Top Gear scores top ratings
SYDNEY: Last night's launch of Top Gear Australia has scored SBS its highest ever audience for a locally produced program.
A total of 1.34 million viewers tuned in to watch the first episode of the eight-part series, giving SBS a prime time network share of 8.7% last night and winning the timeslot among people aged 16 to 54.
SBS director of television & online content Matt Campbell said the strong debut indicated significant growth potential for the show.
The Australian version debut even eclipsed average audience number for the most recent Top Gear UK series, on air from June to August this year, which averaged 893,000 viewers in the five mainland capital cities.
“Top Gear Australia is one of the most anticipated new shows of the year, and these results tell us Australians were ready for a local version of this fantastic show and they'll be back next week for more," said Campbell.
The program’s audience has a strong skew towards people in the highest income-earning group, OG1, with an index of 143, according to OzTAM figures.
The first nights ratings will mean it'll be back on for a second season, but it'll be interesting to see the ratings next Tuesday given the disappointment with its content and try hard.
short history on topgear(lifted from wikipedia)
Top Gear started in 1977 as a local programme made by BBC Birmingham (Pebble Mill) who offered it to BBC2.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference">[2]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference">[3]</sup> Presenters included Noel Edmonds and William Woollard, with contributions by Peter Burgess, Frank Page, Sue Baker, Tiff Needell, Tony Mason and Chris Goffey. The show's theme music was "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers, although remixed versions were used after 1999. For much of the original series' lifespan, Elton John's instrumental "Out Of The Blue" (from the Blue Moves album) played over the closing credits. According to its original producer, David Lancaster, the idea for the name came from the unrelated radio series Top Gear.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference">[4]</sup>
Originally, Top Gear was a magazine show reviewing new car models and other car-related issues such as road safety. Other features included classic car events and motorsport, the latter often rallying with Tony Mason, Roger Clark's co-driver. Between 1988 and 1991, the programme organised a competition each year to find a new rally driver with the prize being entry into that year's RAC Rally.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference">[5]</sup> In 1987, Jon Bentley (now a presenter on Channel 5's gadget show) became producer and editor. Bentley added former Formula One driver Tiff Needell to the programme, and then-Performance Car Magazine journalist Jeremy Clarkson in late 1988<sup id="cite_ref-jcimdb_5-0" class="reference">[6]</sup> and the programme saw a massive boost in its audience as it became a more humorous, controversial, and unashamedly more critical show. In 1991, William Woollard left the show. Around the same time, Quentin Willson, a former used car salesman, joined. The 1990s also saw the addition of a new female presenter, Michele Newman, who still appears on ITV's Pulling Power. Other presenters included Steve Berry, whose speciality was motorbikes, and racing driver Vicki Butler-Henderson, who joined in 1997.
Among the show's producers were Phil Franklin, Brian Strachan, Jon Bentley and Ken Pollock. Executive producers were Derek Smith, Dennis Adams and Tom Ross.
Despite enduring criticism that the show was overly macho, encouraged irresponsible driving behaviour <sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference">[7]</sup> and ignored the environment, under Clarkson's presentation the show pulled in huge audiences. It became hugely influential with motor manufacturers, since a critical word from the Top Gear team could have a severe negative effect on sales. One such example is the original Vauxhall Vectra about which Clarkson said: "I know it's the replacement for the Cavalier. I know. But I'm telling you it's just a box on wheels." However, even more critical statements have not affected sales of the Toyota Corolla, and extreme praise did not help the Renault Alpine GTA/A610.
[edit] Demise
Following Jon Bentley and Jeremy Clarkson's departure in 1999 the Top Gear audience fell from a peak of six million to under three million.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact">[citation needed]</sup> Initially, James May took over Clarkson's spot, presenting reviews of the Rover 75 and Lexus IS200, for example. Following Clarkson's departure, the programme was jointly presented by Quentin Willson and Kate Humble, who ran an ongoing test throughout the programme between reports. Brendan Coogan (who had joined in 1998), left the show a year later after being convicted of drunk driving.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference">[8]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference">[9]</sup> In 2000, Jason Barlow joined from Channel 4's driven, and took over presenting for the final 53 episodes.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference">[10]</sup> During Barlow's time at Top Gear viewing figures dropped dramatically. With low viewing figures, the BBC decided on cancelling the programme in 2001.
In 2001, Five launched Fifth Gear, a car show featuring many of the former Top Gear presenters including Tiff Needell, Quentin Willson and Vicki Butler-Henderson. The show was produced by former Top Gear producer, Jon Bentley. While the entire production team moved from the BBC to Five to create Fifth Gear, Jason Barlow's involvement ceased. The name change was required as the BBC would not relinquish the rights to the Top Gear name (the corporation was (and is) still publishing Top Gear magazine). <sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference">[11]</sup> After the first series of Fifth Gear was completed, the BBC decided to relaunch Top Gear, but in a new studio-based format as opposed to the magazine format used until the cancellation. The show was again presented by Jeremy Clarkson, joined by Richard Hammond, and Jason Dawe. James May replaced Jason Dawe from the second series onwards of the current format. The pre-cancellation show is referred to as "Old Top Gear" when mentioned on the new show due to the differences in style.
thats why the english show is so polished i have seen some of the early shows and it is a wonder that the show was ever reborn in 2002 so i think that the aussie show will need some time to find its legs heres hoping that sbs and the critics will give it time .
