BBC Claims Ratings Victory Over ITV

For the first time in over 40 years the BBC is claiming victory over ITV in the annual ratings war with figures for 2001 showing that across all hours more people watched BBC1 than ITV1.

Early figures from BARB show that during 2001 BBC1 had an overall audience share of 26.8% compared with 26.7% for ITV1. However ITV is not prepared to concede victory to the BBC, saying that the figures included day and night time viewing but not the “crucial” prime-time slots.

A spokesman for ITV said: “Most broadcasters perceive prime-time figures to be the really crucial area. Within prime-time ITV1 still had a very healthy lead over BBC1.”

Controller of BBC1, Lorriane Heggessey, said: “It is fantastic to see that public service broadcasting could be so strong in the multi-channel world. The creative community has worked hard to deliver a wonderful range of programmes that have delighted audiences of all ages. We have got more work to do, but it’s great to see the strategy that we agreed 18 months ago beginning to work so effectively.”

BBC1 has enjoyed a successful year with programmes including The Weakest Link (see ITV’s The Premiership Fails To Score), Casualty and a fourth weekly episode of Eastenders (see BBC Adds Eastenders To Fridays) proving popular with viewers.

It has been difficult year for ITV with the advertising downturn and the financial cost of ITV Digital weighing heavily on the network. Key programmes such as Cold Feet and The Premiership (see ITV Relegates Premiership) have failed to perform as expected and speaking at the launch of ITV’s winter schedule David Liddiment admitted that BBC1 is posing a serious threat to ITV1 (see ITV Admits BBC Threat At Schedule Launch).

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.co.uk

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