Channel 4 sees 3.2% drop in share of viewing since 2006

Channel 4’s share of viewing has declined 3.2% over the last seven years, according to Ofcom’s annual Communications Market Report.

Since 2006, when Channel 4’s main channel peaked with an 8.2% share, it has declined each year hitting 5.0% in 2013 (rising to 6.2% when Channel 4+1 and 4Seven is included).

However, the top-line portfolio share figure has remained stable due to the increases in share of Channel 4’s digital channels, falling only 0.4 percentage points year on year.

E4’s share has remained fairly stable since 2006; by contrast, Film4 and More4 both increased their share over the same period but have remained stable over the past couple of years. Since its introduction in 2007, Channel 4+1’s share has been steady from 2008 to 2013.

Unsurprisingly, BBC One continues to be the most-watched BBC channel, with the Corporation’s overall portfolio share increasing from 29.5% in 2004 to 32.4% in 2013.

In 2013, BBC One accounted for the largest share of the television audience at 21%, followed by BBC Two at 5.8%. BBC Three, which is due to be moved wholly online in 2015, accounted for 1.5% in 2013.

Elsewhere, ITV’s main channel share increased from 21.7% in 2004 to 23.1% in 2013, while Channel 5’s introduction of its digital channels at the end of 2006 helped increase its overall share from 5.1% in 2005 to 5.9% in 2013.

BSkyB’s portfolio channels achieved an 8.3% share in 2013 in multichannel homes, remaining stable year on year.

This article was updated at 11:20am on Thursday 7 August. The original title and opening lines incorrectly stated that Channel 4’s entire portfolio was down, when it has actually remained stable.