UKTV s record-breaking year puts it neck and neck with the competition

Tuesday 5 January 2016

UKTVs SOCI (share of commercial impacts) hit an all-time high of 9.27% (YTD 26th Dec 2015)

The networks 2015 SOCI is neck and neck with both Sky branded channels and the Channel 5 portfolio

UKTVs share of viewing has grown by 30% in five years according to official BARB data (2010, 3.99% - 2015, 5.27%)

2015 was UKTVs most successful Christmas on record, including the networks highest daily share

Original commissions Storage Hunters UK Celebrity Special and Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish top UKTVs output

UKTV Play saw a 26% increase in views year on year

UKTV is celebrating its most successful year after record-breaking viewing puts it neck and neck with Channel 5s full portfolio and all of Skys wholly-owned channels, including movies and sport, for the first time.

In 2015 UKTV grew its share to 5.27% (from 5.08% in 2014) and as of the 26th December it delivered 9.27% SOCI (share of commercial impacts), putting it marginally ahead of the Channel 5 portfolio (9.26%) and Sky branded channels (9.25%), in a race to the finish line.

UKTVs increased investment in original programming has contributed to the networks record-breaking viewing in 2015, up 3.7% year on year. Official Barb data* shows that smash hit commissions Storage Hunters UK Celebrity Special and Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish were UKTVs highest rating programmes of 2015, helping to propel UKTV - an independent joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Network Interactive Inc. (SNI:NY) - to its fifth consecutive year of growth. Since 2010 the network has increased its viewing share by 30%.

Christmas was cause for further celebration, with the network powering past Channel 5s portfolio with a 6.63% share versus 5.9%, to celebrate its best festive period in the companys history, up 11.4% year on year. Sunday 27 December broke all records and propelled UKTV to its highest daily share ever, 7.62% and the network enjoyed its most successful Boxing Day (6.69%), New Years Eve (6.94%) and New Years Day (6.91%). UKTV Play also had a very successful Christmas period with a 66% increase in app downloads in December versus November.

UKTVs chief financial and operations officer Jan Gooze-Zijl, said,

UKTVs 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 5s full portfolios which is testament to the hard work of all 270 staff members based here in Hammersmith.

Brand statistics

UKTVs original commissions have helped drive this growth, with North Ones Storage Hunters UK Celebrity Special on Dave taking the crown for the networks best performing show of the year (834k viewers - part consolidated). It narrowly beat Liberty Bells critically-acclaimed Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish, which has consistently grown its audience over the course of its three series run and in 2015 its highest rating episode attracted 739k viewers. Further UKTV originals that have significantly contributed to UKTVs success include: Taskmaster, Alan Davies As Yet Untitled on Dave, The Interviews, Marleys Ghosts and Bob Monkhouse: Million Joke Man on Gold and Most Haunted Live on Really.

The individual performances of UKTVs portfolio of 10 channels and VoD service UKTV Play, have also contributed to the networks upward growth trend.

Dave, UKTVs flagship free-to-air entertainment channel, retained its place as the number one non-PSB channel in the UK and grew by 1% year on year. Brand new comedy gameshow Taskmaster, fronted by comedians Greg Davies and Alex Horne, proved a hit, attracting 539k viewers to its highest rating episode. The shows mix of banter and outlandish tasks quickly propelled it to cult status and two further series are in the works for later this year. Emmy award-nominated The Last Man on Earth was the highest rating acquisition on Dave, with its best rating episode attracting 596k adults.

Drama had a stellar year and increased its share of viewing by 24% to 0.97%, making it the number two non-PSB channel in the UK behind Dave. The channel hit 1% share on 147 occasions and exceeded half a million viewers nine times with popular shows New Tricks, The Pinkertons and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. Alibi, the home of the best British and US crime drama, also celebrated its most successful year since launch, up 5% year on year to 0.45% share, the highest in the channels history. Returning crime duo Rizzoli & Isles delivered its best ever audience with 731k viewers, to make it Alibis second highest rating show since the channels inception.

Britains favourite comedy channel Gold launched a raft of original scripted and non-scripted programming with sitcom Marleys Ghosts, starring John Hannah, Sarah Alexander and Jo Joyner, proving popular with viewers, attracting 432k viewers to its first episode. Bob Monkhouse: The Million Joke Man premiered with 416k viewers, up 337% on slot and definitive autobiographical series The Interviews entertained a peak audience of 243k (up 95% on slot).

Leading real-life TV channel Really saw a 13% year on year increase to 0.54% share. Original commission Most Haunted Live attracted 529k viewers, propelling Really to its best ever daily share at 1.27%. Good Food also had an outstanding year, up 41% year on year to 0.17% share.

The broadcasters on demand service UKTV Play also grew its presence in the VoD market significantly in 2015. UKTV saw a 26% increase in views year on year, plus a 175% increase in iOS app downloads (January 2015 vs December 2015 month on month). This success was driven by high-performing UKTV originals such as Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish, Taskmaster and Most Haunted Live, and launches on a number of new platforms such as Amazon Fire TV.

END Editors Notes

*Stats Measurement Al

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