More viewers flock to Discovery's UK channels

[dutchman]

Discovery celebrates outperforming TV channels with strong growth recorded. But they're silent on the performance of some services...



During 2019, Discovery’s portfolio of free-to-air and pay TV channels outperformed the TV market in the UK, increasing its audience by 7%, in a market that declined by -4%.

Discovery celebrated its biggest one day share of viewers (5.4%) on 12th August 2019.

According to information released today by Discovery, free-to-air channel Quest achieved an average share of 1.5% amongst men, which was an increase of +13% compared to 2018. Its ratings successes was boosted by programmes including Salvage Hunters, Aussie Gold Hunters, Goblin Works Garage and The Repair Shop as well through sports coverage and a boost on the Freeview channel list, where it moved from channel 37 to 12, following a deal with UKTV which resulted in Quest taking Dave's old channel number.

More than 15m people watched sport on Quest including EFL highlights, British Superbike Championship, Home Nations Snooker and BDO World Darts Championship.

Meanwhile, DMAX, which replaced Travel Channel on Freeview and Freesat at the beginning of last year, saw its audience grow by 12 times.

DMAX was previously an obscure pay TV channel in the UK before going free-to-air. An episode of Alaskan Bush People was the most watched programme of 2019, with 193k viewers.

As reported in September, Discovery merged former UKTV channel Good Food with its existing Food Network channel. These changes resulted in Food Network achieving a record-breaking year, growing its share of adults by 33% year-on-year. Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen achieved around 200k on the channel and was its biggest ever rating.

Quest Red recorded an 18% audience growth among adults, with UK commissions The Bad Skin Clinic and Katie Price: My Crazy Life leading the ratings.

But the broadcaster stayed silent on the fortunes of Really and Home, the former UKTV channels it acquired alongside Good Food last year, opting for no comment on the performances of either channel.

Next week, Home is turning into HGTV UK, having already made changes to its schedule and programme line-up ahead of the rebrand.

Meanwhile, Really has been left as the odd one out, as it competes for female viewers against its sister free-to-air channels Quest Red and Home/HGTV, although having a more prominent Freeview channel slot. Of the three former UKTV channels acquired by Discovery, it's the only one that hasn't seen any major changes so far.