Multichannel Broadcasters Overtake ITV1 At Christmas

For the first time the number of people watching cable, satellite and digital terrestrial TV channels outnumbered those watching ITV1 during the Christmas week.

The latest official viewing figures from BARB show that multichannel broadcasters achieved a combined 22.8% share of viewing in the week ending Sunday 29 December, just ahead of ITV1, which managed a 22.1% share.

A spokesperson for ITV dismissed the suggestion that the figures held any special significance, saying: “This is a slightly irrelevant comparison, as you’re talking about 350 channels compared to just one.”

The popularity of non-terrestrial channels has increased steadily over the last year, as more and more people gain access to multichannel TV. ITV1 has been hard hit by the growing competition and the IPA’s latest Trends In Television Report shows that the channel saw its share of viewing fall to 23.6% in third quarter of this year, down from 27.1% in the same period the previous year.

Recent reports also suggest that in Christmas week BBC1 held onto its traditional audience better than ITV1 with a 30% share. This represents a 3.8% year on year decline, compared with the more significant 8.6% decline at ITV1.

The overall viewing figures for 2002 are due to be released shortly and it is expected that BBC1’s share will total around 26.2%, compared to 24.2% for ITV1.

BBC: 020 8743 800 www.bbc.co.uk ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com

Recent Television Stories from NewsLine Brits Can’t Survive Christmas Without TV Ginger Television Secures First ITV1 Series ITC Rulings Suggest Increasing Homophobia In Ads

Subscribers can access ten years of NewsLine articles by clicking the Search button to the left