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8.8m watch Cameron become PM

PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2010 9:13 pm
by dutchman
A BBC News special on Conservative leader David Cameron’s move into Number 10 was watched by nearly 9m last night, according to the latest viewing figures.
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All of the major networks changed their normal programming schedules to cover the resignation of Gordon Brown and Cameron's formation of an historic coalition government with the Liberal Democrats.

Coverage of the story averaged 8.8m (37.8%) for BBC One from 7.15pm to 9pm. It was followed by the second episode of detective series Luther with 5.31m (21.4%), down 340k week-on-week.

A special ITV News programme on the transfer of government pulled in 2.02m (12.8%) for ITV1 from 5pm to 6.45pm, with a further update gaining an impressive 5.16m (24%) from 7.15pm to 7.30pm.

Additional 15-minute ITV News bulletins at 7.45pm and 9pm averaged 2.63m (11.5%) and 2.8m (11.3%) respectively, with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? sandwiched in the middle on 2.48m (10.1%).

Channel 4 News also covered Cameron becoming prime minister in the 7pm hour, but gained a relatively modest audience of 1.05m (4.9%) and just 34k (0.1%) on timeshift.

Later on Channel 4, Supersize vs Superskinny pulled in 1.51m (6.2%) in the 8pm hour, followed by Heston’s '80s Feast with 2.38m (9.6%).

Five covered the Cameron story with two dedicated 15-minute news updates at 7.45pm and 11pm, which attracted 299k and 829k respectively.

However, Cowboy Builders appealed to just 1.1m (6.5%) on Five in the 8pm hour, down almost 400k week-on-week.

BBC Two's new series Theo's Adventure Capitalist also suffered a week-on-week ratings slump of 290k in the 8pm hour to just 540k (2.2%).

Overall, BBC One dominated primetime with an average audience of 29.6% compared to ITV1’s 12.7%. Channel 4 came in third with 7.7% (+1: 0.9%), followed by BBC Two with 4.9% and Five with 4.8%.

Elsewhere, Blood, Sweat And Luxuries attracted 500k (2%) to BBC Three in the 9pm hour, just ahead of The Vampire Diaries with 494k (2%) for ITV2.