2 million fewer viewers
- Thread starter JRoss
- Start date
Nope.
What's probably going to happen, if the numbers decline from this point is that the BBC will try to downsize or cancel, or pretend to try, so that a foreign white knight will show up and invest in Who (remember season 4 of Torchwood?), to make up for the short full in instant gratification the Beeb seems to be demanding.
Such an investor might only be interested in recouping their money with favourable distribution deals, but then they might also decide that to really get their money's worth that they are allowed to make creative decisions.
What's probably going to happen, if the numbers decline from this point is that the BBC will try to downsize or cancel, or pretend to try, so that a foreign white knight will show up and invest in Who (remember season 4 of Torchwood?), to make up for the short full in instant gratification the Beeb seems to be demanding.
Such an investor might only be interested in recouping their money with favourable distribution deals, but then they might also decide that to really get their money's worth that they are allowed to make creative decisions.
The saving grace for the series is the money it makes for them but the BBC can't let things continue like this.
I'd hope that Moffat went first but while it's totally unfair on him if things don't impove Capaldi will be given the boot and they'll be looking for Tennant Mark II.
The one funny thing is after years of people saying that the series should be shown later in the year and later in the day, the exact oppoisite is now being said.
I'd hope that Moffat went first but while it's totally unfair on him if things don't impove Capaldi will be given the boot and they'll be looking for Tennant Mark II.
The one funny thing is after years of people saying that the series should be shown later in the year and later in the day, the exact oppoisite is now being said.
If one wants to be cynical, setting Doctor Who up for low ratings would be a way for the BBC to get rid of Moffat without a lot of blowback. I'm just saying...
Let's game this out. If the BBC felt a shakeup needed to be made, Moffat would probably be the first to go because he's been there the longest, he's been the voice of the series, and he's overseen the decline. The BBC would argue that Moffat has stayed too long, his ideas are tired, and he doesn't have anything new to bring to the table.
If the show continued to muddle or decline, the BBC would then replace Capaldi, and I rather suspect "Tennant Mark II" would be an actress rather than an actor as a very visible way to shake the series up and get eyeballs back on it.
From an American point of view, a 7:30-ish start time in late September makes perfect sense (and 8:30-ish next week would be even better); that's the heart of our prime time (and earlier than BBC America shows it), plus this is when shows launch their new seasons. I see people screaming for a six o'clock start time on Gallifrey Base in the ratings threads, and my immediate reaction is, American cultural perspective and all that, "Why? That's way the frell early. That's dinner time, and people are eating." I realize that, to the people screaming for six o'clock, that makes sense to them within their culture, but still, after thirty years of being an American Who fan and recognizing how very different the cultures are, it seems weird.
Does anyone around here really think they'll give Capaldi "the boot"? I find that very, very unlikely.
Do I think they would give him "the boot" right now? (IE., after the forthcoming Christmas special?) No.
Could they, down the road? Absolutely.
For the BBC, the question they have to answer is why is the series suffering declining ratings? To answer that, they need to ask more questions. Is it the timeslot? Is it the writing? Is it the actor?
The way to find out these answers would be a very carefully managed survey, predominantly of what fandom likes to term "the Not-We." I can "see" the survey questions in my head -- Have you watched Doctor Who in the past? Do you currently watch Doctor Who? If you do not currently watch Doctor Who, what was the number one reason why you stopped? Phone survey, about twenty-five questions, the kind of thing Pew Research does in their sleep for political questions, only this poll would be on Doctor Who. About six hundred people, margin of error +- 3%, that's all you'd need.
Like I said in the previous post, I think the BBC would axe Moffat first and see if the series rebounded with a new producer behind the scenes. If the slide continued with Capaldi and the new producer, then the BBC might look to shake up the series by replacing Capaldi.
The BBC however, doesn't despise the show enough that would actively sabotage it by demanding the firing of its star. This ain't the late 80's - DW is still incredibly popular, especially overseas.
And Capaldi is someone who would want to stay, unlike the others. At his age, he won't mind typecasting, and he's not a slouch either - he's an Academy Award-winning filmmaker.
THAT SAID, you have a point about Capaldi perhaps having tensions with a newer producer - perhaps a TOM Baker situation rather than Colin Baker a situation.
And Capaldi is someone who would want to stay, unlike the others. At his age, he won't mind typecasting, and he's not a slouch either - he's an Academy Award-winning filmmaker.
THAT SAID, you have a point about Capaldi perhaps having tensions with a newer producer - perhaps a TOM Baker situation rather than Colin Baker a situation.
The Rugby hurt Who last night, it will bounce back
What was the consolidated timeshift for ep 1? As long as it's pulling similar numbers on catch-up, I can't see the BBC worrying.
The latest I saw on GB is that the timeshift, through Thursday, was up to 6.77 million.
So far we haven't had a modern Doctor Who last more than 3 TV series. (Tennant had a year of specials, true.) If Capaldi follows the same pattern of getting burnt out after that much time than his tenure is already 2/3rds of the way over by a production viewpoint. By that point it might be cheaper for them to just hire a new unknown actor, anyway.
I'm already enjoying Capaldi more this season than I did last season (I think there's some truth to the suggestion that they've toned him down to make him more like the other modern Doctors). I hope he hangs about a bit longer. But just for shits and giggles, I reckon Bertie Carvel could be a good replacement if they wanted a Tennant-style lead.
Is that 640K, less than half what the slot got last week, or 640K less than half what the slot got last week? I'm assuming the former.
Well it bumps up the viewing figures for both episodes at least and maybe reenergises some fans (you never know) and given Sunday afternoons aren't known for much being on telly the BBC haven't lost anything by doing it.
By the way can anyone explain to me how the time shifting count is done? Is it counted when, for example, my TiVo records the episode, or only when/if it's watched? And is there any skewing of the figures if I watch the recording multiple times?
Well it bumps up the viewing figures for both episodes at least and maybe reenergises some fans (you never know) and given Sunday afternoons aren't known for much being on telly the BBC haven't lost anything by doing it.
By the way can anyone explain to me how the time shifting count is done? Is it counted when, for example, my TiVo records the episode, or only when/if it's watched? And is there any skewing of the figures if I watch the recording multiple times?
Final figure for Episode 1 6.54 million, lower than any episode last year.
Facinating watching people on certain other Forums with their heads stuck firmly in the sand, except for when they pull them up to hurl abuse at anyone suggesting that the series might be slightly less popular than it once was.
Facinating watching people on certain other Forums with their heads stuck firmly in the sand, except for when they pull them up to hurl abuse at anyone suggesting that the series might be slightly less popular than it once was.
20 million people are going to buy the DVD in the UK.
And another 40 million globally on top of that.
5 million people in Britain are avoiding spoilers for the next 4 months until they pay for the dvd they plan on really enjoying.
And another 40 million globally on top of that.
5 million people in Britain are avoiding spoilers for the next 4 months until they pay for the dvd they plan on really enjoying.
I've seen those threads.
I admit I stopped watching about midway through Season 8. I like Capaldi but the show just wasn't doing it for me anymore. I think part of it was I was tired of Clara. No hate...just tired and wanted a new companion.
I'm not sure what it will take to bring me back. New writer maybe...
