UKTV levels with Sky and Channel 5 in record-breaking year
Last year was UKTV’s most successful year after record-breaking viewiership figures, which has grew 30 per cent in five years, according to BARB data, with the broadcaster's share of commercial impacts (SOCI) now equal to that of Sky branded channels, and the Channel 5 portfolio for the first time.
UKTV, an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, (SNI), commanded a 9.27 per cent share of commercial impacts last year, beating Channel 5’s 9.26 per cent, and Sky's 9.25 per cent.
Christmas last year was UKTV's most successful on record, acquiring a 6.63 per cent share beating Channel 5’s 5.9 per cent share, up 11.4 per cent from 2014’s festive period. The network also celebrated its most successful Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day to date.
The network’s viewership is up 3.7 per cent year-on-year, with its original programming helping to drive further growth in 2015. North One's 'Storage Hunters UK Celebrity Special' was the network’s best performing show of the year (834, 000 viewers - part consolidated), followed closely by Liberty Bell's 'Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish' which saw its highest rating episode attracting 739, 000 viewers.
Other UKTV originals that have contributed to its success include: 'Taskmaster', 'Alan Davies As Yet Untitled' on Dave, 'The Interviews', 'Marley’s Ghosts' and 'Bob Monkhouse: Million Joke Man' on Gold, and 'Most Haunted Live' on Really.
Dave, the channel's flagship free-to-air entertainment channel, ranked as the number one non-public service broadcast channel in the UK once more and grew by 1 per cent year-on-year.
Furthermore, its on demand service UKTV Play significantly grew its presence in the VoD market, with a 26 per cent increase in views year on year, along with a 175 per cent increase in iOS app downloads.
UKTV’s chief financial and operations officer Jan Gooze-Zijl, said, “UKTV’s success is because we have taken risks and experimented with our content mix, ensuring viewers needs are at the heart of everything we do. For the first time in our history we are on a par with both Sky and Channel 5’s full portfolios which is testament to the hard work of all 270 staff members based here in Hammersmith.”