UKTV experiences record Q1 viewing and sees huge uptick in 16-34s tuning in

21 April 2021

Multi-channel broadcaster enjoys highest ever Q1 share of viewing at 4.73% - an 8.6% growth year-on-year

UKTVs share of commercial impacts (SOCI) has increased by 8.3% from 7.68% in Q1 2020, to 8.32% in Q1 2021

41% y-o-y increase in direct-to-consumer views on UKTV Play

More than 10% increase in share of 16-34s tuning in to the network and 20% uplift on Dave y-o-y

UKTV Originals Bangers and Cash (Yesterday), Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable (Dave), Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out (Gold) and Secrets of the Transport Museum (Yesterday) in top ten shows on the network

Dave, Drama, Gold, Yesterday and Alibi experience viewing share growth

Award-winning network UKTV has released consolidated viewing figures from the first quarter of the year and announced its highest ever Q1 share of viewing (4.73%)* with UKTV Originals continuing to entice viewers. Popular channels Dave, Drama, Gold, Yesterday and Alibi have all experienced growth between January 1 and March 31 as well as on-demand service UKTV Play. In addition, younger viewers (16-34) have flocked to the network, 10% more than this time last year. February and March were also record months for SOCI.

CEO Marcus Arthur said:

UKTV achieved record viewing in 2020 and Im so pleased to see that momentum continuing into the first quarter of this year, driven by brilliant programming - be that our original shows, global acquisitions or viewer favourites from the BBC archive.

Starting the year with a strong SOCI, viewing share, impressive ratings and more viewers than ever, particularly 16-34s, is evidence that our growth strategy is on the right trajectory. It is also testament to the hard work of colleagues across the business throughout a difficult year for many. As we enter and adapt to another period of change, everyone here at UKTV is focussed on continuing to deliver brilliant new shows for viewers to enjoy.

Share of commercial impacts (SOCI)

For UKTVs seven channel network, it has achieved a record share of commercial impacts for the months of February and March, 8.08% and 8.72% respectively**. Compared with the same period last year, UKTV has grown its overall SOCI by 8.3% to reach 8.32%.

The standout channel is Drama, which had its highest SOCI on record in March (2.98%), significantly higher than its previous highest SOCI month which was 2.80% in May last year.

Alibi, Dave, Gold and Yesterday have also achieved SOCI growth during this time.

UKTVs SOCI for 16-34s has also grown to 6.12%, the best the network has seen for six years.

In addition, Dave has had 29% y-o-y SOCI growth for 16-34s for the quarter.

Channels growth and programme highlights

UKTVs seven channel network has grown its viewing share to 4.73% between January 1 and March 31 2021 - the broadcasters highest ever Q1 share and a y-o-y growth of 8.6%. It has also achieved y-o-y share growth for adults ( 8.6%), 16-34s ( 10.1%) and ABC1s (11.2%).

Comedy entertainment channel Dave has witnessed a significant number of 16-34s tuning in throughout the first quarter of the year, 20% more compared with the same period last year. This is thanks to new and returning UKTV Originals including Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, Meet the Richardsons (S2) and Hypothetical (S3). The channel has also increased its viewing share by 4% y-o-y.

Drama, which recently launched a 1 channel on Freeview, has continued to entertain audiences with its range of much-loved shows. The channel has remained the number one non-PSB owned channel in the UK, its share is up 17% y-o-y, and March was its best month ever. Death in Holy Orders, the feature-length murder-mystery thriller based on the PD James book, consolidated to 696k viewers, the channels second highest TX for a show ever and the most watched show on the channel for the year so far. Last Of The Summer Wine and Death in Paradise make up the other top shows on Drama for Q1 2021.

Dedicated crime drama channel Alibi has also had y-o-y uplift ( 16%) driven by S2 of the action-packed police series and international hit Hudson & Rex which averaged 548k viewers. Rosario Dawson-led drama series Briarpatch also proved popular with viewers, 516k viewers (Total Consumption) tuned in to the premiere of that in Ja nuary.

UKTV Originals on leading factual channel Yesterday were the stars of Q1 and have taken the channels share up by 12% y-o-y. Bangers and Cash S4 opened to 648k viewers making it the strongest launch for the charming Yorkshire-based observational documentary series and the second highest performing episode of any show on the channel to date (outperformed only by another episode of Bangers & Cash in 2020). Secrets of the Transport Museum has become the second best brand-new S1 launch to date on the channel.

UKTV Original shows have proved popular with viewers on Gold and W. The Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out launched on 6th March on Gold to 577k viewers, the best performing retrospective since The Story of Only Fools and Horses in 2017. It has also had a positive impact on viewing figures for the original Vicar of Dibley archive which is the third highest rating show on the channel for the quarter. On W, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies in 2020 has had one of the strongest 16-34 profiles for a UKTV commission on the channel with 66% of the shows audience aged 16-34.

UKTV Play has enjoyed a 41% increase in direct-to-consumer views y-o-y in Q1 2021 driven by The Bill: The Early Years and Yesterdays returning original series Bangers and Cash, the sixth most popular title on the service.

Richard Watsham, UKTVs Director of Commissioning, said:

Im pleased to see Bangers and Cash taking Yesterdays ratings to new heights. The team has done a fantastic job, with our brilliant production partners, to populate the channels schedule with a number of high rating, high quality hits.

After a busy development period during lockd

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