TV Market Round-Up – June 2008

June was a terrible month for all terrestrial stations, with year on year revenue falls seen amongst all stations. The failure of England to qualify for Euro 2008 had been predicted to impact on ITV1’s revenue, and that proved to be the case, with the network recording a year on year decline of 1.8% on June 2007.

There was worse news for Channel 4, which recorded the greatest year on year fall amongst terrestrial stations. The once powerful ratings juggernaut Big Brother has been struggling for viewers, as well as having to deal with further controversial incidents. This combined to see the channel take in revenues of £50.69 million, 4.8% lower than 2007’s total

Meanwhile Five, which had the second biggest year on year drop, took in £20.84 million for the month (down 6.5%). ITV1 breakfast station GMTV declined least, with its revenue down just by 1.2% to stand at £4.24 million

Total Satellite saw its revenue total increase by 18.9% year on year, to stand at £81.02 million

ITV Franchises

According to our agency estimates, Central narrowly clings on to its position as greatest share provider of ITV1 revenue. The Midland franchise area took 15.72% share of the network’s total revenue, just ahead of London weekday franchise area Carlton (with 15.53%).

Carlton managed to record the best year on year increase amongst the ITV franchises, growing by 0.78 percentage points on June 2007. The second best performance came from London weekend franchise LWT, up by 0.52 percentage points.

West Country maintains its position as ITV1’s smallest provider of revenue, with 2.07% of the network’s total income.

ITV1 cost per thousands price increased for all but one of our featured audiences, with only Men costing less than in June 2007 (down 0.6% at £17.49). The audience that had the highest year on year increase was Housewives with Children, up by 23.5% to cost £60.02.

Channel 4 saw across the board reductions for our featured audiences, with Housewives recording the largest price fall (7.8%).

Five saw all but one of our featured audiences increase in CPT price, with ABC1 Adults 2.9% cheaper year on year at £14.11. Men posted the highest percentage increase, up 10.2% on June 2007.

ITV1 saw all featured audiences decrease year on year for commercial impacts, with Housewives with Children down 20.5% on June 2007. Women, 11.7% higher than twelve months ago, recorded the next biggest decrease.

All bar one of our featured audiences increased for Channel 4 during June 2008. The biggest rise was recorded amongst Housewives, up by 3.9% year on year.

Five saw all commercial impacts slump across all featured audiences, with Men falling the most (down 12.2% year on year).

Total Broadcast’s best year on year performance was seen within ABC1 Adults, up 4.5% on June 2007.

BARB: www.barb.co.uk