ITV1 hits new low with ratings plunge
ITV1 has been left reeling after weekend ratings reveal the channel slumped to its lowest ever audience share.
Just 800,000 people tuned in to watch the station on Sunday, less than one in 12 of those sat in front of the box – the lowest share since the channel began broadcasting in 1954.
Arch rival BBC1 attracted over twice as many viewers with 1.7m tuning in over the same period, although even this was disappointing.
Even more niche stations like Channel 4 and Channel 5 managed to pull in 600,000 and 500,000 viewers respectively – adding to the channel’s embarrassment.
ITV1 is now pinning its hopes on a rating revival on this Saturday’s X Factor but with star attraction Simon Cowell absent from the show this year there are concerns the production might not pull in 10m plus audiences.
One unnamed source told The Sun: "The ratings are a disaster. Yes, it's holiday season and the big reality shows aren't on but less than a million for the day is terrible.
"If the new judges screw this up, it'll cause unthinkable problems for ITV.”