X Factor, Jonathan Ross & Ant and Dec lead ITV ratings fightback
ITV has mounted a ratings fightback in the aftermath of the BBC’s highly successful Olympics coverage, wheeling out its biggest stars in the form of Jonathan Ross, Ant & Dec and the X Factor.
This saw the network claim overall ratings success during the critical Saturday night market although figures for individual shows such as X Factor and Ant & Dec have nevertheless disappointed.
Simon Cowell vehicle Red or Black failed to get pulses racing yet again, despite a major revamp, notching up just 4.1m viewers for its first instalment – below BBC1’s flick Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
X Factor also notched up a sub-par performance, recording a peak of just 9.9m – well below past season openers.
More encouraging for the commercial broadcaster was the return of Jonathan Ross and a phalanx of A-list celebrities such as Usain Bolt, Colin Farrell and Kelly Brook giving the channel a much needed fillip.
Overall ITV claim that they were the most watched channel at peak by over 1.4m viewers.