Channel 4’s recent data release shows a significant lead in streaming growth over major competitors like Netflix and Prime.
- Minutes viewed on Channel 4 increased by 25% from January to August, with an additional 11% rise in August year-on-year.
- The documentary “Merseyside Detectives: The Murders of Ashley and Olivia” is a major contributor, with 191 million viewer minutes.
- The docu-series emphasises the impact of gun and gang violence in Merseyside, reflecting societal issues in Britain.
- Channel 4’s Fast Forward strategy succeeds in growing audiences as PSBs face audience declines.
Channel 4 has announced a remarkable lead in streaming growth, outpacing competitors like Netflix and Prime, according to newly released figures. Between January and August, the channel saw a 25% increase in minutes viewed, while in August alone, there was an 11% year-on-year rise, totalling 4.4 billion viewer minutes.
A significant portion of this accomplishment is attributed to the documentary series, “Merseyside Detectives: The Murders of Ashley and Olivia.” This gripping series has captured 191 million viewer minutes and averaged an audience of 2.1 million per episode across both linear and streaming platforms during August.
The documentary series highlights gun and gang violence and its devastating effect on innocent lives in Merseyside, focusing on the tragic stories of Ashley Dale and nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, both victims of gang conflicts. This content resonates with viewers by reflecting critical societal problems and inspiring broader conversations across the nation.
Kiran Nataraja, Director of Streaming & Content Strategy at Channel 4, stated, “The success of Merseyside Detectives underlines what PSBs uniquely offer streamers: content which reflects Britain and impacts the national conversation.” This supports their ongoing efforts under the Fast Forward strategy to transform Channel 4 into the first public service streamer.
In terms of overall audience growth for August, Channel 4 achieved a 4% increase across linear and streaming avenues, a noteworthy contrast to the 10% decline experienced by other commercial PSBs. This achievement underlines the effectiveness of Channel 4’s strategic approach to content delivery and audience engagement.
Channel 4’s strategic content delivery continues to drive success, setting it apart in a competitive digital landscape.
