Live coverage for last month’s Olivier Awards on the BBC’s red button service attracted 177,000 viewers.
Whilst it’s better to have the awards screened on the red button service than not on TV at all, we can’t help but compare to last year’s Tony Awards, which is broadcast live by CBS and got an average audience of 7 million.
The BBC has also admitted that filming the BBC Radio 2 transmission of the event on the red button service (Radio 2 is the main broadcast partner for the Olivier Awards), “did not meet audience expectations and we’re sorry for any disappointment caused to viewers, especially where it led to viewers missing key live moments from the stage”.
Here’s hoping that all of this results in the BBC widening their investment – and coverage – of the awards next year.
The coverage was really disappointing and I am glad they have acknowledged the fact !! I was thrilled when I realised the Oliviers were being televised but the poor coverage and cringeworthy interview skills of Jodie Prenger really was not acceptable! It did not appear that Jodie had done ANY research about who she was interviewing… I know more about whats happening in theatre than she did !