The popularity of shows like Jamie's School Dinnersand US import Desperate Housewiveshas helped Channel 4 become the only channel to grow its audience for the first three months of the year.
The popularity of shows like Jamie's School Dinnersand US import Desperate Housewiveshas helped Channel 4 become the only channel to grow its audience for the first three months of the year.

For the three months to 31 March, C4 has secured an audience share of 9.7% across all hours, up from 9.5% for the same period last year.

The largest growth in this audience has come from the 16 to 34 year-old age group which has risen by 15% to a share of 12.6%. However, its share of the lucrative ABC1 audience has fallen by 2% to 10.7%.

During peaktime the channel has increased its audience by 8% from 9.5% to 10.2%. C4's most popular show of the year so far was the live final of Celebrity Big Brotherin January with 5.7 million (21%).

Meanwhile, multichannel broadcasters collectively increased their audience year on year by 17% to secure a share of 28.3%, up from 24.2% for the first three months of last year.

Five's audience, which grew last year, fell by 3%, down to 6.5% so far this year. But the channel is still growing its peaktime audience, up 1% to 6.9%.

BBC2 suffered the largest fall in its overall viewing which was down by 11% to 9.6%. across all hours and down by 9% in peaktime. This was due to losing The Simpsonsand ending its Monday night comedy zone.

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