This is interesting. Media Guardian has written about the overall ratings picture for 2006.
Channel 4 up in 2006 ratings
Wednesday December 27, 2006
MediaGuardian.co.uk
Noel Edmonds quiz Deal or No Deal helped Channel 4 become the only one of the five terrestrial channels to increase its audience share in 2006.
The channel's all-day share averaged 9.8% in 2006, compared with 9.7% in 2005. Channel 4 beat BBC2 for the second successive year and opened up a record lead of one percentage point.
All four other terrestrial channels lost ground. Channel Five was the biggest loser, down 11% to 5.7% from 6.5% last year. ITV1 was down 9% to 19.7% from 21.6% last year, the first time its all-day share has fallen below the 20% mark.
Both BBC channels also lost ground - BBC2 down slightly to 22.7% from 23.3%, while BBC2 slipped 6% to 8.8% from 9.4% last year.
However, Channel 4 shed audience in the all-important peak time battle, down to 9.8% this year from 10% in 2005. In a reversal of roles, BBC2 turned the tables on Channel 4 by becoming the only terrestrial channel to increase its peak time share, up slightly to 9.2% from 9% in 2005. The other four terrestrial channels all lost out in peak time.
Multichannel TV continued its inexorable growth and accounted for its biggest ever share of viewing in 2006, both across the day and in peaktime.
Multichannel had a 28.2% share of peaktime viewing, up 15% from 24.6% last year. Across the entire day, it was up 13% to 33.2% from 29.5% in 2005.
Terrestrial controllers can take some consolation that the multichannel figures include spin-off channels such as ITV2, E4 and BBC4, as well as the likes of Sky One, Living TV and Sky Sports.
The all-day percentages include audience figures up until December 22, while the peak time shares include ratings until December 17. However, the full year figures for 2006 are likely to vary only marginally from these statistics.
The figures, which was released by Channel 4, measures peaktime hours from 5.30pm until midnight. ITV includes breakfast broadcaster GMTV.
A Channel 4 spokesman said: "Channel 4's outstanding creative strength has been at the heart of our ratings and commercial success. These figures reflect audience appreciation of our diverse and distinctive programming."
BBC director of vision Jana Bennett said all the BBC channels had all turned in strong performances in a "very competitive environment".
"The strength of the BBC portfolio in peak is testimony to the appeal of BBC quality content to audiences, whether it's Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1 or Torchwood on BBC3. It's only going to get tougher as other broadcasters strengthen their portfolios. Creative competition and choice can only be good for the viewers."
A spokesman for ITV said the channel had seven of the top 10 shows of the year, excluding sport.
"ITV has dominated the top shows of the year with the most popular programme of 2006 and the highest rating shows across all the major genres including drama, entertainment, sport and films," he said.
"Across the year ITV has won more than double the audience share to its nearest commercial rival across all hours and almost treble the audience share in peak."
2006 TV audience shares
Average all-day audience 2006
BBC1 22.7% (2005: 23.3%)
BBC2 8.8% (9.4%)
ITV1 19.7% (21.6%)
Channel 4 9.8% (9.7%)
Five 5.7% (6.5%)
Other 33.2% (29.5%)
Average peaktime audience 2006 (5.30pm - midnight)
BBC1 23.3% (2005: 24.1%)
BBC2 9.2 (9%)
ITV1 23.4% (25.5%)
Channel 9.8% (10%)
Five 6.1% (6.8%)
Other 28.2% (24.6%)