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Old 30-09-2013, 03:09 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Sacha[_11_] Sacha[_11_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Aug 2013
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Default GW viewing figures

On 2013-09-30 13:42:06 +0100, Pam Moore said:

On Mon, 30 Sep 2013 10:11:35 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

On 2013-09-29 17:27:27 +0100, David Hill said:

On 29/09/2013 14:40, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-09-29 13:41:01 +0100, Jake said:

On Sun, 29 Sep 2013 12:16:20 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

I've just read a comment by Peter Seabrook that GW figures are now 1.5
million but used to be 4.5 million when A Titchmarsh did it.

According to BARB, the 13/9 programme drew 2.03m. I think PS means
that they fluctuate week by week and have been as low as 1.5m. IIRC,
the fluctuation is between 2.5 and 1.5m.

Whilst it's a fact that viewing figures have reduced since the death
of Geoff Hamilton, I doubt that presenter/format changes alone have
caused the reduction from the 4.5m figure. TV delivery has changed
substantially in the intervening period and viewing habits have
changed substantially as a result.

The group has discussed the whys and why nots of watching GW many
times. Whilst I fall into the nots group, I worry that PS's repeated
criticisms will lead not to improvement but to its demise; after all
programmes with figures higher than GW have been cancelled before now.

I think what he's hoping to get is what he considers to be better
presentation. Just recently in the trade press, there was a new
brouhaha about MD not having visited a garden centre in 11 years, which
is hardly helpful to the industry which, at least partially, causes him
to be employed. I can only assume that if he plants some new in his own
garden, one of his assistants is sent off to buy it. It does seem a very
peculiar - even arrogant - stance for a gardening authority figure.
http://www.hortweek.com/Retail/artic...pt-falls-flat/



--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

Good for him.
I do seem to recall some nursery visits by others on the programme,
I don't remember anyone moaning about none of the presenters of cooking
programmes not visiting Tesco or other supermarkets.
With so many plants of all sizes being bought on line there could be a
complaint that he isn't seen browsing websites for plants.
He does do some spots of raising from seed, division or cuttings.
I notice there is no moaning about the Gardening coverage on commercial
channels.
Remember when GW had millions of viewers each week we had 3 channels
not the multiplicity that we now have, if you have satellite then well
over 50 to choose from.
David @ a brighter but not sunny Swansea bay


Surely there were more than three channels in the AT presenting days?
But I think there's a misunderstanding here. As far as I know, nobody
is saying that there should be *televised* visits to garden centres or
nurseries but that he, personally, in his private life doesn't go to
them. I'm certainly not supporting any idea that GW should be doing
some kind of "under the counter" advertising for any establishment,
though some of the makeover programmes show people buying plants in
garden centres. I don't remember any names being shown though. And tv
cooks will surely have visited supermarkets or other food suppliers in
their private time, or how can they know who's presenting/selling the
best ingredients. The same applies (imo) to a tv garden presenter who
apparently doesn't know what gcs or nurseries are currently doing.


I've not followed all this thread, but if I were a TV gardening
*celebrity* and went to a garden centre I'd be pounced on by customers
with gardening queries and I'd never get out. You can't blame him!

Pam in Bristol


Well, my answers to that were our customers were thrilled to see both
Christine Walkden and Roy Lancaster here but they weren't pestered in
any way! And while I think your point is a good one, I daresay he
could arrange a private visit, if he wanted to. Don't forget that he
also told people not to go to garden centres or nurseries that use peat
because he hates the use of peat and described using it/selling
peat-based compost as 'greed'. That was lead balloon time with a lot
of those in the industry. He's President of the Soil Association which
explains his views on some matters but at the same time, using his
position to damage the trade of others with remarks like that is very
bad, imo and he was called on it by some in the industry that time, as
well. It is a bit of a crusade that he and e.g. Alys Fowler are on and
of course they're entitled to their views but I think many in
horticultural industries do wonder at his attitude to their work and
livelihood.
http://www.amateurgardening.com/home...-selling-peat/
As I've said before, we dislike the format of GW now but have greatly
enjoyed his 'gardens around the world' programmes.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk