Dan Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 The Daily Beast interviewed Steven Moffat. I haven't read it yet, so I don't know if there are spoilers. It seems pretty much spoiler-free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 I've said this before but I really hope the BBC don't try putting Doctor Who up against the UK X-Factor. Here in the UK, X-Factor is an unbeatable juggernaut. It rules Saturday and Sunday nights; any show that it put on against doesn't have much chance of being watched. Last year the Beeb put Strictly Come Dancing (or something like it) on at the same time and its ratings sucked. It runs from... well now, till Christmas to ensure that the X-Factor winner takes the coveted Xmas number one slot. As long as DW doesn't infringe on X-Factor's running time, everything will be fine. If it runs past 7pm, viewing figures will plummet like a stone. I think they'll run Who at about 6PM so's to not time clash with X-Factor. We can but hope. X-Factor's opening episode last Saturday got 12.6 million, which is apparently half of those who were watching TV that night. And it stays like that till the Final. I just can't shake the feeling that this might be the real reason the BBC split the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothian Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 I've said this before but I really hope the BBC don't try putting Doctor Who up against the UK X-Factor. Here in the UK, X-Factor is an unbeatable juggernaut. It rules Saturday and Sunday nights; any show that it put on against doesn't have much chance of being watched. Last year the Beeb put Strictly Come Dancing (or something like it) on at the same time and its ratings sucked. It runs from... well now, till Christmas to ensure that the X-Factor winner takes the coveted Xmas number one slot. As long as DW doesn't infringe on X-Factor's running time, everything will be fine. If it runs past 7pm, viewing figures will plummet like a stone. I think they'll run Who at about 6PM so's to not time clash with X-Factor. We can but hope. X-Factor's opening episode last Saturday got 12.6 million, which is apparently half of those who were watching TV that night. And it stays like that till the Final. I just can't shake the feeling that this might be the real reason the BBC split the season. That would be an asinine reason. The BBC is a public service broadcaster and it isn't in their interest to stoke huge ratings wars. That they tried to challenge the X Factor with Strictly Come Dancing last year drew lots of criticism from the media because ratings don't matter to the BBC as they don't have to worry about adverts. The mid-season break is, until I hear otherwise from the cast or production crew, a creative decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuaveStar Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 That would be an asinine reason. The BBC is a public service broadcaster and it isn't in their interest to stoke huge ratings wars. That they tried to challenge the X Factor with Strictly Come Dancing last year drew lots of criticism from the media because ratings don't matter to the BBC as they don't have to worry about adverts. The mid-season break is, until I hear otherwise from the cast or production crew, a creative decision. Ian, although I agree with you about the mid-season break, I disagree about the ratings for one reason. The TV license. The BBC needs to have good solid ratings so that when people ask "Why do we pay so much money for the TV license" they can turn around and say "Well, millions of people watched Dr Who on Saturday, and our other shows like Gavin and Stacey etc." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venneh Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Though it could just be so that they can make those cliffhangers that much more infuriating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothian Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 That would be an asinine reason. The BBC is a public service broadcaster and it isn't in their interest to stoke huge ratings wars. That they tried to challenge the X Factor with Strictly Come Dancing last year drew lots of criticism from the media because ratings don't matter to the BBC as they don't have to worry about adverts. The mid-season break is, until I hear otherwise from the cast or production crew, a creative decision. Ian, although I agree with you about the mid-season break, I disagree about the ratings for one reason. The TV license. The BBC needs to have good solid ratings so that when people ask "Why do we pay so much money for the TV license" they can turn around and say "Well, millions of people watched Dr Who on Saturday, and our other shows like Gavin and Stacey etc." I agree to an extent. I think that the TV license forces the BBC to have a bar it has to raise its game beyond. Ratings is definitely one indicator, but not the only one. The Day Today was one of the best things BBC2 have ever put out and helped to launch Alan Partridge, one of the established faces of modern BBC comedy. But there was only the one season. Ultimately, I don't think the BBC would risk putting such an important franchise up against the Cowell ratings juggernaut. At the end of the day, Doctor Who is still a niche sci-fi show, it just happens to be punching way above its weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuaveStar Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 I agree to an extent. I think that the TV license forces the BBC to have a bar it has to raise its game beyond. Ratings is definitely one indicator, but not the only one. The Day Today was one of the best things BBC2 have ever put out and helped to launch Alan Partridge, one of the established faces of modern BBC comedy. But there was only the one season. Ultimately, I don't think the BBC would risk putting such an important franchise up against the Cowell ratings juggernaut. At the end of the day, Doctor Who is still a niche sci-fi show, it just happens to be punching way above its weight. I agree about that. That's why I've been saying I expect Dr Who to be on just before X-Factor. Even with the overnight ratings, they would still need to take into account the iPlayer results, and the people who recorded the show to watch later, which will still play a serious factor in the shows ratings. Alan Partridge analogy I can trump by responding that John Cleese only wanted 13 episodes of Fawlty Towers, and Father Ted only ran for three years, and Bottom didn't go much longer than that, Brasseye, and so many other examples could be brought up here. Just because a show has a short run, does not stop it from being memorable as being an influential comedy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koete Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Thwipster has the "Resurrection of The Daleks" collectible set for 33% off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 That would be an asinine reason. The BBC is a public service broadcaster and it isn't in their interest to stoke huge ratings wars. That they tried to challenge the X Factor with Strictly Come Dancing last year drew lots of criticism from the media because ratings don't matter to the BBC as they don't have to worry about adverts. The mid-season break is, until I hear otherwise from the cast or production crew, a creative decision. Ian, although I agree with you about the mid-season break, I disagree about the ratings for one reason. The TV license. The BBC needs to have good solid ratings so that when people ask "Why do we pay so much money for the TV license" they can turn around and say "Well, millions of people watched Dr Who on Saturday, and our other shows like Gavin and Stacey etc." I agree to an extent. I think that the TV license forces the BBC to have a bar it has to raise its game beyond. Ratings is definitely one indicator, but not the only one. The Day Today was one of the best things BBC2 have ever put out and helped to launch Alan Partridge, one of the established faces of modern BBC comedy. But there was only the one season. Ultimately, I don't think the BBC would risk putting such an important franchise up against the Cowell ratings juggernaut. At the end of the day, Doctor Who is still a niche sci-fi show, it just happens to be punching way above its weight. The rest of the British Media HATE the BBC and will seek out any and all excuses to show them in a bad light. And one of the Beeb's main weaknesses is the licence fee and the wages it pays people, especially the big name stars and its Directors. People (the public. MP's everyone) always want it reduced somehow. The BBC HAS to show it is giving value for money and producing shows that people want to watch, despite being given less money to do it all with. They absolutely WOULD put Doctor Who up against X-Factor, in a heartbeat, if they thought it would help them generate a bigger profile. That said, I think its more to do with budget that the season is split into two this year. Just as I think its to do with budget that we aren't getting a full season next year. They probably want to save money to make the 50th anniversary as big as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Well, it seems I'm partially right. Since it came back, DW has aired around 6-6.30. Tonight? It starts at 7.10 and finishes at 8. X-Factor starts at 8. They're going to put it up against X-Factor and this is just a test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavros Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Really? Looks like they're specifically programming it to fit with X-factor to me. No way they push it later, the family audience is what they're after and past 8 the 4 to 8 year olds aren't all staying up to watch it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothian Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 I don't see how you're even partially right. Doctor Who finishes before X-Factor, so it isn't in direct competition at all. If anything, it's an acknowledgement that the Beeb aren't going to challenge the more mainstream ITV show - they're merely suggesting that Doctor Who acts as the lead-in show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavros Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Exactly. Dr Who is if anything being repositioned as a good lead-in for whatever they actually want to put up against the X-factor, they're supporting that show not prepping Who for a straight fight against itv's behemoth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavros Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 So. This was pretty damn good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damndirtyape Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 That kicked Ass. Full of great ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavros Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Yeah, it sure was a lot of fun, I really liked how creative they were with it all. Very satisfying. Bloody marvellous in fact. Not saying exactly where I'd place it but it's high on my ranking of modern episodes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damndirtyape Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Can't say a lot with out going way into spoilers. A whole lot of fun. Some nice closure on past story lines and a lot of new questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slothian Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Yeah, it sure was a lot of fun, I really liked how creative they were with it all. Very satisfying. Bloody marvellous in fact. Not saying exactly where I'd place it but it's high on my ranking of modern episodes. What he said - it's a very satisfying episode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuaveStar Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Yeah, it sure was a lot of fun, I really liked how creative they were with it all. Very satisfying. Bloody marvellous in fact. Not saying exactly where I'd place it but it's high on my ranking of modern episodes. What he said - it's a very satisfying episode. Yes, yes it was. Some cracking one liners throughout the episode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavros Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Just watched for a second time with housemates. I'm slightly soused from the bottle+ of wine I've drunk so far but damn if that wasn't good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venneh Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 It or if, Tom? The internet fairy hath visited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted August 28, 2011 Report Share Posted August 28, 2011 I'm not sure what I thought of that. I think I need another watch. But I wasn't blown away. Of course, I'm in a SUPER foul mood tonight, and that might have something to do with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koete Posted August 28, 2011 Report Share Posted August 28, 2011 I don't know what to make of it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted August 28, 2011 Report Share Posted August 28, 2011 Yeah, I just... thought it was "eh". I'm VERY please Mels isn't going to be around. She irritated the FUCK out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koete Posted August 28, 2011 Report Share Posted August 28, 2011 She was irritating, but I think it made sense as she was "teenage" River. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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