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UKTV celebrates record-breaking year

UKTV is celebrating its most successful year after record-breaking viewing drew it level with Channel 5, as well as Sky’s wholly-owned channels, including movies and sport

UKTV is celebrating its most successful year after record-breaking viewing drew it level with Channel 5, as well as Sky’s wholly-owned channels, including movies and sport.

In 2015, UKTV’s share grew to 5.27 per cent (from 5.08 per cent in 2014) and as of 26 December it delivered 9.27 per cent share of commercial impacts (SOCI), putting it marginally ahead of the Channel 5 portfolio (9.26 per cent) and Sky branded channels (9.25 per cent).

UKTV’s increased investment in original programming has contributed to the network’s record-breaking viewing in 2015, up 3.7 per cent year on year. Official Barb data shows that commissions Storage Hunters UK Celebrity Special and Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish (pictured) were UKTV’s highest rating programmes of 2015, helping to propel UKTV – a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Network Interactive – to its fifth consecutive year of growth. Since 2010, the network has increased its overall viewing by 30 per cent.

Over the Christmas period, the network surpassed Channel 5’s portfolio with a 6.63 per cent share versus 5.9 per cent, up 11.4 per cent year on year. 27 December broke all records and brought UKTV to its highest daily share ever, 7.62 per cent and the network enjoyed its most successful Boxing Day (6.69 per cent), New Year’s Eve (6.94 per cent) and New Year’s Day (6.91 per cent).

UKTV Play also had a very successful festive period, with a 66 per cent increase in app downloads from November to December.

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.”