Eurovision Vs Britain's Got Talent Ratings War Odds: Song Contest Big Favourite
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This year's Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final in Malmo looks set to clash with a Britain's Got Talent auditions episode, which has led to betting sites speculating about which programme will come out on top in a ratings war.
With the fifth auditions episode of BGT's current 17th series due to take place on May 11 - the same night as the Eurovision Grand Final - a TV battle between BGT judge Simon Cowell and BBC bosses is on the cards.
The music contest's final is due to air at 8pm on the BBC, while BGT has been kicking off at 7.30pm in the current series - meaning a clash looks likely.
It wouldn't be a huge surprise if Cowell weaved his magic and ITV were able to pull BGT's episode earlier in the schedule to avoid a Eurovision collision, or even move its episode to Sunday, May 12, in a similar move to last year, but he also has an ambitious and pricey plan.
BGT Set For Eurovision Defeat
In 2023, BGT moved its sixth auditions episode of the 16th series to May 14 to avoid a clash with the Eurovision Song Contest's Grand Final, which aired on May 13 from Liverpool.
That May 14 BGT episode was watched by 5.7 million viewers, according to Broadcasters' Audience Research Board figures, while 6.3m tuned in for last year's final, on June 4, and an average of 5.98m viewers watched the whole of series 16.
This year, Cowell has come up with an expensive idea to solve the issue - jokingly suggesting that ITV - which broadcasts the talent show - should "buy Eurovision" to avoid such clashes in the future.
At the BGT press launch for series 17, he told the Daily Star newspaper and other associated press: "I love both shows and ideally obviously you wouldn't want to be up against that. And it kind of dilutes the audience, doesn't it?"
Amanda Holden, who sits alongside Cowell on the BGT panel, added: "It's a disservice to the audience really. Just let them enjoy both things."
If BGT airs at the same time as Eurovision, Cowell might have to prepare himself for the talent show to be soundly defeated in the ratings.
It is just 8/11 on Eurovision Betting Sites that the song contest defeats BGT by between three and four million viewers, after Eurovision 2023's Grand Final was watched by an average of 9.9m viewers, 4.2m more than BGT's sixth auditions episode that aired a day later.
Eurovision's Liverpool Effect A Factor?
The reason for last year's Eurovision being so well received in the UK may well be down to the contest being hosted in Liverpool - on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine - but 2022's Grand Final, which took place on May 14, was still watched by an average of 8.9m and had a 10.6m peak.
In that year, BGT's sixth auditions episode aired on the same night and 6.5m tuned in, meaning Eurovision defeated BGT by just 2.4m.
It's 11/8 on specials betting sites for a one to two million margin of victory for Eurovision this year, and if Eurovision's Grand Final amasses around nine or 10m viewers again this year then BGT would need a staggering number of views for its fifth auditions episode to topple it.
Cowell might want to look away at the huge 50/1 price for BGT to taste victory over Eurovision in May.
An average 5m tuned into Britain's Got Talent's series 17 launch episode on April 20, and it is 4/6 favourite on Britain's Got Talent betting sites that between five and six million watch the fifth auditions, and Evens on three to four million to watch the latest batch of contestants try to book a semi-final spot.
Olly Fans To Up Viewing Figures?
Eurovision's Grand Final is just Evens on betting apps to amass between nine to 10 million viewers on average again this year, while it's 2/1 for the figure to be between seven and eight million.
In the UK, Eurovision's 2023 Grand Final aired on the BBC, and an average of 9.9m viewers tuned in, and there was even a peak of 11m for five minutes.
BBC Director of Unscripted Kate Phillips said at the time: "The fact that so many millions of people tuned in reflects just how significant Eurovision has become and truly underlines the theme behind this year’s contest - United by Music."
Olly Alexander is representing the UK this time around, with his song Dizzy, and if he can pull in the viewers then 11m or more (4/1) could tune in.
The Grand Final viewing figures certainly look set to comfortably defeat BGT's fifth auditions episode this year.
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