ITV hit drama Downton Abbey not enough to prevent slide in audience figures
ITV said hit drama Downton Abbey had not been enough to prevent a slide in audience figures.
The broadcaster, which also shows X Factor and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, saw its share of the TV viewing market slip by 5 per cent so far this year – a figure that boss Adam Crozier said was ‘not as good as we would like.’
But shares climbed after it said that revenues rose 8 per cent to £1.8bn for the first nine months of the year, with advertising revenues up 6 per cent to £1.2bn.
Drama not a crisis: ITV said hit Downton Abbey had not been enough to prevent a slide in audience figures
The pick-up in trading spurred the group to say that annual profits would grow by more than 10 per cent.
The number of people using its on-demand service to watch TV on computers or phones also rose 24 per cent.
Next year it will benefit from the Rugby World Cup as well as the second series of Broadchurch, the crime drama starring David Tennant.
It is also due to unveil its festive viewing schedule, which is widely expected to include a Christmas Day special of Downton Abbey.
Shares, which have risen by 15 per cent in the last 12 months, climbed 4.5p to 205.1p.
Most watched Money videos
- BMW's Vision Neue Klasse X unveils its sports activity vehicle future
- Inside the new Ferrari V12 Cilindri
- How to invest for income and growth: SAINTS' James Dow
- MailOnline asks Lexie Limitless 5 quick fire EV road trip questions
- 'Now even better': Nissan Qashqai gets a facelift for 2024 version
- Tesla unveils new Model 3 Performance - it's the fastest ever!
- Skoda reveals Skoda Epiq as part of an all-electric car portfolio
- 2025 Aston Martin DBX707: More luxury but comes with a higher price
- Land Rover unveil newest all-electric Range Rover SUV
- Blue Whale fund manager on the best of the Magnificent 7
- Mini Cooper SE: The British icon gets an all-electric makeover
- Mini celebrates the release of brand new all-electric car Mini Aceman
- TONY HETHERINGTON: Boss behind firms fined £340k for over...
- British businesses awash with 'accidental' bosses who...
- Shipping broker Clarksons on list of shame after...
- Cost-of-living crunch wipes shine off Thomas Sabo jewellery
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Wind is turning in Octopus...
- As world lurches from crisis to crisis, experts share...
- A good week - not before time, but let's not get carried...
- Hollywood silly money? I'd only have stuffed it under the...
- CITY WHISPERS: Bill Ackman's cerulean eyes charm...
- 86-year-old Peter's woes with a faulty smart meter that...
- Virgin Money's biggest independent investor...
- Britain's nascent battery industry receives shot in the...
- Helium and hydrogen company set to join stock market in...
- Where is Labour's 'white heat' revolution to revive...
- JOHCM UK EQUITY INCOME FUND: Rate cuts... and a spending...
- North Sea projects worth £21bn put at risk by Labour: Tax...
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Why it soon won't be hip to give the...
- Ikea pushes back opening of its Oxford Street store to...