BBC Black-Out Causes Viewing Figures To Dip
The BBC’s viewing figures took an unexpected dive last night after it lost transmission during peak-time evening viewing.
Million of viewers in South and Central London were left with blank screens after BBC1 and BBC2 went off-air just after 9.30pm, due to a power failure at the Crystal Palace transmitter in South London. BBC1 was back up by 9.48pm but BBC2 did not return until 10.57pm.
BBC1 was screening the military police drama, Red Cap, which normally attracts around 1 million viewers in the London area, while BBC2 was broadcasting the first episode of Napoleon’s Lost Army, which was expected to attract around 200,000 London-based viewers.
A spokesperson for Media Planning Group, which analyses TV viewing figures for advertisers, said: “The blackout would have had a massive affect on BBC1’s share during the twenty minute window that transmission was lost, as viewers would have had no choice but to change channels. However, the overall effect on the BBC’s daily share of viewing would probably be negligible.”
The BBC has been somewhat overshadowed by ITV1 this week after the Living With Michael Jackson documentary attracted an average of 14.1 million viewers to the channel on Monday night. The special one-off documentary, which was broadcast between 9pm and 10.50pm, provided ITV1 with a 51.3% share of viewing (see Michael Jackson Attracts 14 Million To ITV1).
BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk
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