ITV dominates mass live viewing this weekend across Entertainment, Sport & Drama

23 April 2024 – ITV dominates mass live viewing this weekend across Entertainment, Sport & Drama

• Including Britain’s Got Talent launch – watched by more than 12m over the weekend, making it ITV’s biggest entertainment show this year.
• Across the 16 Saturday nights in 2024 so far, ITV has won 11
• The FA Cup semi-final, which peaked at 7.1m
• Red Eye launch – ITV’s third biggest drama this year

ITV dominated mass live viewing this past weekend across Entertainment, Sport and Drama, including the 17th series launch of Britain’s Got Talent on both Saturday and Sunday evenings watched by 12 million across the weekend; The FA Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon, which peaked with 7.1m viewers making it ITV’s second highest overnight this year after the quarter-final match last month; plus brand new and exclusive drama launch Red Eye on Sunday evening. And across the 16 Saturday nights in 2024 so far, ITV has won 11 including this weekend.

Made by Thames, a Fremantle label, more than 12 million people tuned into the eagerly awaited first two launch episodes of Britain’s Got Talent this weekend. Episode 1 peaked with 5.8 million viewers (5m ave.) with a 39% share and has already consolidated up to 6.2m. With episode 2 peaking at 5.2m (4.5m ave.) and a 32% share. 16-34 viewing across both episodes is strong with the first episode attracting a 49% share and in 1 day consolidating to 732k, plus 547k peak (442k ave.) and a 45% share for episode 2.

In addition, BGT content created for socials has so far garnered 25 million video views.

For sport, The FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Coventry peaked with 7.1m (ave. 4.4m) and a 41% share, which is ITV’s second highest overnight this year after the quarter-final match on 17th March.

And for drama, Red Eye with Jing Lusi and Richard Armitage launched with a peak of 4.1m (ave. 3.7m). Based on overnights alone this makes it ITV’s third biggest drama this year after Mr Bates vs The Post Office and Vera.

Plus, the multi award winning Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway final has also currently consolidated to 5.9m, up on last year’s final, with the series winning its time slot every weekend bar one.*

*Channel 4 were showing the England v Brazil match at that time.