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From: The Last Doctor <mike@xenocyte.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.drwho
Subject: Doctor Who 2024 and its position in the UK TV charts
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2024 11:12:24 +0100
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I'm not going to talk about the absolute numbers - TV viewing in the UK 
has undergone a seismic shift over the last few years, with all shows 
having a marked decline in ratings in the official surveys. the raw 
numbers don't tell a story any more.

Instead, let's concentrate on Doctor Who's relative performance compared 
to other TV. So, looking at the BBC's preferred measure of 7-day 
consolidated ratings, in terms of short-run scripted scripted fiction 
(excluding factual and non-fictional light entertainment, and the 3- and 
4- times a week soaps) - how is Doctor Who ACTUALLY performing?

Week 0 (Christmas):

8 (mostly specials) scripted fiction episodes in the top 50, all but one 
on the BBC. Doctor Who came in 2nd overall, and 2nd for the BBC, with 
98% of the audience for perennial ratings winner Call the Midwife.

Week 1:

5 scripted fiction episodes in the top 50. Doctor Who came in 3rd and 
4th of those: but 2nd and 3rd for the BBC (ITV's Red Eye was in a league 
of its own) with 96% and 93% of the audience for the top rated Blue Lights.

Week 2:

10 scripted fiction episodes in the top 50 (because Bridgerton Season 3 
part 1 dropped on Netflix and stormed the charts). Doctor Who came in 
5th for the week but 2nd for the BBC, behind Blue Lights again with 83% 
of its audience.

Week 3:

Back to 5 scripted fiction episodes in the top 50: Doctor Who comes in 
3rd, but 2nd for the BBC behind - you guessed it - Blue Lights, with 88% 
of its audience.

Week 4:

Red Eye had ended. Blue Lights had ended.
Just THREE dramas in the top 50 this week, all on the BBC. Doctor Who 
was #1. The most watched short-run scripted fiction in the UK for the week.

Week 5:

Just TWO dramas in the top 50 this week, both on the BBC. Doctor Who was 
#1. The most watched short-run scripted fiction in the UK for the week.


We're still waiting for +7s for the last two weeks, but just so we're 
all clear - the audience numbers are lower than ever before, that's 
true. But that goes for ALL TV, not just Doctor Who.

In terms of its performance for the BBC, the new season of Doctor Who 
has achieved, in the 6 weeks reported to date since Ncuti took the baton 
from David as the lead:

#2, #2 and #3, #2, #2, #1, #1.

Don't believe the doomsayers. The total audience numbers aren't what 
they were - but Doctor Who remains an enduring success for the BBC and 
RTD. Disney may renew after next year, or they may not - but the show's 
not going anywhere. No wonder RTD has half a dozen scripts in 
development for 2026 already.

-- 
There are some corners of the universe which have bred the most terrible 
things. Things which act against everything we believe in.

They must be /fought/.