TV Market Round-Up – January 2007

ITV1’s woes continue into the new year as January saw the channel lose 5% of its revenue year on year, dropping to £110.9 million. Five also felt a drop in revenue year on year, of 2.8%, to end the month with £20.7 million.

By comparison, Channel 4 showed a slight uplift of 0.8%. Celebrity Big Brother was running on the channel for the majority of the month and achieved strong ratings success following the alleged racism and bullying in the house that erupted into an international outcry (see Big Bro Finale Crashes Out To Top Gear).

Combined, Five, Channel 4 and GMTV have gained £50,000 in revenues year on year, compared to ITV1 which has dropped £5.8 million.

Overall terrestrial TV has lost 3% of its revenues year on year, while satellite channels have increased their revenues by 1.7%.

ITV Franchises

Carlton began the year providing the largest share of ITV1 revenues, with a slight increase in share of 0.2% points. Central and North West/Border both saw their share increase by 0.4% points year on year, while Meridian had the largest drop in share, falling by 0.6% points.

West Country remained the provider of the smallest share at 2.0%, adding a slight increase of 0.1% points to its share year on year.

ITV1 had a mixed month across our featured audiences, with Men and Housewives with Children both seeing increases in CPT, while the remaining audiences saw their prices drop.

Channel 4 had most of its prices drop year on year during January. Women and ABC1 Adults both fell by over 5%, but Men was the odd one out as it increased by over 3.5%.

Five saw most of its cost per thousands for our featured audiences rise over January year on year, with the only exception being Men, which dropped very slightly. The greatest increases were for Housewives with Children and ABC1 Adults.

ITV1 suffered a drop in impacts across all our featured audiences, with Housewives with Children faring worst, dropping 8.1% year on year.

Channel 4 saw its impacts increase during January, due in part to the Celebrity Big Brother shenanigans, as increasing amounts of viewers tuned in as the arguments and alleged bullying developed. Men was the only audience to see a dip in viewing over the month year on year, as it dropped by 2.7%.

By comparison, Five saw all its commercial impacts decrease during January year on year across our featured audiences, with Housewives with Children and ABC1 Adults both falling by over 11%.

Satellite channels continued to add impacts with Women, Housewives and ABC1 Adults all increasing by over 15%.

Overal, total broadcast figures were up across most audiences, with only Housewives with Children showing a dip in viewers of 2.5% year on year.

BARB: www.barb.co.uk