Ratings roundup: 'Touch' continues with more than 600,000

The latest instalment of Touch garnered more than 600,000 viewers on Sky1 last night, according to overnight data.



The Kiefer Sutherland drama picked up 606k (2.6%) in the 8pm timeslot, improving on last week's numbers.

On Sky Atlantic, the latest Mad Men episode took 47k (0.2%) from 9pm. Earlier, Friday Night Lights managed 21k (0.1%).

The Vampire Diaries rose to 407k (1.7%) on ITV2, while Alcatraz also improved, averaging 459k (2%) in the same 9pm hour on Watch.

On the terrestrials, The Syndicate dominated for BBC One with 5.44m (23.1%). Smugglers could only respond with 2.9m (12.3%) on ITV1 (+1: 370k/2.1%), with a celebrity special of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? taking 2.54m (11%) earlier (+1: 127k/0.5%).

BBC Two showed Hairy Bikers' Bakeation (2.86m/12.3%) and Horizon (1.26m/5.4%).

Channel 4's Supersize v Superskinny was seen by 1.93m (8.3%) from 8pm and a further 219k (0.9%) on timeshift. New series The Undateables strongly launched to 2.35m (10%) afterwards with 557k on +1.

Lastly, CSI pulled in 1.87m (7.9%) on Channel 5 (+1: 124k/0.7%) with Rory McGrath's Pub Dig averaging 726k (3.1%).

Overall, BBC One comfortably won primetime with 23.7% ahead of ITV1's 13.2% (+1: 0.8%). BBC Two came third with 8% beating Channel 4's 6.6% (+1: 1.3%) and Channel 5's 4.9% (+1: 0.2%).

Sky losing £5 per viewer as Mad Men audience plummets



Much hyped advertising drama Mad Men has seen its audience slump to just 47,000 since the latest series debuted on Sky Atlantic, inflicting satellite broadcaster Sky with a £5 loss for each viewer.

Sky poached the rights to the series from the BBC after offering three times as much cash, but that decision is now hitting it in the pocket after over 300,000 former BBC4 viewers elected to wait for the box set instead.

Sky is understood to be stumping up more than £250k per episode to screen the series but the poor performance has surprised many, particularly with the saturation coverage given to the show in the media.

Some have suggested that the programme has suffered particularly badly after switching from the BBC to Sky because it appeals to a certain type of viewer who may be reluctant to take out a subscription with Rupert Murdoch’s satellite giant.

A Sky spokesman said: ‘In Sky homes Mad Men has never been more popular.

'When you look at those who watched the first episode of Mad Men live, or caught up through Sky+ or on-demand, it was the most watched episode in Sky homes ever, and by some margin.’

‘We’re delighted with the response from Sky customers and will continue to invest in the shows that create more value for our existing customers and give more people a reason to join Sky.’