[michael21]

http://m.broadcastnow.co.uk/5047318.article

The X Factor viewers will be able to vote for their favourite contestants from the start of the show for the first time from this weekend.

The development follows research conducted by ITV and Fremantle in 2011. The work, looking at voting behaviour, found that viewers wanted to interact with shows in a more immediate way.

Voting lines will open on Saturday at the start of the show and will stay open until the Sunday evening results show. Previously, lines were opened at the end of the performances. The model of voting being adopted has already been used on ITV talent show Superstar and the National Television Awards.

The X Factor already has a ‘Tap to Clap’ mobile app, which passed 100 million interactions in September 2011. ITV says this demonstrates the appetite for interaction.

As well as opening the voting earlier, mobile short dial codes are being introduced that will allow viewers to vote using their mobiles at a fixed price of 35p per vote, regardless of their network. Britain’sGot Talent and BBC1’s The Voiceboth use shortcodes for voting.

ITV director of interactive Ann Cook said: “We’ve been listening to our viewers and they are highly engaged and connected. They want to have their say on our shows in real-time and to know exactly what they are paying.”

Fremantle Media Enterprises senior vice-president of licensing and entertainment Dominic Burns added: “The new voting initiative will help to strengthen the viewers’ role as star-makers.”

[Marc]

Wonder if they're doing this to keep Rylan.

[Adele Wigglesworthit]

Originally Posted by Marc

Wonder if they're doing this to keep Rylan.

Yes I'm sure they've changed the whole voting system of the show to keep that douche bag in

They've probably done it to eliminate the issue around the first performances being forgotten.

[Doogle]

This is a bad idea I think. I'm not sure who's at a disadvantage with this though.

[Jack_]

This should lessen the burden of the dreaded death slot (first on) so I'm all for it. I've never really understood the point in waiting until the end, let's face it the majority of people already know who they're going to be voting for before the performances, I expect there's only a few who genuinely vote for someone based on that night's performances.

[Maia]

Not sure I like the idea of this but I'll wait and see

[Marc]

Just gives Ella an advantage tbh

[Locke.]

It might, for once, help to save the people that have to perform 1st and 2nd

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Locke.

It might, for once, help to save the people that have to perform 1st and 2nd

They could do that by just putting Ella on first

[Jordan.]

It's a good idea imo, stops people complaining as much about an unfair advantage for the ones on last.

[Jordan.]

Although now it'll probably just be the other way around

[Mystic Mock]

Not really Jordan as they will still get a large boost in the votes for being on late, all it's done is make sure that the bottom two are genuinely the two least popular on the night.

[Brother Leon]

As if people vote based on performances. The first week is probably the only week that happens there is still undecided people. After that everyone has their fave no matter what really. The exception is when someone truly slays the competition on the night really and they gain votes for it.

[Marc]

MK1 will be on first anyway, them or an over

[Black Dagger]

Oh I like the sound of this tbh.

And why on earth would it be done just to save Rylan ffs? It gives everybody an advantage.

You've made it sound as if just Rylan gets his lines open from the start.

[joeysteele]

Cannot see the point of voting for someone before they have performed on the night. Not keen on this at all, I would have preferred to have seen the voting used to decide who goes out each week and not have the daft sing offs.

[Black Dagger]

Oh and this just proves the show is a popularity contest anyway...

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Black Dagger

Oh and this just proves the show is a popularity contest anyway...

But in the past just to sabotage contestants they would put them on early every week just so they would lose support, now it makes it much harder for them to do that.

[Black Dagger]

Originally Posted by The Mockinator

But in the past just to sabotage contestants they would put them on early every week just so they would lose support, now it makes it much harder for them to do that.

True...

But take GMD3/Union J for example, they could give several awful performances and still be in the top 2 for that weekend before they even performed due to their fan-bases.

[Mystic Mock]

Thankfully though because they are both the same group really they will splinter each others vote.