Posted December 21, 200915 yr I read in a paper earlier a theory that Simon Cowell might well move the X Factor final to Christmas Day from now on (probably getting even bigger ratings than now) and release the winner's single in January, avoiding the Xmas chart battle. I actually think that's very possible... there's no doubt that this whole affair has bruised Cowell's ego, and even though the chances of a campaign like this working again are probably slim, I don't think he'd risk it. The winner's single might sell less with a January release, but Cowell will make so much extra money via the extra revenue from a Xmas Day final that I doubt he'd care. Thoughts?
December 21, 200915 yr Yes yes yes, please move the final to another date so there are no more X Factor Xmas #1's. Still wanted Joe to do it, though, as I hate the RATM song. But the final on Christmas Day? Well I might not watch, as I'd be too busy with all my new presents, but I suppose a lot of people do watch TV on Christmas Day
December 21, 200915 yr A live final on Christmas Day would not do well at all. People would watch it, but then all the production staff, other crew, audience, judges and the contestants would have to give up their Christmas Day to be there. Not gonna happen, although I would welcome the move away from releasing the winning single on Christmas chart week.
December 21, 200915 yr Author but then all the production staff, other crew, audience, judges and the contestants would have to give up their Christmas Day to be there. In all honesty, I don't think they'd have much say in the matter. I'm pretty sure that if Cowell decided he wanted a Xmas Day final, the contestants would be told they could ever agree to it or be shown the door. The only logistical problem I can maybe see is getting a willing-enough audience... maybe a Boxing Day final instead?
December 21, 200915 yr Don't see Christmas Day happening. Pop Idol ran from October 2001 to February 2002, which thinking back seems a weird time frame - yet it was obviously a massive success. I don't think the X Factor necessarily needs December for its final, just it's been a case of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Though as an X Factor fan, a change in the time it is aired would probably be refreshing.
December 21, 200915 yr Warning Sarcasm alert: What????? Simon give up his annual Xmas holiday in the Caribbean??? http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/dec2008/1/9/4E52956D-0CE0-23ED-96EE39BE02C5A8DE.jpg Simon give up polluting the charts with an X-Factor's winning single at the time of the largest sales period = Christmas time??? Answer: Not chance. Somehow, I think he might comeback via either A. Next year releasing an original winning song that is actually very good (like Sound Of The Underground), in other words not a muzak cover of an adult contemporary classic or a track rejected by Westlife or Successfully campaigning the OCC to get internet/facebook campaigns banned from the charts as chart rigging. Knowing how Simon Cowell works I suspect it will be the latter.
December 21, 200915 yr In all honesty, I don't think they'd have much say in the matter. I'm pretty sure that if Cowell decided he wanted a Xmas Day final, the contestants would be told they could ever agree to it or be shown the door. The only logistical problem I can maybe see is getting a willing-enough audience... maybe a Boxing Day final instead? The audience would be the biggest problem particularly with the lack of public transport. That would mean it would have to be held somewhere with sufficient parking to allow for nearly everybody getting there by car. They might struggle to get guests to perform live as well.
December 21, 200915 yr Author The audience would be the biggest problem particularly with the lack of public transport. That would mean it would have to be held somewhere with sufficient parking to allow for nearly everybody getting there by car. They might struggle to get guests to perform live as well. How good is public transport in and around London on Boxing Day? I think TV ratings are almost as good then as they are on Xmas Day, so that's maybe an option. Or perhaps they'll record the first part of the final on 22nd/23rd Dec and broadcast it on Xmas Day? I just really have a feeling that, now that this year has proven X Factor could probably survive on Xmas Day, Cowell isn't going to want to miss out on that opportunity to exploit extra revenue.
December 21, 200915 yr it would be better if the final was the week after christmas and the single first week of january - sales that week are usually higher than christmas week now - what with parents getting their children itunes gift cards for christmas
December 21, 200915 yr Christmas Day falls on a Saturday next year so the two-day final could be over Christmas weekend. TV viewing figures are usually higher over Christmas as everyone is indoors anyway, so it could work. But I doubt it will happen as it's too much effort to get the thousands of people involved (crew, audience etc.) there on the day. I suspect they will just release an original song next year.
December 21, 200915 yr An Xmas day final would be far too hard to organise IMO. Also, aren't there laws saying that employees can't be forced to work xmas day as well? They're unlikely to move the show, the fact the winner gets/tries to get xmas #1 is more or less a coincidence really. The show is on in the autmn because more people watch TV at that time as the days get shorter, more people buy music (hence why new singles and albums are released) and of course in the run up to christmas there are plenty of advertisements to be sold. The other problem with moving it is the judges' other work. Simon judges Britain's Got Talent and auditions for that start in January. He's also got American Idol but not sure how that works to be honest Dannii judges Australia's Got Talent (although rumours are its been axed) Cheryl is usually on tour with Girls Aloud from late March-Early June, admittedly this is not likely to be a problem for 2010 - although Nadine did say another GA tour is planned.
December 21, 200915 yr Release Date for single - 11th October 2010 - can't remember source I've seen that, so don't trust me on it. If true, winner traditionally performs on the first live finals, releasing single the day after physically. This meaning the final would still be on for an XMAS battle, but obviously this could just be the sites calculations, if the person who like me has taken time to work this out. I'm sure that is the case, as I doubt a thorough release date will be set yet before any even indication of recording has taken place. Pointless post much?
December 21, 200915 yr A live final on Christmas Day would not do well at all. People would watch it, but then all the production staff, other crew, audience, judges and the contestants would have to give up their Christmas Day to be there. Not gonna happen, although I would welcome the move away from releasing the winning single on Christmas chart week. more importantly Christmas Day is a dead loss to ITV, as all the advertisers want their adverts to be on at least a week before Xmas day (to tempt shoppers into buying their products) which is why on Xmas day all you see is DFS sale and holiday adverts and ITV put out a uninspired schedule.
December 21, 200915 yr An Xmas day final would be far too hard to organise IMO. Also, aren't there laws saying that employees can't be forced to work xmas day as well? I believe so. I know Morrisons is shut both Xmas and Boxing Day and iirc it's for legal reasons. I don't care i get paid holidays for Xmas, Boxing day and New Years day.
December 21, 200915 yr Thinking about it - next year the final could be pre-recorded with a live results show on Boxing Day, that would work
December 21, 200915 yr Author Thinking about it - next year the final could be pre-recorded with a live results show on Boxing Day, that would work Yeah, that's what I'm thinking now - the first part of the final recorded on 23rd Dec with the celebrity duets, broadcasted on Xmas Day, then the second part of the final live on Boxing Day. I just really feel that, now that this year has shown how huge XF is, it could be potentially MASSIVE on Xmas Day - and I'm sure that thought has crossed the minds of Simon and ITV.
December 21, 200915 yr The First X Winner Brookstein released his first single after xmas and it sold very poorly, it was only after the release was moved to after xmas that they started to sell well, so I cant see Cowell going back to that. Besides positions dont really matter to cowell, its sales that count, and you could argue the whole campaign helped increase Joes sales.
December 21, 200915 yr simon could make a xmas number one battle between the two finalists... singing songs of their choice! maybe even originals!? that might spark the public interest they enjoy the chart battle! i would personally love the big acts in the UK to put out xmas songs and battle like they used to rather than x factor!
December 21, 200915 yr Author Besides positions dont really matter to cowell, its sales that count, and you could argue the whole campaign helped increase Joes sales. People have been saying this, but I really don't think it's the case. Cowell is so wealthy that extra money from 200k extra singles sales is going to make barely any dent in his bank balance. On the other hand, him missing out on #1 is a big blow to his ego. I'm pretty sure if you offered him a #1 that sells 275k in its first week (a la Leon) or a #2 that sells 450k in its first week (a la Joe), he'd take the former.
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