Channel 4 streaming viewing up 24%
December 21, 2023
Channel 4 has unveiled its 20 most streamed episodes and top series of 2023, in a year that has seen a 24 per cent increase in streaming minutes, and over 53.5 billion viewer minutes consumed on the streaming platform overall.
A journey into the world of baking excellence tops the list, with Episode 1 from Series 14 of The Great British Bake Off reaching 243 million viewing minutes on the streaming platform, followed by the agenda-setting Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches documentary, with 170 million viewing minutes recorded.
The list continues with a diverse mix of content that has kept audiences across the UK hooked, from love and betrayal featuring in The Couple Next Door (Season 1, Episode 1, 51m minutes), sweet symphonies heard in The Piano (Season 1, Episode 1, 49.6m minutes) and gripping stories of gangs and more in Banged Up: Stars Behind Bars (Season 1, Episode 1, 49.5m minutes).
The top 20 most streamed single episodes of 2023, based on highest episode and ranked by streaming viewing minutes, are:
- The Great British Bake Off: Series 14, Episode 1– 243 million
- Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches: Series 1, Episode 1– 170 million
- Married at First Sight UK: Series 8, Episode 1– 120 million
- Married at First Sight Australia: Series 10, Episode 2– 103 million
- The Light in the Hall: Series 1, Episode 5– 89 million
- The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C: Series 6, Episode 1– 86 million
- International Football; Scotland v England – 84 million
- Taskmaster: Series 15, Episode 1– 63.7 million
- Gogglebox: Series 21, Episode 1– 63.3 million
- Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins: Series 5, Episode 1– 51.7 million
- The Couple Next Door: Series 1, Episode 1– 51 million
- The Piano: Series 1, Episode 1– 49.6 million
- Banged Up: Stars Behind Bars: Series 1, Episode 1– 49.5 million
- Partygate: Series 1, Episode 1– 49.3 million
- 24 Hours in Police Custody: Series 4, Episode 4– 47.3 million
- Celebrity Hunted: Series 5, Episode 1– 47 million
- Celebrity Gogglebox: Series 5, Episode 1– 45 million
- Alone: Series 1, Episode 2 – 40.3 million
- The Great Pottery Throw Down: Series 6, Episode 2– 40.2 million
- Before We Die: Series 2, Episode 1– 38 million
Channel 4 is also revealing key highlights of the most streamed series across the platform in 2023. Married at First Sight UK and Married at First Sight Australia secured the top two spots, and combined with Married at First Sight New Zealand, reached 6.8 billion viewing minutes respectively, while comedy gameshowTaskmaster landed in third place with 2.2 billion viewing minutes recorded. Other notable titles included The Great British Bake off, Hollyoaks and The Light in the Hall.
Channel 4’s streaming platform saw viewership increase by 24 per cent year-over-year – equivalent to more than 10 billion additional minutes watched in 2023 (based on data from January 1st to December 5th).
Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer, Ian Katz said: “With our most streamed shows of the year ranging from a resurgent Great British Bake Off to surprise hit of the year, The Piano via the uncompromising drama doc Partygate, this list is testament to Channel 4’s commitment to delivering original, compelling and hugely entertaining shows with something to say about Britain and the way we live. At the end of a year that saw our slate pick up more awards than in any year in the channel’s history, I’m delighted to see our distinctive and risk-taking output resonating with our audience.”
Channel 4 streaming across the UK
Channel 4 streaming continues to engage viewers across the UK. The platform has seen the most significant surge in Yorkshire & Lincolnshire, with +54 per cent year-over-year increase. Other notable regions experiencing substantial growth include Wales with an uptake of +37 per cent and the Northwest also tracking at +37 per cent.
Taskmaster took the lead as the undisputed King of the East Midlands (125 million viewing minutes) and the South of England (283 million viewing minutes) as the most-viewed title across both regions. The Northwest of England showcased an appetite for Married at First Sight with 468 million viewing minutes recorded for MAFS UK, and the Australian and New Zealand versions securing second and sixth position in their top 10 shows.
In Wales, Hollyoaks secured the third position with 179 million viewing minutes recorded, trailing closely behind MAFS Australia & MAFS UK, demonstrating a diverse and region-specific viewership. A year on since the last episode aired, Derry Girls continued to be a fan favourite in Northern Ireland taking eighth spot at 19 million viewing minutes recorded.