While other linear channels are struggling, Channel 5 has become the only public service broadcaster to increase its total share of the UK viewing audience.
- All Creatures Great and Small and Captain Tom: Where Did The Money Go? attracted big audiences in 2023.
- 5 News enjoys best viewing figures since 2015.
End of year TV ratings figures from BARB confirm Channel 5 has finished another year of growth.
2023 ended with a 5% share growth for Channel 5’s family of linear channels including 5STAR, 5USA, 5SELECT and 5ACTION, marking five consecutive years of growth.
As a result, the Paramount-owned broadcaster is the only public service broadcaster (PSB) to increase its total share of the UK viewing audience (BBC: -4%, ITV -2%, C4 -2%).
Channel 5’s main channel was the only commercial PSB to increase its audience share in peak time (7-11pm) in 2023 compared to 2022. Among all main national PSB channels, only BBC Two managed to grow as well. (Channel 5: +1% year-on-year versus ITV -5%, C4 -3%, BBC1 -2%, BBC2 +1 %).
The broadcaster also closed the gap with struggling Channel 4. Channel 5 won a greater share of audience than Channel 4 across more than a third of days during 2023.
What did viewers watch on Channel 5?
- All Creatures Great and Small pulled in the channel’s biggest audience of the year. This averaged 3.7 million viewers (19% share);
- Drama The Inheritance was watched by 3.3 million (19% share) ;
- Captain Tom: Where Did the Money Go? became Channel 5’s highest rating single documentary in its history with 2 million viewing (13% share of audience).;
- Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly and Police: Suspect No.1 drew audiences of 1.9 million (12.6% share) and 1.8 million (9.7% share) respectively;
- 5 News achieved its highest month of viewing since 2015 in December.
Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer, UK, Paramount, commented:
“I’m so proud that Channel 5 has continued to lead the pack for audience share growth for a fifth successive year and, yet again, we have closed the gap on our nearest competitor. It’s testament to the hard work of all of the Channel 5 team with their deep understanding of what our audiences love to watch – and all the fantastic producers and creative talent we work with.”
Marc Thornham