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At Christmas, catchup TV takes a dip in favour of traditional viewing At Christmas, catchup TV takes a dip in favour of traditional viewing
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Anyone opening up the bumper December issue of the Radio Times will see another Christmas Day TV schedule packed with special editions of the UK’s biggest shows. Whether it’s the final episode of Downton Abbey, the return of Strictly Come Dancing’s favourite contestants, or yet another death/breakup/pub-based catastrophe on EastEnders, the main channels throw their biggest ratings-chasers at a few hours on the afternoon of 25 December.Anyone opening up the bumper December issue of the Radio Times will see another Christmas Day TV schedule packed with special editions of the UK’s biggest shows. Whether it’s the final episode of Downton Abbey, the return of Strictly Come Dancing’s favourite contestants, or yet another death/breakup/pub-based catastrophe on EastEnders, the main channels throw their biggest ratings-chasers at a few hours on the afternoon of 25 December.
And it’s not hard to see why. Christmas Day remains the one time when it’s virtually guaranteed that millions of families will be gathered round a box in the corner of the living room, the one time when it is unacceptable to slink off to binge-watch episodes of House of Cards on Netflix. And it’s not hard to see why. Christmas Day remains the one time when it’s virtually guaranteed that millions of families will be gathered around a box in the corner of the living room, the one time when it is unacceptable to slink off to binge-watch episodes of House of Cards on Netflix.
December is traditionally a bumper month for online TV, but catchup services from traditional broadcasters and digital options such as Netflix or Amazon experience a dip on and around Christmas itself, when more traditional viewing habits return.December is traditionally a bumper month for online TV, but catchup services from traditional broadcasters and digital options such as Netflix or Amazon experience a dip on and around Christmas itself, when more traditional viewing habits return.
Related: Why Christmas can be a let-downRelated: Why Christmas can be a let-down
“The views [online] are much, much higher to the middle of December and then drop off over the Christmas period,” says Richard Brent, the head of portfolio management who oversees online and broadcast scheduling at Channel 4 (which is airing a special edition of Googlebox on Christmas Day). “With your parents you are not going to switch on Breaking Bad at Christmas. We decide what we are going to watch together. They want me in the room with them at Christmas.” “The views [online] are much, much higher to the middle of December and then drop off over the Christmas period,” says Richard Brent, the head of portfolio management who oversees online and broadcast scheduling at Channel 4 (which is airing a special edition of Gogglebox on Christmas Day). “With your parents you are not going to switch on Breaking Bad at Christmas. We decide what we are going to watch together. They want me in the room with them at Christmas.”
That coming together of families means broadcasters know they need to wheel out the big-hitters: the reliable favourites that appeal to the broadest audiences, sprinkled with a little festive spirit. “It is the big shows – I don’t want to describe them as lowest common denominator – but something you can put on and no one will really complain,” says analyst Michael Underhill of Enders Analysis. “As soon as you get on a streaming service there will be endless bickering.” That coming together of families means broadcasters know they need to wheel out the big-hitters – the reliable favourites that appeal to the broadest audiences, sprinkled with a little festive spirit. “It is the big shows – I don’t want to describe them as lowest common denominator, but something you can put on and no one will really complain,” says Michael Underhill, of Enders Analysis. “As soon as you get on a streaming service there will be endless bickering.”
Yet there’s evidence that fewer families are keeping to the TV timetables offered up on Christmas Day. The last high-watermark of Christmas Day TV was in 2010 when 26 million viewers tuned in across all channels during the peak period between 6.30pm and 10pm: the highest audience for at least a decade. That year, three shows – Doctor Who, EastEnders, and the airport-based comedy from David Walliams and Matt Lucas, Come Fly With Me – passed the 10-million-viewer mark.Yet there’s evidence that fewer families are keeping to the TV timetables offered up on Christmas Day. The last high-watermark of Christmas Day TV was in 2010 when 26 million viewers tuned in across all channels during the peak period between 6.30pm and 10pm: the highest audience for at least a decade. That year, three shows – Doctor Who, EastEnders, and the airport-based comedy from David Walliams and Matt Lucas, Come Fly With Me – passed the 10-million-viewer mark.
Fast forward to 25 December 2014 and the biggest hit was the Queen’s speech (fuelled by abdication rumours) which pulled in a comparatively weak 7.8 million viewers, followed by BBC comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys taking the peak time crown with a meagre 7.6 million. Fast forward to 25 December 2014 and the biggest hit was the Queen’s speech (fuelled by abdication rumours), which pulled in a comparatively weak 7.8 million viewers, followed by the BBC comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys taking the peak-time crown with a meagre 7.6 million.
The most obvious catalyst for that decline in traditional Christmas viewing is the iPad, introduced by Apple in April 2010, which led to an explosion in tablet ownership. Many saw the shiny black screens emerge from under the tree on the very day broadcasters were vying most fiercely for their attention. Last Christmas Day 150,000 people downloaded the iPlayer app. Netflix, which only launched in the UK in 2012, also sees a spike over festive periods. The most obvious catalyst for that decline in traditional Christmas viewing is the iPad, introduced by Apple in April 2010, which led to an explosion in tablet ownership. Many saw the shiny black screens emerge from under the tree on the very day broadcasters were vying most fiercely for their attention. Last Christmas Day 150,000 people downloaded the iPlayer app. Netflix, which launched in the UK in 2012, also sees a spike over festive periods.
Related: The tablet explodes: over-50s and three-year-olds join the charge towards techRelated: The tablet explodes: over-50s and three-year-olds join the charge towards tech
While many of those devices will be tuned in to the catchup and on-demand services on offer from the big broadcasters, the new, digital-only players are also keen to muscle in on the same territory.While many of those devices will be tuned in to the catchup and on-demand services on offer from the big broadcasters, the new, digital-only players are also keen to muscle in on the same territory.
Netflix has defined the schedule-busting binge-watch: releasing full series of shows with no thought for filling up weekly slots or seasonal programming. Yet this year it commissioned its first Christmas special, A Very Murray Christmas, starring Bill Murray, which debuted on 4 December. Netflix has defined the schedule-busting binge-watch, releasing full series of shows with no thought for filling up weekly slots or seasonal programming. Yet this year it commissioned its first Christmas special, A Very Murray Christmas, starring Bill Murray, which debuted on 4 December.
Directed by Sofia Coppola (who worked with Murray on Lost In Translation), it pays homage to the 60s and 70s Christmas shows fronted by crooners such as Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. It also features a host of cameos from stars including Amy Poehler, Michael Cera, Chris Rock, and an especially memorable musical number with George Clooney popping out from behind a tree. Directed by Sofia Coppola (who worked with Murray on Lost In Translation), it pays homage to the 60s and 70s Christmas shows fronted by crooners such as Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. It also features a host of cameos from stars including Amy Poehler, Michael Cera and Chris Rock, and an especially memorable musical number with George Clooney popping out from behind a tree.
It’s part of a broader approach from Netflix, which focused its first original commissions on edgy fare, but is moving into series with wider appeal, such as Queen Elizabeth biopic The Crown and US sitcom follow-up Fuller House. It’s part of a broader approach from Netflix, which focused its first original commissions on edgy fare but is moving into series with wider appeal, such as the Queen Elizabeth biopic The Crown and the US sitcom follow-up Fuller House.
As ever with Netflix, that approach to content has accompanied a shift in technology, and it’s one that poses an even greater threat to the traditional schedules. Netflix has focused on doing deals to be included with set-top boxes from companies like Sky and BT and ensuring it comes as a pre-loaded option on web-connected TVs. As ever with Netflix, that approach to content has accompanied a shift in technology, and it’s one that poses an even greater threat to the traditional schedules. Netflix has focused on doing deals to be included with set-top boxes from companies such as Sky and BT and ensuring it comes as a pre-loaded option on web-connected TVs.
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“It’s always been our goal to educate people how to watch Netflix on TV, but it hasn’t always been very easy to watch Netflix on TV,” says the company’s European spokesman Joris Evers. “It becomes much easier to watch Netflix on the big screen if you don’t have to switch remote controls.”“It’s always been our goal to educate people how to watch Netflix on TV, but it hasn’t always been very easy to watch Netflix on TV,” says the company’s European spokesman Joris Evers. “It becomes much easier to watch Netflix on the big screen if you don’t have to switch remote controls.”
All this choice, available alongside the traditional channels but at a time convenient for you, is bound to have an impact. But while it might change the way people watch TV with their families at Christmas it doesn’t look set to drastically change what they watch quite yet. All this choice, available alongside the traditional channels but at a time convenient for you, is bound to have an impact. But while it might change the way people watch TV with their families at Christmas, it doesn’t look set to drastically change what they watch quite yet.
During the Christmas week in December 2014, the most-watched show on iPlayer on tablets and phones was the EastEnders special, which was the third most popular show on Christmas Day. When it came to connected TVs, Mrs Brown’s Boys came out on top, just as it had done during those peak watching hours.During the Christmas week in December 2014, the most-watched show on iPlayer on tablets and phones was the EastEnders special, which was the third most popular show on Christmas Day. When it came to connected TVs, Mrs Brown’s Boys came out on top, just as it had done during those peak watching hours.
Even as tablets and internet TVs free families from the Christmas schedules, when everyone sits down together, keeping the peace remains the top priority. Christmas specials aimed at keeping everyone happy (or at least not too unhappy) may be around for a while yet.Even as tablets and internet TVs free families from the Christmas schedules, when everyone sits down together, keeping the peace remains the top priority. Christmas specials aimed at keeping everyone happy (or at least not too unhappy) may be around for a while yet.