Channel 4 has seen its all-day audience share fall by more than 11 per cent compared with 2006, according to the latest ratings figures. The network’s all hours share, including ratings for S4C in Wales, was the hardest hit of the five main channels in the slow decline of terrestrial television viewing, down 1.1 percentage points from 9.8 per cent last year to 8.7 per cent for 2007 to date.

The station’s main rival, BBC2, is down 3.4 per cent to stand at 8.5 per cent from 8.8 per cent last year. The figures, comparing the period January 1 to December 5 2007 with full year figures for 2006, show that Channel Five was the second biggest faller among the five main networks, down 8.8 per cent, with a share of 5.5 per cent – slightly down on its figure of 5.7 per cent for 2006.

BBC1 remains the nation’s most popular channel, even though it saw the third biggest decline, down 3.5 per cent to stand at 22 per cent, compared with a 22.8 per cent share last year. ITV1 fell 19 per cent over the five years since the beginning of 2003.

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