ITV is focusing on improving its on-screen performance after admitting this year's audience figures have been disappointing.

The broadcaster, headed by Scottish-born chief executive Adam Crozier, and home to shows including Downton Abbey and The X Factor, reported a five per cent decline in share of viewing (SOV) across its family of channels to 21.8 per cent for the 10 months to October 31. The figure for the main ITV channel was down four per cent to 15.4 per cent.

Despite the decline, ITV said its broadcast business continued to perform strongly after net advertising revenues rose six per cent in the first nine months of this year.

It predicts the figure across 2014 will be up by five per.

Meanwhile, the ITV Studios production business is 10 per cent ahead.