ITV has reported that its family share of viewing dropped 8% between 2013 and 2014, as the broadcaster looks to the World Cup to boost audience levels.
For the year ending 30 April 2014, ITV’s share of viewing, based on Barb data, dropped from 23.4% in 2013, to 21.6% this year – a percentage change of 7.69%.
However, total external revenues were up 2% to £585 million for the three months ending 31 March 2014, whilst broadcast and online revenues were up 3% to £480 million.
Adam Crozier, ITV chief executive, said: “While ITV Family share of viewing has been lower than expected so far this year we have confidence in our strong schedule to come, including the Football World Cup in June.
“We continue to make progress with our strategy of growing and rebalancing the business in the UK and internationally.
“Broadcast and online started the year well, helped by another strong performance in online, pay and interactive and by the ongoing improvement in the UK advertising market, with most sectors showing good growth.”
Last week, ITV announced that it had acquired a majority stake in Leftfield Entertainment Group for $360 million, in a deal that will see it become the largest unscripted independent producer in the US.
The move, which marks a part of ITV’s strategy to build an international content business, will see ITV own 80% of the Group, with further potential payments dependent upon Leftfield’s delivery of significant profit growth.
“As always, studios revenues are impacted by phasing of programme deliveries, however given the level of forward visibility we have in our Studios business, we are confident of delivering good revenue growth over the full year driven by the acquisitions we have made,” Crozier said.
“Just last week we made the significant acquisition of Leftfield Entertainment…[and] the acquisition…is a major step forward in our strategy of building an international content business. We are also investing in the organic growth of our international scripted business, which will benefit our growth in future years.
“Looking ahead, our Q2 advertising revenue is forecast to be up 12-13% and we expect to outperform the TV ad market in H1 and over the full year.”
Source: ITV interim management statement.
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