UKTV grew views to its free streaming service by 56% in 2023. The seven-channel network also grew share by 5% to a record 4.92%, up from 4.70% in 2022.
The second series of Annika (Alibi) was UKTV’s highest rating show, watched by 1.29 million viewers, benefitting from a run on BBC One.
The new UKTV Play 3.0 app was rolled out across numerous platforms and devices including Google TV, Apple iOS, Android, Amazon Fire and Freeview and all platforms saw year-on-year growth, most notably Amazon Fire which was up 71%.
The Play catalogue now boasts over 7,000 hours of content. Drama has been a key driver of growth for the service with shows such as Signora Volpe, Mrs Sidhu Investigates, Sister Boniface Mysteries, Berlin Station, Atlantic Crossing, Annika, The Brokenwood Mysteries,Madam Secretary and Smother all featuring in the top 20 highest rating episodes on the service.
“2024 will be another tough year for commercial broadcasters with the advertising recession continuing to bite, but I’m confident that UKTV will remain on its growth trajectory and I’m looking forward to uniting UKTV’s free TV and digital portfolio under new masterbrand U,” said CEO, Marcus Arthur.
As part of the rebranding UKTV’s family of free-to-air channels will become U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&YESTERDAY and U&W.
UKTV also launched four UKTV Play branded FAST channels in 2023 – UKTV Play Heroes,UKTV Play Laughs, UKTV Play Full Throttle and UKTV Play Uncovered – on Samsung TV, Amazon Freevee and Pluto TV, and aims to launch FAST channels directly on UKTV Play in the coming year.
The channels are owned and operated by the BBC’s commercial arm BBC Studios.
