ITV stabilises performance in first half

ITV says the performance of its flagship channel, ITV1, is beginning to stabilise as its ratings decline slows and digital multichannel penetration passes 80%. In the six months to the end of June ITV's share of commercial impacts—a key performance indicator—fell 5.6% to 32.3% for ITV1, compared with a fall of 9.1% in the same period of 2006. The total ITV channel portfolio saw its share of commercial impacts fall by 3.1% to 41.5%.

Net advertising revenues in the first half were down by 5%, with ITV1 seeing a 9% decline to £595m, while digital channels and GMTV were up 24% to £122m. ITV's total adult all time viewing share fell by 2% in all homes, but by 1% in multichannel homes.

"Our digital channels continue to grow, with the aggregate all time viewing share up 6% at 4.5%," said ITV in a trading statement. "ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 all rank in the top 10 digital channels in Freeview, the UK's biggest digital platform, with ITV2 and ITV3 taking the first and second positions respectively."

ITV said plans to relaunch ITV.com as a streaming video service were "progressing well". "Full functionality, including live simulcasts of ITV channels, catch-up and archive, has been available since the launch of the 'Soaps' section on June 12, with the service being rolled-out thematically over the course of the summer."

Lovelace Consulting  |  05.07.2007

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