BBC Brings Out Big Guns For Christmas Ratings War
The BBC is piling the pressure on its commercial rivals this Christmas with the launch of a hard hitting seasonal schedule based around blockbuster family movies and time honoured festive favourites.
Screenings of Hollywood hits such as Harry Potter and the Philiosopher’s Stone, Shrek and 102 Dalmations looks set to make sure that BBC One obliterates ITV1 in the fiercely fought battle for Christmas ratings.
The last ever episode of Auf Wiedersehen Pet and two brand new instalments of the award winning Vicar of Dibley also look set to tip the balance once again in the BBC’s favour, along with a What Not to Wear Christmas Special and the finalé of ballroom ratings winner Strictly Come Dancing.
Commenting on the schedule, the BBC’s director of television, Jana Bennett, said: “This Christmas, BBC Television will take viewers on a magical journey to discover a world of heart-warming, funny and spine-tingling programmes featuring the home-grown talent they love.”
BBC One will also be home to festive editions of home-grown British comedy such as Absolutely Fabulous, My Family and Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression. A Christmas Day visit to Albert Square will complete the seasonal line-up with the usual cheery mix of East End angst.
Meanwhile, BBC Two will focus on culture comedy and carols, with a programme on The Real Santa Claus, new episodes of Grumpy Old Women and highlights of this year’s Glyndebourne Operas. BBC Three will screen previously unseen footage of the hugely successful Little Britain, while BBC Four will pay a special visit to The World of Nat King Cole.
The BBC’s Christmas schedule looks set to come in for considerable criticism as commercial rivals call for an end to the Corporation’s competitive approach to programming in the run up to Charter Renewal in 2006. Director general Mark Thompson recently signalled a move towards excellence and public value, but this scarcely comes through in the high-profile festive line-up (see Thompson Vows To Make BBC Less Commercially Focused).
ITV traditionally loses out to the BBC over the Christmas period, tending to focus instead on a strong Autumn and Winter schedule. The latest viewing figures from the IPA put ITV’s share of viewing at a near all time low of 21%, compare to a healthier 25.4% for BBC One (see Television Viewing Reaches Ten Year High).
BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk
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