The X Factor 2016 launched almost a million fewer viewers this year, according to the first ratings.
Overnight data released this morning suggests that the first audition show of the series was watched by a total audience of 6.8 million viewers on the night.
That's down 800,000 on last year's opener and the lowest launch in over 10 years; 2005 was the next lowest at 6.6 million.
X Factor's launch numbers are sure to be a bit of a disappointment given yet another major overhaul, continuing the show's downward trend of shredding viewers.
It was such a great episode tho. The best in years. 2014 and 2015 could only wish. Everytime I remember the snoozefest those years were Simon made such bad choices.
They just need a successful winner like Leona and the next year should see a boost.. All we had is Louisa, Ben, Sam Bailey, James Arthur,... over the last years. Nothing exciting about.
I doubt any judges panel would keep the ratings up at this point, a 13th season for any TV show is pretty impressive.
I think aslong as Syco is gonna handle their winners and other acts coming from the platform like crap and only give them the chance for one (semi) succesul single and basically ffes up their album era's as soon as the record drops, the ratings will keep falling. At the end of the day it is a talent show and there is enough talent, but Syco seems to lost it and only focus on a few acts.
With Olly struggling, Little Mix doing pretty well but mainly locally and 5H doing their thing, there is not much left on that roster that really has huge succes. Ella Henderson and Fleur East for example had very messy era's with only the first single getting all focus. Tamara Foster became a non event, Union J never really came off the ground and even had a line-up change etc.
Since this season is also airing in the US, the need to find the next global popstar/popact and actually make that act happen, instead of mmilking it for an era and leaving it behind dead..
It had a great course though, maybe if they still wanna go on after this season, maybe two more and festive a 15 year anniversary and close the book for once and all.