UKTV achieved record SOCI (Share of Commercial Impacts) of 8.52%, up from 8.07% in 2020UKTVs network share grew by 4% to achieve 4.80%
Six out of the top 10 shows across the network were UKTV Originals: Annika (Alibi), Meet the Richardsons (Dave), Secrets of the London Underground (Yesterday), Hornby: A Model World (Yesterday), Bangers and Cash (Yesterday), and Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable (Dave)
Drama celebrated its best year on record, up 11% in share of viewing
Dave saw a 14% uplift in 16-34s and won Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Digital Awards
UKTV Play added one million registered users
Thursday 13th January 2022 UKTV enjoyed a year of record growth in 2021, achieving its best-ever SOCI (share of commercial impacts) and network share for its seven channel portfolio - Dave, Drama, Gold, Yesterday, W, Eden and Alibi - and growing views to its on demand service UKTV Play.
UKTVs CEO, Marcus Arthur, said:
UKTV experienced strong growth in 2020 and to continue that momentum through 2021 is an incredible achievement. Our award-winning slate of UKTV Originals keeps going from strength to strength, with originations featuring six times in the top 10 shows across the network. UKTVs drama commissioning has also reached new heights, with critically acclaimed Annika breaking records on Alibi, and shows such as Ragdoll exciting audiences in the UK and internationally. And of course, our hit originals are supported by premiere acquisitions and the very best BBC content, helping to fuel the success of our channels, with Dave winning Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Digital Awards. In 2021 we also launched UKTVs new digital content strategy with bespoke short-form commissions airing on Daves YouTube channel and Facebook page, acting as a gateway for younger viewers to engage with the brand and access our shows. As we look forward to 2022, we will continue UKTVs growth trajectory by working closely with domestic and international production partners, investing smartly in content, and expanding the footprint of our much-loved brands.
Share of Commercial Impacts (SOCI)
UKTV achieved a record network SOCI of 8.52% in 2021, with 5.7% year-on-year growth. Ten out of the 12 months of the year celebrated record SOCI (February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November and December) with Drama leading the channel pack by achieving SOCI growth of 14.1%.
UKTV network share and channels growth
UKTVs seven channel network grew its viewing share by 4% in 2021 to 4.80% (up from 4.63% in 2020), marking UKTVs highest share to date for its current portfolio of channels. Drama also celebrated its best year on record, with adult share up 11% and ABC1s up 14% year-on-year. Gold was up 7% on its 2020 share and enjoyed its biggest Q1 and summer since 2013. Alibi also saw a 5% uplift in share.
Dave delivered significant 16-34 share growth in 2021, outperforming the market. It increased its 16-34 viewing share by 14% year-on-year, helped by strong launches for a wave of new comedy entertainment shows which have seen Mel Giedroyc, Richard Ayoade and David Mitchell join Big Zuu and others on the channel.
Programming
UKTV Originals continued to be leading lights on the network, accounting for six of the top 10 shows in 2021 (based on 4+ 7 Day Dovetail, Max 000s). Annika headed the pack, becoming Alibis top performing title of all time (1.32m Total Consumption). It was joined by Meet the Richardsons (Dave) Secrets of the London Underground (Yesterday), Hornby: A Model World (Yesterday), Bangers and Cash (Yesterday) and Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable (Dave).
Dave enjoyed success with a string of new and returning commissions. Meet the Richardsons S2 (1m), Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable (801k), Late Night Mash (489k) and Outsiders (530k) all placed in the top five shows on the channel, alongside QI XL. Daves original output also achieved award recognition, with three shows winning Broadcast Digital Awards, including Big Zuus Big Eats which won Gamechanger of the Year and was nominated for prestigious BAFTA and RTS awards.
Yesterday achieved a similar feat with UKTV originals accounting for the top five shows on the channel, including the launch of Secrets of the London Underground which become the highest rating show in the history of the channel, averaging an impressive 737k across the series. Hornby: A Model World was a close runner up representing Yesterdays second biggest launch to date and attracting 754k (partial TC) across its series run. Bangers and Cash S4, Secrets of the Transport Museum and The Architecture the Railways Built S2 rounded out the top five shows on the channel.
Alibi continued to ramp up its drama commissioning credentials with Black Camels Annika, starring Nicola Walker, becoming UKTVs most successful show of 2021, and Sid Gentles dark drama Ragdoll, watched by 487k to date (partial Total Consumption). Acquisitions also performed well on the channel, with standout performances from Hudson and Rex S3 (591k), Smother (525k) and Deception (424k).
Gold continued to feed the nations love of comedy, with The Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out, becoming the channels most popular show of the year, watched by 829k. Its the biggest retrospective to air on the channel since The Story of Only Fools & Horses in 2017. Scripted original, Murder, They Hope took the second spot (687k), followed by returning scripted series The Cockfields (490k). The Cockfields Christmas Special and Sandylands S2 also delivered in the channels top 10 shows of the year, alongside BBC classics Mrs Browns Boys and Vicar of Dibley.
On W, MasterChef Australia (305K) and UKTV Originals Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over S2 (477k) and Emma Willis: Delivering Babies in 2020 (346k) were in the top five shows on the channel and Delivering Babies continued its award success by winning a third consecutive Broadcast Dig
