Richard Desmond-owned service briefly beats rival for the first time, fuelled by Big Brother and Ashes cricket highlights
Channel 5 has outperformed Channel 4 across a week in terms of total share of viewing by the tiniest of margins for the first time since launching in 1997.
Last week Channel 5's flagship channel managed just shy of a 5% share of total viewing, including its +1 timeshift service.
Channel 4's main network, including Channel 4+1, managed a 4.94% share of what is called "all individuals" viewing between 6am and 1am last week.
Channel 5's margin of victory may be small, however its first ratings win over Channel 4 over a week is still a landmark, fuelled by programming including Big Brother and Ashes cricket highlights.
"They had an excellent week, in the summer with Big Brother it is always a period they get closer to Channel 4 and the Ashes highlights have gone great guns for them," said one media agency executive who independently verified the slim victory. "They can be rightly chuffed with their performance but it should be put in context."
Channel 4 would also argue that its catchup channel, 4Seven, should be included. This would bump up its share for last week to closer to 5.3%, but Channel 5 does not have an equivalent service and so have excluded it to focus on a core channel comparison.
Channel 4 also prefers to focus on its portfolio offering, which includes channels such as E4 and More4.
"Channel 4's digital portfolio have done very well, but Channel 5 can't compete across the piste," said a second media agency executive, who has also independently verified the figures in the tight-run battle between the two broadcasters last week.
Channel 4 pointed out that taking a time period of 6am to 1am is selective, and does not paint a full picture of performance. Taking full-day figures Channel 4 claims that it has a share of 5.06% against Channel 5 at 4.99%.
"We've been working really hard to give viewers what they want and we are really glad that they have been enjoying our progress," said the Channel 5 director of programmes, Ben Frow.
A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: "Channel 4 has a unique remit which is quite different to that of Channel 5, it requires us to broadcast distinctive programming which appeals to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society. Over 2013 the channel has been the home to wide range of critically acclaimed programming, including recent hits like the Murder Trial, Skint, Dates and The Returned. This content has both delivered to the remit and achieved audience success."
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Channel 5 has outperformed Channel 4 across a week in terms of total share of viewing by the tiniest of margins for the first time since launching in 1997.
Last week Channel 5's flagship channel managed just shy of a 5% share of total viewing, including its +1 timeshift service.
Channel 4's main network, including Channel 4+1, managed a 4.94% share of what is called "all individuals" viewing between 6am and 1am last week.
Channel 5's margin of victory may be small, however its first ratings win over Channel 4 over a week is still a landmark, fuelled by programming including Big Brother and Ashes cricket highlights.
"They had an excellent week, in the summer with Big Brother it is always a period they get closer to Channel 4 and the Ashes highlights have gone great guns for them," said one media agency executive who independently verified the slim victory. "They can be rightly chuffed with their performance but it should be put in context."
Channel 4 would also argue that its catchup channel, 4Seven, should be included. This would bump up its share for last week to closer to 5.3%, but Channel 5 does not have an equivalent service and so have excluded it to focus on a core channel comparison.
Channel 4 also prefers to focus on its portfolio offering, which includes channels such as E4 and More4.
"Channel 4's digital portfolio have done very well, but Channel 5 can't compete across the piste," said a second media agency executive, who has also independently verified the figures in the tight-run battle between the two broadcasters last week.
Channel 4 pointed out that taking a time period of 6am to 1am is selective, and does not paint a full picture of performance. Taking full-day figures Channel 4 claims that it has a share of 5.06% against Channel 5 at 4.99%.
"We've been working really hard to give viewers what they want and we are really glad that they have been enjoying our progress," said the Channel 5 director of programmes, Ben Frow.
A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: "Channel 4 has a unique remit which is quite different to that of Channel 5, it requires us to broadcast distinctive programming which appeals to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society. Over 2013 the channel has been the home to wide range of critically acclaimed programming, including recent hits like the Murder Trial, Skint, Dates and The Returned. This content has both delivered to the remit and achieved audience success."
• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email media@guardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook Reported by guardian.co.uk 4 days ago.