Ratings Woes: What's Causing the Decline?

I'd think the Beeb would be delighted with 4 billion.

You're talking overnights which mean nothing - the Smile ratings are at 6 million when taking 7 day catchup into account. We don't get the "final" figure until 28 days later. The Pilot got 6.68m again without the final figure - higher than quite a few of Matt SMith's stories in Series 7. So, sure, the ratings are down from the show's peak with Tennant's last 2 years but it's still getting 6mill at least and beating a successful show like Mrs Brown.

The show is in no danger whatsoever, it's a marketing juggernaut that the Beeb own 100% unlike, say, Top Gear. Matt Smith lost 2 million viewers in the 3 weeks between Bells Of St ohn and Hide. TWO MILLION. Yet that wasn't a "slump" or a "crisis". Why? Because the tabloids never called it one. Don't let redtops interpret facts for you and control the narrative. 

Could be any number of things:

- Casual viewers simply becoming bored with the show-140(ish?) episodes over 12 years is a huge huge amount by UK standards and some of those who watch the show more casually may no longer feel it is very fresh or exciting, despite RTD ad Moffat's best efforts over the years to experiment with the format there's only so many types of stories that you can do with the budget and time slot, almost every major show still running has lost lots of viewers over the same period so it may simply be a case of the show reaching its natural peak of popularity, add in catch up viewings and the show isn't that far off the heights of the Tennant era (the much hyped 10 million an episode figure was only an occasional occurrence, who has had steady ratings for years) 

-Changing viewing habits, I generally make sure to watch Who live but it can sometimes be a week or more before I get round to watching episodes, in the age of streaming and record able digiboxes overnight ratings aren't quite as important or demonstrative of popularity as they used to be.

- The year long break might have damaged the show's visibility and reach to certain demographics, IIRC series 9 had the highest viewing figures of New Who so far on BBC America, but the figures have fallen by around half for Series 10 so far, many casual viewers may have lost interest in the show in its absence or simply weren't aware it was coming back.

- The darker tone of the Capaldi episodes and the move to a darker, snarkier angrier Doctor may have alienated viewers who grew up with the Tennant/Smith episodes and weren't used to the more alien nature of the Classic Doctors. Capaldi's Doctor was deliberately written to be more unlikable and closed off emotionally in his first series, gradually thawing and mellowing over time into a much warmer, more confident figure some viewers may have been put off by this approach- I'd argue that although Tennant/Smith had character development they arrived pretty much fully formed and were much more 'human' in their character so it was arguably easier to understand and like their Doctors, I personally much prefer the gradual development and unpredictable nature of Capaldi's Doctor...but if you are tuning in for 45 minutes of family friendly escapism and laughs I could see why the introspective darkness might not appeal.

- Although Moffat has made commendable efforts to experiment and change the format of his stories each series (which might actually be a problem-with the RTD series it very much followed a set formula so viewers could reasonably expect what was coming) he does, after so many scripts as a writer fall victim to his own tropes and biases, it's quite easy to tell what is and what isn't a Moffat script people may simply be bored with his approach to Who.

Firstly, I would say that newspaper reports about Doctor Who ratings slumps have been on and off since 'The Idiots Lantern' (a headline entitled something like 'Where have all the viewers gone?'). It's also worth remembering that the much lauded 'Parting of the Ways' finale to Chris Eccleston's series - the series that was deemed popular enough to commission further series - 'only' reached about 6.2 million. Consolidated figures for the latest episode, 'Thin Ice' will likely only be half a million below that. Selective example? Possibly!

I hate to say it, but I feel that an older, less 'sexy' Doctor, who - initially at least - was difficult to warm to, is probably the reason. Like it or not, and I don't, some have compared Peter Capaldi's Doctor to that of Colin Baker, in that he simply isn't catching on. I don't agree with this, but I recognise similarities. If we are to run with that, then Kris Marshall - or whoever takes over - could then be seen as the Sylvester McCoy Doctor for modern times. Or in other words, he is a last chance for the ratings to rise. Again, not saying I neccessarily agree with this, but it is one way of looking at things.

The facts about Doctor Who selling to other countries and therefore will not be cancelled, was also the case back in the 80's, a period throughout which, Doctor Who's selling abroad actually grew. However, the BBC has a 'duty' to provide for viewers of the UK more than abroad, and if those viewers would sooner watch whatever light-hearted gameshow, or 'talent-scouring' circus is on the other side, then a cheaper alternative could be brought into replace Doctor Who.

My personal view is that the online forums (NOT this one) and Facebook spouts relentless negativity that probably doesn't do the public perception of Doctor Who any favours. Endless complaints because Missy is not the Rani, that Captain Jack hasn't returned, that award-winning writer Steven Moffat can't write, that Chibnall will be 'even worse', that the Daleks are in it too much, that Capaldi is too old, that Clara was rubbish, that Bill is 'too PC' (a viewpoint made a few times on Facebook regarding events in 'Thin Ice'). Oh, the list of wearied complaints from the armchair hardcore 'critics' goes on ... and on slow news days, tabloids turn to such public forums/arenas for their stories.

Sylvester McCoy once said that the fans helped kill the show. I think he was right. It might even happen again.

I agree with this (though personally I actually warmed to Capaldi's Doctor immediately, it took me a whole series to get used to Smith...what that says about my personality I don't know...) New Who may ultimately end up being a victim of its own success.

I've said it before, but I honestly think RTD's decision to make the 10th Doctor a 'sexy' space Jesus and the formulaic pandering to the public template he so often employed ended up damaging the show creatively he strived so hard to appeal to widest demographic possible it ultimately lessened the franchise for me... that's not just bias or entitlement on my part, but for a show about Time Travel and an mysterious alien wanderer I think making the show too accessible kinda kills the magic.

It says something when even now the Facebook page/forums are still flooded with people demanding Tennant to return, regardless of the need to press forward rather than looking backwards... 

Please, as if I'd let The Sun tell me about the world. Doctor Who isn't going anywhere, I'm more interested in why people think that there has been a decline in viewership because I can see it outside of the figures as well. Is it timing, social trends, characters, tone, content, something else entirely?

Without reading anything else in this thread topic.. that year off killed a lot of momentum - plain and simple.

Oh, I see, your frame of reference is off. I did mention how ratings are no measure of quality, I took it as writ that people wouldn't take tabloid gossip seriously. There's been a misjudgment of the question's emphasis, I'll amend that.

That is why I said "currently believe". Both are very subjective words. And if that's true, then we have nothing to fear on that end, roll on...

Yes, BARB measure up to 28 days. I'm not sure the 7 days is useless though as the shift from +7 to +28 is never anywhere near as big, not even close. Essentially after the 7 days we have a solid idea on how many will see the ep. 

Hello again.

The way we consume television has already changed. IPlayer means we can create our own TV schedules. Sky and now Amazon and Netflix are creating new quality content all the time. Our British stalwarts BBC, ITV and C4 our still creating excellent programmes.

There is a glut of television. The viewing population is fragmented. There is too much choice, so that programmes are more likely to be watched on catch-up. The ratings system will take these changes into account.

I think that some current freeview channels will not survive. The only thing that is slowing the adoption of "smart" boxes like fire TV stick or NOW TV box is broadband availability and speed. Some areas have awful broadband speed, and so "smart" boxes are of little use.

How long the licence fee will exist is another interesting question. It will perhaps help fund Channel 4 programming too.

Doctor Who is now a worldwide brand, and its ratings ebb and flow like the tide, same as any other show.  A new Doctor and new production crew will probably bring in some new viewers.

However, with short rests, like 2016, Dr Who will continue towards its 60th anniversary and beyond. We are nowhere near where we were in 1989 when Dr. Who Season 26 suddenly appeared with little promotion from the BBC against that juggernaut Corrie. Thank goodness.