UKTV Play views up 41% YoY
April 29, 2019
UKTV, the multichannel network, has reported an impressive start to 2019. Year-to-date UKTV’s adult SOCI (share of commercial impacts) is 9.53 per cent, up 3 per cent year-on-year. In addition, the network has seen strong growth in 16-34 SOCI, which is up 6 per cent year-on-year to 6.74 per cent.
UKTV Originals and channels
Brand new UKTV Original panel show, Hypothetical, featuring James Acaster and Josh Widdicombe, launched on Dave in Q1 with 1.2 million viewers tuning into its debut episode, making it the network’s most popular show of 2019 to date.
The top five Q1 shows on W were made up of UKTV Originals and exclusive acquisitions (MasterChef USA, Flack, Inside the Ambulance, The Shift: Women on the Force and 999 Rescue Squad) with brand new UKTV Original scripted drama, Flack, starring Anna Paquin, attracting 620k viewers to its opening episode.
On Yesterday, now the fourth biggest non-PSB channel in the UK (SOCI), new UKTV Original, Bangers and Cash, also made a strong debut April 18th). The new series, which follows the Matthewsons, a family dynasty of classic car auctioneers who uncover rare classics, kick started the Easter weekend peaking with 509k viewers and has contributed to Yesterday’s success, with adult share up 11 per cent year-on-year and 16-34 share up 22 per cent.
Really delivered its best Q1 on record, up 5 per cent year-on-year, and UKTV Original Sarah Beeny’s Renovate Don’t Relocate, became the channel’s best performing property title with episode one launching to an audience of 478k.
In addition to Yesterday, Gold (+29 per cent), Alibi (+13 per cent) and Home (+25 per cent) have all seen year-on-year 16-34 share increases, while Drama has seen its adult share improve by 11 per cent.
UKTV Play
UKTV Play, the network’s popular on demand service, has seen a 41 per cent increase in views year-on-year, and now has over 2.3 million registered users. UKTV Originals were the most popular shows on the service, with the first episode of new commission Hypothetical, taking the top performing slot in Q1.
Since the start of the year, UKTV Play has launched a new generation app featuring increased personalisation, and live streaming has been made available on the UKTV Play website, enabling viewers to watch Dave, Drama, Yesterday, Really and Home live. The channel streams will be also be available on UKTV Play’s mobile and TV apps in the coming months.
Easter
Drama achieved a share of 1.58 per cent over the Easter bank holiday, up 29 per cent year-on-year. The channel’s success was powered by a raft of titles, including the free-to-air premiere of UKTV Original Death on the Tyne, which was watched by 328k viewers (live + VOSDAL), representing a 2.8 per cent share and up 157 per cent on slot. This was despite the hot bank holiday weather bringing Total TV down by 23 per cent over the Easter period, versus last year.
Really also recorded a record-breaking Easter with a 0.72 per cent percent share, up 1 per cent on Easter 2018 which was its previous best. And the UKTV network achieved a 6 per cent share on six consecutive days over the Easter period (17-22 April), marking the first time in the broadcaster’s history that it has achieved this feat. In addition, Good Friday was UKTV’s best Good Friday on record, with a 6.5 per cent share.