Question for UK viewers regarding when DW is shown

[23skidoo]

I live in Canada, and have only visited the UK twice in my life - 32 years ago and 20 years ago. So I know things change, like culture, viewing habits, etc.

As mentioned in other threads, the BBC finally confirmed an airtime for the season premiere of Doctor Who - 6 PM on the Saturday.

Now bearing in mind that in North America prime time viewing begins at 7 PM in Canada and 8 PM in the US, this sounds awfully early. And despite the evidence that has shown that whenever DW is shown at a later time by the BBC it gets a spike in its ratings, they're still insisting on making it virtually an afternoon show.

My question is: do children in the UK have to be in bed by 7? I get the impression from the way the BBC is handling DW that they seem to be under this conception that children (because, of course, Doctor Who is a children's show as far as the BBC is concerned) won't watch a show that airs at 7 PM or God forbid 8 PM. And I just find this puzzling.

You'd have thought the show might have been allowed to grow up a bit in terms of its scheduling. And of course the assumption is the BBC is going to do the same thing it did last year and bounce it around the schedule week to week, which is in my opinion the #1 reason why ratings for the thing took a hit. Is it physically impossible for the BBC to pick a time for the show and anchor it there? I know this is nothing new for the BBC or UK television in general, and again I'm coming from the perspective of a culture where shows often air at the same time and day for years at a time. But if I were living in the UK I'd probably say nuts to bouncing round the schedule and either decide to wait for the DVD/Blu-ray or watch it online on iPlayer.

So to our UK friends, my main question is: is this as annoying to you guys as it appears to be from an outsider's perspective?

Alex

 

[DimesDan]

My question is: do children in the UK have to be in bed by 7? I get the impression from the way the BBC is handling DW that they seem to be under this conception that children (because, of course, Doctor Who is a children's show as far as the BBC is concerned) won't watch a show that airs at 7 PM or God forbid 8 PM. And I just find this puzzling.

And I find your concern puzzling.

As for your question. Yes. No. Maybe. It all depends on the parents in question when they feel there child should be in bed and also their age.

I'm not sure how things are down in Canada but the government doesn't dictate what time children need to be in bed.

18:00hrs does seem a tad early, but in fairness, it depends on what else is on that evening on BBC1 and also what ITV has competeing for the same time slot or later on that evening. As long as it doesn't shift each week and we don't end up playing "pin-the-tail-on-Doctor" I don't particually mind it being on at that time.

Also, what scheduling conventions that occur over in North America regarding prime-time and the like don't really apply over here in the same sense.

 

[StCoop]

I know people outside the UK (and a lot inside) don't like to admit it but DW is a children's/family show and that's why it goes in an early evening timeslot.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

What's a usual dinner time in the UK? Would a family eat dinner before Doctor Who? After? Perhaps even during? That's the thing I don't understand about an early timeslot; six o'clock is a traditional dinner time in the United States.

 

[Sindatur]

What's a usual dinner time in the UK? Would a family eat dinner before Doctor Who? After? Perhaps even during? That's the thing I don't understand about an early timeslot; six o'clock is a traditional dinner time in the United States.

And 6:00pm is West Coast BBCA first airing (We see it same time as East Coast) and then it's replayed at 9PM West Coast Time

 

[VDCNI]

It's simple - the optimal time for Doctor Who is 7pm - 8pm is too late for a family drama with a strong following with the under 7's.

However BBC1 has three big shows on a Saturday night - Doctor Who, which ever talent show is running & Casualty. The BBC has to schedule all three in such a way as to avoid them clashing with Britain's Got Talent on ITV1. One to avoid them getting destroyed in the ratings and two because the BBC gets a lot of shit for trying to be too ruthless in the ratings war.

So given that Doctor Who is the youngest targeted of the three it makes sense to go first - it's also a much stronger start to the schedule to this years BBC talent show. On top of that we've seen many times just how strong Doctor Who is on iPlayer plus it gets two BBC3 repeats in the next 7 days. Wherever Doctor Who goes it will get watched - not always the case for the other shows the BBC has to schedule on that day.

 

[Stephen!]

I suppose it could be worse and it's not relegated to BBC2, as they used to do with STNG/DS9/Voyager.

 

[captcalhoun]

i eat my tea and then watch Who. typically.

some folks eat earlier than others. same as some folks would have their kids in bed by 8pm and other might let them stay up til 9pm.

it's just a bit annoying though, that YET AGAIN, you feel the need to harp on about the way BBC1 show Who. fact is, it's obviously working or they would've done something about it. like stick it in a sunday night graveyard slot.

 

[StCoop]

I have to add that it makes me feel really old when people think 6pm is too early for the series given that it was on before 5.30 all through my childhood...

Yes youngsters, even the dark and violent Hinchliffe years were shown in what could arguably be called late afternoon.

 

[WillsBabe]

It's simple - the optimal time for Doctor Who is 7pm - 8pm is too late for a family drama with a strong following with the under 7's. snipped....

Wherever Doctor Who goes it will get watched - not always the case for the other shows the BBC has to schedule on that day.

My thoughts, exactly.

But if I were living in the UK I'd probably say nuts to bouncing round the schedule and either decide to wait for the DVD/Blu-ray or watch it online on iPlayer.

It's possible that folks in the UK do that, too.

So to our UK friends, my main question is: is this as annoying to you guys as it appears to be from an outsider's perspective?

Alex

It doesn't bother me. I guess over the years I've been used to the moveable feasts that are the shows I watch. Sometimes, for instance, as I'm sure you know, they can be taken off air to make way for sporting events. That does irrirate me, but airing times don't bother me. As soon as a show I like gets announced I just set it up for series link and then forget about it. If I'm in to see it, I see it; if I miss the first part because I'm at the beach, or whatever, I watch it on catch up. It really doesn't bother me one way or the other.

As for when folks in the UK eat dinner, or tea, I guess that varies, too. I'm usually eating when Who is on - any time I guess from between 5.30 and 7.00. I won't cook when Who is on, though. That way I miss too much!

 

[JoeZhang]

7pm is too late because it then pushes back all the other big Saturday night shows by an hour. Sure there is a bit of minor variation depending on what ITV are showing and the need to counter-programme but otherwise I can't see what the fuss is.

 

[lurok]

My question is: do children in the UK have to be in bed by 7?

No. But my sister likes to get kids ready for bed (the bath/reading routine) around that time.

Who is a kid's show, hence why in pre-watershed. Which is main reason don't watch it (except with delightful niece and nephew, and then under duress. Can't stand it).

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

Is it 6 O'Clock this year? Fantastic!

 

[Starkers]

I have to add that it makes me feel really old when people think 6pm is too early for the series given that it was on before 5.30 all through my childhood...

Yes youngsters, even the dark and violent Hinchliffe years were shown in what could arguably be called late afternoon.

Yeah, odd isn't it, I mean that's what we grew up with, didn't the A-Team used to be on at about 5.30 on ITV as well I think. I know it did get shunted later, but not sure when? I recall McCoy being on at 7.30 Wednesdays (and scheduled oppostite Corrie, smart move that! Not!)

I think another point that needs emphasising is that dinner time isn't always at that sort of time in the UK, or at least it didn't used to be. When I was growing up certainly dinner was at lunch time, and 5/6 o'clock was tea time, when you'd have lighter fare, sarnies and stuff. This has probably changed now (certainly has for me)

I don't see the huge problem with it being on at 6, I'd rather it was a little later 6.30/7, but this kind of time slots' certainly never harmed the raitings before, and its certainly nothing to get drawers in a bunch over

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Does time slot really bother people this day and age? I mean as long as it's advertised so you know it's gonna be on then it's series linked or watched on iPlayer. Maybe I'm out of touch but I very rarely watch anything "live" and haven't for years so I don't really care about the time slot.

 

[starsuperion]

I like to TIVO and forget about it..then watch them all together in succession

 

[Starkers]

I like to watch some things 'live' and Who is definitely one of those, but its actual time isn't that big a deal, I just ensure either me or my g/f cook before or after (or have something on whilst its on!)

 

[Jax]

To be honest from a BBC POV - 6:45-7pm is the best time to start an episode because history suggests thats when you get the best ratings. The 1st half ends on June 7th right? so for the most part Doctor Who can get away with early viewings since it does not have to air in the middle of summer anymore but still 6pm is too early for my liking as I am not always in the house at such a time on a saturday.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I like to watch some things 'live' and Who is definitely one of those, but its actual time isn't that big a deal, I just ensure either me or my g/f cook before or after (or have something on whilst its on!)

Doctor Who is one of the few shows I generally watch live, too, but yeah the time it's on doesn't really matter.

 

[DimesDan]

I like to watch some things 'live' and Who is definitely one of those, but its actual time isn't that big a deal, I just ensure either me or my g/f cook before or after (or have something on whilst its on!)

Doctor Who is one of the few shows I generally watch live, too, but yeah the time it's on doesn't really matter.

same and same.