[Daniel__]

TV BIZ today asks the 2.4million-viewer question — how did Big Brother become a ratings flop?
On Friday, the show had the worst audience for an eviction in seven years. It was not just bolshy Belinda Harris-Reid who left the programme, but swathes of viewers too.

The Channel 4 show picked up just 2.4million viewers — the lowest figure since the second series back in 2001.

And so far, Big Brother 9 has already shed a whopping 15 per cent of viewers since last year’s series.



It’s woeful news for Channel 4 chiefs, who have paid for another TWO years of Big Brother. It is meant to pull in viewers aged 16-34 — gold dust for advertisers.

So today we ask just what has happened to a reality show that was once at the top of its game.

With the help of a panel of Big Brother “stars” past and present, we examine how the mighty has fallen — and if it can ever make a comeback.

BB9 launched with just 5.3million viewers — the lowest since 3.5million tuned in seven years ago.

In contrast, BB8 launched with an average 6.2million viewers last year.

Most worryingly for Channel 4, the show has failed to draw in as many crucial viewers aged 16 to 34 — the audience that advertisers crave.

Last night a C4 source admitted: “We’d prefer the ratings to be growing, but those days are gone.”

The insider insisted the show was not a disaster, adding: “It still does well compared to everything else on C4.

“It’s still young and upmarket. It could continue on its general level of gentle decline and still be significant. We are relatively happy.”

But “stars” of the past lined up to slate the series. Charley Uchea — known for her bitchy behaviour last year — said: “It’s been absolute c**p if I’m honest.

“I think it’s gone downhill for the simple reason that there’s nothing to do. They are sitting around bored.

“A lot of them are getting depressed. There’s just no atmosphere.”

She said viewers told her they couldn’t wait to watch the show when she was in it to see what she would do next.

Charley added: “I hate to say it because BB made me at the end of the day — but I just think there’s no need for it now. We’ve all seen Big Brother.”

Last night, BB1 villain Nasty Nick Bateman hit out at producers’ obsession with dull beauties and show-offs. He told TV Biz: “When they start putting in part-time models, you know it’s a ploy to pull the big audience.

“However, this seems to have backfired as both models have been desperately dull and suffer from charisma bypasses.”

Nick added: “The format works with normal people — not blind people, not show-offs, not frustrated actors or models, dull people or even vulgarians.


Blamed

“It goes without saying they are all in it for the fame and fortune, and only a few will achieve anything like that.”

But he praised this year’s show — hosted as usual by Davina McCall — for “funny and inventive” tasks.

Meanwhile, Amanda Marchant, one of the twins from BB8, said: “I think it’s quite boring this year. There are lots of things missing from the show.”

Her sister Sam blamed “boring housemates”. She said: “Bex is annoying. She’s the only interesting one, but she’s got no one to be annoying with.

“People are holding back — like they’re scared to get nominated. And things like Heaven and Hell are just repetitive.”

Craig Phillips, BB’s first- ever winner, said: “Would it be my choice of programme? No. I prefer wildlife programmes, documentaries and things like that.”

He said he had been keeping up with BB news online.



Craig added: “People slag it off, but they know the housemates’ names. They’re not forced to watch it.

“It definitely gets better later on. When there are too many people the camera time has to be shared.

“Now the numbers are going down it’ll get more interesting.”

Liam McGough of BB8 said: “It’s not a new concept any more. People are a lot more aware of how manufactured it is — they aren’t shocked.

“They should try to cut the c**p a little bit. The only reason some people are in there is so they can get into Chinawhite nightclub later on.”

As for reviving BB’s fortunes, Liam suggested: “They could try getting people who haven’t watched the show before — from the valleys in Wales maybe.”

Worst launch since 2001

BB9 launched with 5.3m viewers, making it the show’s worst launch since 2001 which got 3.5m.
And it’s down 800,000 viewers on BB8’s launch.
The share of viewers aged 16-34 was also the worst since 2001, with just 40.4 per cent watching.


Worst first 40 days ever

THIS year’s first 40 days’ viewing figures are down a whopping 15.4 per cent on last year.
And among 16-34 year-old viewers, the fall was an even bigger 17.7 per cent.
The ailing show averaged just 3.3 million viewers in its first 40 days.


Worst ever Friday interview

EVICTION night — traditionally a big draw for viewers — has also suffered a slide in viewers.
The first eviction night of this series saw the worst audience ever for the post-eviction interview with Davina.
Just 2.7million watched the 10.35pm show.


34 out of 45 episodes have so far lost viewers

COMPARING each episode this year with its equivalent episode last year reveals that 34 of the 45 episodes are down on viewer numbers year on year.


Worst episode since 2004

THE worst episode so far this series was on June 14 when just 2million viewers tuned in.
Prior to this, the worst single episode was July 31 2004, with a mere 1.7million.


Source: BARB/Infosys, Owl Overnights, Live data, C4 Total = C4 / C4+1, data back to 2001 (series 2).

Source (TheSun) Click Here

[Arneldo]

It's never gonna be as big as it was five years ago because people have grown tired of it, but you cannot call it a flop. It's (one of) the highest rated shows on C4 ATM and it's still getting front pages of magazines and newspapers. Media wise, its just as big as it's ever been. I think the same amount of people are watching, it's just people are not as addicted to it anymore and do not feel the need to know whats happening everyday. I mean now there are so many ways for people to catch-up on TV with C4+1, E4, 4oD and then Sky+. People don't have to stay in to watch it anymore.

Also, with Belinda's eviction - people were not bothered really. She was a newer housemate and it was a predictable eviction.

[LilSis08]

Oh it's ridiculous, reall gets on my nerves, the papers do this every bloody year! BB is not a flop, and this is one of the best years imo! And I doubt if many people did religously watch Belinda's interview, I know I didn't, she'd only been in there 5 mins.

[*mazedsalv**]

This is coming from the BB8 Hms which actually were at fault because of the low ratings!

[Sam]

I think people have just got sick of the show. It doesn't matter how great the show is, the fact that it is Big Brother, people don't want to watch it. After nine years people are just bored of the format, bored of the people and bored generally of Big Brother.

But when Celebrity Big Brother airs it should regain viewers, because people are more interested in that infamous version now.

[andyman]

People are not watching due to bex & luke. If one of them was up and evicted then the public would have faith again.

[MR.K!]

Originally posted by andyman
People are not watching due to bex & luke. If one of them was up and evicted then the public would have faith again.

i agree with luke. he is so anoying. The thing is that the housemates think that they are popular on the outside world so they wont nominate them :S its so annoying, i hope they have a whole house eviction and Luke or Dale is evicted

[marctierman]

:/
i'm really enjoying this series lmao
although it does need some twists

and i loved bb8 too and everyone hated that so much i'm just bbeasy lmao

[jonsep]

it does make me wonder why the papers want to slate bb,this is bb9 its never going to get to the dizzy hieght of pasts shows likke bb 3 et al.theres only so many ideas you can come up with,however i think this is one of the best bb in a long time as do a lot of people,so you so called journalist stick to major worldwide events, this after all a game show not iraq.!!

[fingers]

Originally posted by andyman
People are not watching due to bex & luke. If one of them was up and evicted then the public would have faith again.

'tis a bit of a joke (not even a funny one) the" Wukey and Webecca" show. Ch 4 are piling all their eggs in one basket,
hoping those infantile brats can turn the ratings around.

Well you know what happens when you drop the basket Ch 4 - you get egg all over your face!

[LarryDavid]

Rating Flop.......utter rubbish.

BB occupy 8 out of the top 10 positions for Channel 4. Only Ramsy and 8 out of 10 cats (which incidentally is on between the BB Friday shows) make it into the top 10.

Also BB lowest daily viewing figures are higher than Channel 5's highest watched prog for the week.

Everything is rosy - especially when there will also be a slow down in rates as there are more and more sky progs available and also more more have access to sky/cable etc...

[Mimsy]

This is the first BB I have watched every night (barring whilst on hols for a week) I lost interest half way through several of the others, and just looked in now n again to see who was left. I am getting bored with the Luke/Bex fiasco now, I turned off early on 'live feed' last night there is only so much soap flinging I could endure, soon as I realised one of them wasnt going to be in agony from stinging eyes, I went night nights lol

[bananarama]

The ratings will be down as I think the public are pig sick of strong characters being evicted way too soon. The shoot em up mentality of so called BB fans are killing BB off inch by inch year by year......

[Mrluvaluva]

She said viewers told her they couldn’t wait to watch the show when she was in it to see what she would do next.

Charley added: “I hate to say it because BB made me at the end of the day — but I just think there’s no need for it now. We’ve all seen Big Brother.”

Oh I was hanging on the edge of my seat to see what she did next. Of course there is no need for it now as she has done it. Who does she think she is?

[arista]

But in this Multi Channel age
2 million is very good.

Sign Of The Times.

[MarkWaldorf]

[quote]Originally posted by Daniel_B!tch

She said viewers told her they couldn’t wait to watch the show when she was in it to see what she would do next.

Lmao, yeah. People couldn't wait to see when she was evicted.

[JOSHUAH!]

Why does The Sun have to make it sound like nobody is watching at all, it all sounds so dramatic!

The show still pulls in fantastic ratings by Channel 4 standards.

[olliehot]

i know plenty of people who have switched of this year im a big fan and my usally bb friends r not intrested why i tell u lack of big charaters hms not keeping it real to many playing up to the cameras. boring , dull, bitcty hms make it a flop why some people llike it is beyond me i mean any other year these hms would be also rans its just plain and simply rubbish.

[Ross]

I just think it was Belinda.

I didn't watch it, I was at work. I wasn't bothered.

I think this week if the rumours are correct, it could well get back into 3/4million.

[Spike]

Over the years it is going to decrease but the show is still so profitable to C4
It comes in the top 3 programmes (usually first) most nights to get the most 16-34's
It comes second in its slot the majority of the time
The ratings aren't showing the quality of the show just the effect of 3 disaster series for the brand.
Actually the ratings are improving this series, the last 3 days have been the best ratings for those days this series showing the divide/HOH is finally having an effect.
A good second half to BB9, a good CBB6 and ratings will be back up for BB10

[Unblonde]

It's interesting that they say it's the lowest ratings since an episode in 2001 - which was actually half the lowest rating for this series - yet the show is still on 7 years later.


It's almost as if they had nothing better to do yesterday so came up with a bit of twaddle. ALL terrestrial tv programmes have seen a drop in ratings over the last 5 years. In the current climate, Big Brother is still a popular show.


It's ironic in a way as this is probably the best BB since BB3 - in my opinion anyway - but the 5 that have been on inbetween have left a good portion of the audience a bit lathargic for the show. Had they stuck with it I'm sure they'd really enjoy this series. It's turning out to be my favourite BB this year. After Dennis got chucked out, these have been my favourite bunch of housemates.

[Chrizzle]

When are people going to realise Big Brother doesnt NEED ratings. Big brother doesnt rely on ratings. Ratings mean diddly squat- if they meant something it would have been axed years ago.

BB relies on media coverage. Heat, Star, Daily Star, The Sun, all the entertainment programmes do sketches, red carpet appearances, etc etc etc

Big Brother is one of the most watched programmes on terrestrial TV even though its gone down in ratings. People still talk about it, people still have Myspace, Facebook pages.

This will end when the producers want it to, not when the viewing figures go down.

[rayheartbliss]

Originally posted by andyman
People are not watching due to bex & luke. If one of them was up and evicted then the public would have faith again.

LMAO!

you silly! XD

[rayheartbliss]

Originally posted by bananarama
The ratings will be down as I think the public are pig sick of strong characters being evicted way too soon. The shoot em up mentality of so called BB fans are killing BB off inch by inch year by year......

people are depressed watching bitches being praised on the show!

most peopl i kno have gone of the show just after last year!
now, i think theres only 3-4 people i kno who still watch it most nights!

ratings wont go up for showing depressing scence where people are being nasty to other people!

and because they have so much of this on the show..people cant stand watching it anymore!

i think this year is actually realy good may not be the best..but its still good!
ratings will go down next year and the year after most probably!

[Scarlett.]

Im bored of BB, I personally think its had its day