C4 enters Q4 with strong momentum in revenue and audiences

5 December 2011

Black Mirror

The month of November saw C4 Sales attain an historic peak, achieving £100m in monthly revenues for the first time ever.

This revenue performance is matched by a turnaround in share of commercial impacts in key audiences for Q4 on the main channel, as programmes commissioned under Jay Hunt's leadership are hitting screens at increased scale.

In Q4 to date (1st Oct 11- 22 Nov 11), C4 is the only terrestrial broadcaster to show impact growth on both 16-34's (+1.2%) and ABC1's (+1.1%). Source BARB.

Key programmes driving share include the return of Grand Designs, bold singles including The Queen's Hidden Cousins, strong drama performances from Top Boy and Fresh Meat, new factual successes Food Hospital and Educating Essex, a reinvigorated offering of comedy and entertainment bolstering 16-34 share on Friday nights, and high performing films including Ice Age: Dawn Dinosaurs and St Trinian's.

Channel 4 anticipates that the audience growth will continue across December with one of the strongest C4 Autumn schedules in recent years. On Sunday night, Charlie Brooker's drama series Black Mirror launched with 1.9m, making it the highest rating drama premiere of the year. Coupled with The Golden Compass, which drew an audience of 3.2m, Sunday 4th December proved to be the strongest so far this quarter.

Our line up for the final month of the year includes: Bear Grylls takes Miranda Hart into the wild for Bear's Wild Weekend with Miranda, This is England ‘88, My Big Fat Gypsy Christmas, The British Comedy Awards Live, brand new, live entertainment event, Home for the Holidays, five consecutive nights of The Million Pound Drop Live, and a great package of films including Vicky Christina Barcelona, Bruno and Elf. Christmas Specials from Jamie Oliver, new Channel 4 signing Jimmy Doherty, Kirstie Allsopp, the cast of Made in Chelsea, and a Cook-Along-Live with Gordon Ramsay will also air during the festive period.

Highlights for the first month of the new year include: The Bank Job, a week-long live event with a gripping online element that gives players the chance to pull off the ultimate heist; Channel 4's very first phone hacking comedy, Hacks, written by Drop the Dead Donkey and Outnumbered writer Guy Jenkin and The Channel 4 Mash Up, where for one night only, a selection of familiar Channel 4 faces will be swapping shows - The 8 out of 10 Cats team host Countdown, the Made in Chelsea cast try their hands at Come Dine with Me, Phil Spencer presents the Million Pound Drop Live, and Alan Carr enters the property game fronting Location, Location, Location. Channel 4 also has the pick of the American acquisitions hitting screens in January - New Girl starring Zooey Deschanel - which was Fox's highest rating fall sitcom premiere in 10 years when it aired in the US.

Further information on Channel 4's Winter line up here: http://www.channel4.com/info/press/press-packs