes to technology really well and can navigate around it very quickly. She hasn’t watched live TV for a while now.

My mum keeps saying she wants to watch Archie. It’s right there on the front page of ITVx every time you access it! But she wants to wait for it to be on live. WHY?

 

[FetchFugly]

The first trailer dropped 9th January!

My mother said only yesterday that she couldn't remember if she'd watched it or not, and I can say with absolute confidence that she hasn't gone near ITVX. she just thinks she's watched it because she will have seen so many adverts for it early this year.

I've totally lost track with ITVX and what debuts there or on ITV1. Has that Alan Carr comedy reached ITV1 yet?

No that hasn't been shown on ITV1 yet. It seems to take the better part of a year for things to reach linear tv.

 

[lolly]

I’m not sure I get the Call The Midwife beef (well clearly I do as it’s not aimed at the Moopy audience per se) but of course it was going to be scheduled better than Eastenders. It’s a lot more popular, and has topped the ratings on Christmas Day in previous years and also tops the ratings chart when on its series run.

Yes, for a few reasons I can see why EastEnders was scheduled around it, rather than vice versa.

 

[FetchFugly]

I find it funny as my long divorced parents are much the same. Seeing them separately this week, both were scrawling the TV guide for the listings. Both have smart TVs, access to the obvious terrestrial services, plus Amazon, Disney, Netflix and AppleTV (I share my passwords with mum, and step-mum’s 30 year old great niece is living with them at the moment so she’s sorted them all out over there). Both were pointing out films and shows they’d like to watch which were all freely available on streaming.

The irony being my step mum who is older than both parents, takes to technology really well and can navigate around it very quickly. She hasn’t watched live TV for a while now.

My mum keeps saying she wants to watch Archie. It’s right there on the front page of ITVx every time you access it! But she wants to wait for it to be on live. WHY?

Dealing with ITVX and sitting through adverts does it for me, when you know that it will be available without at some time in the future.

Nolly is the only thing I've watched on ITVX. I quite fancy the Alan Carr thing, Archie and The Winter King but they'll all keep.

 

[lolly]

Dealing with ITVX and sitting through adverts does it for me, when you know that it will be available without at some time in the future.

Nolly is the only thing I've watched on ITVX. I quite fancy the Alan Carr thing, Archie and The Winter King but they'll all keep.

That's exactly why we haven't watched Nolly yet. Mr L controls the TV viewing on the whole (I'm perfectly happy to let him), and he'd much prefer to wait until he can Sky+ it and forward through the adverts for a three part ITV drama I'd assume that's at least an hour of crap saved.

 

[lolly]

The Alan Carr comedy is the only thing I HAVE watched on ITVX (on my own), and if you think you'll like it, you will.