[10x05] Ratings

[Catullus]

Don't forget that international viewers are not listed..
And there are a lot of people overseas watching no doubt.
I'm 2 of them

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Catullus

Don't forget that international viewers are not listed..
And there are a lot of people overseas watching no doubt.
I'm 2 of them

I wouldn't have though international viewers would get to see the new episodes so soon.

At least not 'legally'.

[janstett]

Originally Posted by M3_Powered

How the hell did Heartbeat beat Top Gear?

Pensioners (ooh I used some UK jingoism! Yay for me!)

Same reason 60 minutes, and when they were on, Maaaaaaaaaaat-lock and Olden Girls were at the top fo the ratings.

[janstett]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Well seeing as how it's a British television show, no. Unlike the Brits, we don't get recycled TV shows from other countries. Sure, we rip them off and do our own editions, but the only shows here in non-American English are shitty ones on PBS.

Actually now that I think about it, that's not true.

Discovery Channel works closely with the BBC. I'm not sure how much they contribute (is it a 50-50 collaboration or do they just license BBC material), but take things like the recent and acclaimed "Planet Earth" series, or other past similar gems like "Walking with Dinosaurs", et al. In the case of Planet Earth, I know the HD-DVD/Blu Ray versions are narrated by Attenborough but the Discovery airings inexplicably throw that out for Sigourney Weaver (travesty!). Many of the channels in Discovery's sphere of influence (Sci Fi, etc.) follow suit -- so they do see Doctor Who, etc. And I'm not completely sure about the new Battlestar Galactica but there may be something going on there.

A number of HBO series are likewise Brit sourced. Ever wonder why Rome (a great show, by the way, shame it got cancelled) had so many British accents? Then you can go back a little to the Ali G show, which was just a reimagining of what Sacha Baron Cohen had already driven into the ground years earlier across the pond.

[janstett]

Originally Posted by smtk

I beleive its down to the tech.

I don't think you can get bullet cameras in HD yet. And they use alot of bullet cams on topgear for nearly all the on-board stuff. Mine only does something like 795x596 where as the lowest HD is 1,280x720

I have to cry foul. There are $1500 consumer hard disk cameras that can record 1080p. Not professional level equipment, but beats standard def 10 times out of 10.

[ViperVX]

I wanted to write a long post about "how hard it actualy is" but i won't. Take my word for it, TG will need about 5-10 mil $ to convert production to Full HD, because they do 90% of filming outside their studio.

[BigDaveDogg]

Originally Posted by smtk

I beleive its down to the tech.

I don't think you can get bullet cameras in HD yet. And they use alot of bullet cams on topgear for nearly all the on-board stuff. Mine only does something like 795x596 where as the lowest HD is 1,280x720

If "bullet cameras" means the cameras they use mounted to the windshield, etc...then that sized camera is available with HD capabilities.

[nephelia8]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

I wouldn't have though international viewers would get to see the new episodes so soon.

At least not 'legally'.

Of course you can: either via satellite or cable.

[upyourego]

You can see the BBC Channels across most of Europe with a big enough dish BUT they don't count towards ratings.

In fact most people don't count towards the ratings - just those with a special box and is one of the BARB panelists.

[Cobol74]

That BARB upscaling has been static for years not taking into account off territory viewings - my 2 penny worth. The spend on cameras wouldnot be all down to TG as they would be re-usable for other shows.

[upyourego]

Top Gear WILL go HD eventually as the BBC has said all shows will be HD by 2016 - of course that does depend on the BBC Trust approving the BBC HD plans.

[upyourego]

OK so repeat ratings

Top Gear got 2.3 million viewers and an audience share of 10.4%

It was the joint fifth most popular show on BBC TWO last night.

Autumnwatch - 3.5million
The Weakest Link - 2.7million
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two - 2.6million
Eggheads - 2.4million
Top Gear - 2.3million
Heroes - 2.3million

Most popular show in Top Gears timeslot was Emmerdale (7.6million and 35.6% share).

Most popular show of the night was Coronation Street with 9.8 million and 43.3% share.