New data shows Channel 4 is the only major UK broadcaster to grow overall viewing across streaming and linear in 2024.
The BARB data, released by the broadcaster, shows its streaming audience has grown faster than Netflix, Amazon Prime or Disney+ with a 32% year on year rise in viewer minutes.
The figures show Channel 4 streaming has grown by 7.3 billion viewer minutes so far in 2024 (up 32% year on year), contributing to a 4billion increase in overall viewing minutes across linear and streaming and a record high of 164 billion viewer minutes. That represents a 2.5% year-on-year increase, while BARB data shows major commercial broadcasters on average posted a 3% year on year drop in overall viewing minutes.
In addition, the proportion of total Channel 4 viewing via streaming continues to rise, up 29% year on year so far across 2024. Some 40% of Channel 4’s 16-34 viewing this year has come via streaming.
Ian Katz, chief content officer, Channel 4, said: “It’s great to see Channel 4’s long-term strategy of prioritising digital viewing and investing in distinctive, British streaming-first content bearing fruit. This data shows that, even in a challenging market, we can successfully grow our overall audience by attracting new digital natives and migrating existing viewers to digital platforms.
The growth has been reflected in Channel 4’s commercial activity. The most recent data, from January 2023, show digital revenues now account for 27% of Channel 4’s total revenues– compared to around 10% amongst other commercial broadcasters in the UK and abroad.
For the month of May, Channel 4’s year-on-year increase in total viewing was 6%. This was fuelled by a 21% year on year rise in streaming minutes viewed – outpacing the 10% year on year rise posted on average across all commercial PSBs.
