Hit shows boost commercial TV as impacts rise 13.5%

by Staff, Brand Republic 28-May-08, 08:40

LONDON - Commercial TV impacts were up 13.5% in April to 72,451,085 compared with the same month last year, on the back of hit shows such as ITV1's 'Britain's Got Talent', according to Barb.

The figure marks a 20% rise in the number of commercial TV impacts in April over the last five years.

The new figures also show that UK viewers have has watched an average of 11 minutes more commercial TV a day this year than the same period 15 years ago.

On top of the increase in the total number of commercial TV impacts, some of the most coveted audiences for advertisers also experienced a boost last month.

ABC1 impacts were up 16.2% on last April; 16-24s rose 12% and 16-34s increased 12.3%.

UK TV viewers watched an average of 2.35 hours of commercial TV a day in April, the highest figure on record for April in five years.

Thinkbox, the commercial TV marketing body, attributed the increases to a combination of compelling programming, digital TV penetration -- which has now reached 87.6% of UK homes -- and this April's inclement weather.

Tess Alps, Thinkbox chief executive, said: "It's a great time to put your brand on TV, whatever audience you want to reach.

"These numbers prove the growth in commercial broadcast TV viewing, but we also can show the numbers proving that TV is more effective than ever, that it is being viewed incrementally via new platforms and that it is the major driver of online activity. The numbers tell a powerful story for the growing medium of TV."