UTV Ireland hits highest ratings since launch thanks to Daniel and Majella, I'm a Celeb, and Corrie
UTV Ireland hit its highest ever ratings on Monday thanks to several exclusive shows including Daniel & Majella's B&B Road Trip and I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out Of Here!.
The broadcaster enjoyed an all day share of 11%, its highest since the channel launched on January 1 this year.
Speaking about the figures, Mary Curtis, UTV Ireland's Head of Channel said, “UTV Ireland reached 2.3 million people last week and we are delighted that yesterday marked UTV Ireland’s highest ratings since the channel launched – to do so with such a significant share of viewing, within our first year of broadcasting, is fantastic."
UTV Ireland series Daniel and Majella's Road Trip, which sees singer Daniel O'Donnell and his wife Majella traverse the country to stay at the B&Bs of fans, has proved a huge success and Monday's show drew an average of 230,000 viewers and 15% audience share.
Ratings were further boosted by I'm A Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here! which pulled an average of 385,000 viewers tuning in to see Lady Colin Campbell take on the Helmets of Hell Bushtucker trial.
British soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street continue to draw a peak time audience to UTV Ireland and Monday's Coronation Street drew average of 417,000 and 408,000 for two episodes.
Thanks to Coronation Street UTV Ireland hit its highest peaktime share of 16.3% compared to TV3's 6.5% and RTE2's 4.5%.
“These programmes are all exclusive to UTV Ireland and are proving hugely successful with our audience," said Mary Curtis.
"Next month, UTV Ireland will be the only place to watch Jeremy Kyle in Ireland and in January, the new series of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway will broadcast exclusively on UTV Ireland."
The channel will also soon broadcast a six episode series of a new entertainment show which will see Lorraine Keane interview celebrities. The show will replace Pat Kenny: In the Round.
Speaking at the Irish Film and Television Awards last month UTV Ireland news anchor Alison Comyn defended the channel's news ratings.
The UTV Ireland 10 o'clock news programme attracts an average of 50,000 viewers with its earlier programme attracting half that but Ms Comyn said she has never had bad press regarding the programme and added, "Every now and again people throw in figures, but viewing figures are not what makes us."
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