All articles by Philip Reevell – Page 3
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FeaturesSky's entertainment success
Sky One pulled out all the stops to support the new Gladiators, which opened with 1.5 million/12% share in multichannel homes on Sunday thanks to a relentless barrage of publicity. These figureshelped ensure Gladiators was the top multichannel show of the week.
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FeaturesInternational formats bolster ITV weekend
A few weeks ago I was enjoying a coffee in the Roma café in Cannes when a van went past displaying one of the most amusing posters of the MIP TV market: “40 Days Without Sex - the most talked about show in the Netherlands”, it read.
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FeaturesDigital Focus: Electronic Programme Guide
If, as consultancy group Accenture suggests, viewers are choosing to watch programmes rather than channels and will switch to new channels to see their chosen programmes, then finding that channel on the EPG is increasingly important.
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FeaturesViewer choice is business model of the future
“Consumers of all ages say there is a lot they dislike about live TV,” according to an international survey of TV viewing tastes published by consultancy group Accenture last week. In this case live TV means scheduled, linear TV. So what turns viewers off? In the UK, 65% cited “commercials,” ...
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FeaturesPushing Daisies gives ITV a night to remember
American drama series Pushing Daisies made its UK debut on ITV1 on Saturday at 9pm with 5.7 million/25% share, a good audience for a Saturday night. The appeal of this quirky drama for ITV was that it premiered to strong numbers and critical acclaim in the US last October, drawing ...
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FeaturesDoctor's timeslot travels pay off for BBC1 line-up
Putting MipTV to one side for a moment, the pressing question of the week is whether Doctor Who's earlier 6.20pm start time will really cost the show viewers, as Russell T Davies maintains.
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FeaturesOnly a thin blue line divides BBC1 and ITV1 at 8pm
Some scheduling decisions strike me as really puzzling. Last Thursday at 8pm I found myself switching between two police precinct dramas - The Bill on ITV1 and Holby Blue on BBC1. Who on earth thinks a precinct drama is a good alternative to a precinct drama?
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Features
Bionic Woman boosts ITV2
The Bionic Woman demonstrated her formidable powers this week, leaping straight to the top of the multichannel programme table, delivering an impressive 2.2 million/10% share for ITV2.
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FeaturesBBC's Smokehouse gives health twist to kids factual ent
There seems to be no limit to the number of twists that can be given to factual entertainment reality shows.
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FeaturesCruft's finale proves to be best in show for BBC2
Few TV events win higher ratings than a grand finale and this week BBC2 had a couple of refreshingly different finales on offer. Crufts 2008 was the channel's highest rated programme with 3.6 million/13% share on Sunday night at 7pm for the best in show. And the final University Challenge ...
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FeaturesFincham's need for a shipshape ITV1 schedule
A new captain on the bridge: a chance to make some changes below deck. But does anyone know where the good ship ITV1 is heading? As Peter Fincham takes the helm at ITV1, he needs to be aware of the iceberg scenario - that of ITV1 being pulled along on ...
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FeaturesRatings: ITV's soap switch helps safeguard primetime share
“The soaps have bedded in” was one of Simon Shaps' upbeat comments about the impact of ITV1's schedule revamp.
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FeaturesNo French lessons needed for BBC1's Saturday winners
Let me run an idea past you: a talent show big enough to engage masses of viewers, culminating in a sing-off between the last two remaining contestants. The singers duet with legendary rock stars and learn nearly 30 songs for the live final.
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FeaturesWhy weeknight drama has little to celebrate
Weeknight drama - Monday to Thursday on ITV1 and BBC1 at 9pm - does the heavy lifting in the schedules. So there's plenty of interest in the eagerly awaited Ashes to Ashes, the follow-up to Life on Mars.
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FeaturesAudiences take a shine to the factual shows
Among the clutter of the schedules, some genres have to try harder than others. So, for instance, a celebrity edition of a factual show will provide a decent publicity hook.
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FeaturesSport drives up the ratings
Every year I say: “I think I'll stay up for the Superbowl.” Then when I contemplate staying awake until 3am on a Monday, I duck out.
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FeaturesAudiences take a shine to the factual shows
Among the clutter of the schedules, some genres have to try harder than others. So, for instance, a celebrity edition of a factual show will provide a decent publicity hook.
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FeaturesITV's revamped schedule fails to entice viewers
Two days in another country - the Real Screen Summit took place in Washington, DC last week and it provided me with one striking impression and an informative rating statistic (see the digital column for more details).