Doctor Who Ratings Slump! Build up to the World Cup?

[rabid1st]

Is a "build up to the World Cup" a valid excuse for the continued decline--now at an all time low of 4.6 million? Isn't the World Cup an annual event? Or is it once in 4 years or 5...? I should go look that up.

And I'm back...

It is every four years, so, maybe that IS a valid excuse. Yes, I do often lament my sad lack of knowledge re: Ball Sports of Any Description! But I simply do not care that much about Mr. Green and his butter fingers. No, seriously, even if you do care about Futbol, give the guy a break. He had a moment of overconfidence or a ball with a lot of top spin or whatever. It could happen to anyone having balls kicked at their head all day.

But, back to Whovianism, I can see a huge national event having an impact on the ratings. And I should report that 7.49 was the final BARB figure on Cold Blood, which puts it in the range of where it should be on first time viewing. Where I would expect it to be, if it was still must see TV. And, of course, the GAME wasn't on at the same time as Doctor Who.

But the "build up" to the game was on...and it was USA vs. ENGLAND! And if there was a match in 2006, maybe it was at another time of day, due to where the World Cup is held changing radically. So, I am inclined to give this one episode a pass on the rather predictable slide of first-viewership ratings. Maybe a lot of people really did record it because they didn't want to miss a moment of the big game.

http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/06/lodger-overnight-ratings-46-million.html

Comments

[mrs_roy.livejournal.com]

When will they wake up to themselves?

[wickedgillie.livejournal.com]

Hell, even I watched the game live (including the build up to the game) and watched the show later than usual. And of course, this was the episode that actually featured football. And it was in my opinion a rather strong/entertaining episode for companion-light. No Midnight, of course, but Midnight is in a class of its own.

[wickedgillie.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, I have become an apologista. Somebody smack me hard, please!

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

:SMACK:

:snicker:

On the other hand, even I am willing to give them a pass this time, because England was playing. And there was probably a great amount of build up to the game.

[sunnytyler001.livejournal.com]

First the sunny evenings, now the Wolrd cup... what's next?

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Sci-Fi Fatigue is my guess.

People are just tired of science fiction in general and so they are not watching "the best darned show on television." PSHAW!

It sucks and people no longer care because of the vast suckitude. The diehard fans will cling to it to the bitter end, much as I did with Heroes, panning for the gold in the dross. But what the recording public are hoping is that it will get better. That hope isn't going to last past the middle of next season...if it lasts past Christmas.

Rae

[sunnytyler001.livejournal.com]

Strange we never had the "Sci-Fi Fatigue" during RTD's era... XD

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Still, RTD's bad decision is a huge part of what is wrong here. Imagine if, instead of the horrid specials we had...we'd had those same horrid specials with Ten 2 in charge. Right down to the "I don't want to go" speech. Then, it would have allowed us to see why the Doctor can't leave...why he has to come back to this universe. And because we knew he'd been gone...we could accept this radical change in personality. And we wouldn't be expecting him to have much emotional depth or relate to Amy or anything.

But, yes, RTD kept the ratings up...and Moff has lost them.