[LEE]

ALMOST 8 MILLION VIEWERS WATCH OPENING BIG BROTHER LAUNCH SHOW

The opening two shows of the fourth series of Big Brother have proved the original reality TV show is as popular as ever. Almost 8 million viewers watched the opening show, making it the highest rating Big Brother launch show ever and the highest rated show on Channel 4 during 2003 so far.

Unofficial overnight viewing figures from Barb have indicated that last night’s (Friday 23 May) 8.30pm launch show was watched by an average 6.9 million viewers and a 29.3% share of those viewing television at the time. At it’s peak the show was watched by 7.6 million viewers and a 32.3% share. 46% of this audience were 16-34’s and 42% ABC1s. This is 16% up on last year’s first Big Brother programme, which reached 5.9 million viewers and a 26% share. 2002’s launch show had a similar audience profile with the opening show attracting 45% 16-34’s and 43% ABC1s.

The later 10.45pm show where the housemates had to make surprise nominations attracted 5.2 million and a 32.6% share peaking at 5.4 million and a 35.4% share.

Unofficial overnight ratings take no account of viewers who may have video recorded the programme.

Last night's performance is the highest ever Big Brother debut. In 2001 the Big Brother launch programme reached 3.5 million viewers and a 17% share and Big Brother's debut in 2000 secured 3.6 million and a 17% share.

Friday’s Big Brother launch show was also the highest rated show on Channel 4 in 2003 beating Wife Swap which was watched by an average 5.9 million viewers in January this year.

[jbellemeg]

This is good news, if only to show channel 4 that BB is as popular as when it first started. No chance of them not making BB5.

[WILDCHILD]

It just goes to show - BIG BROTHER IS THE BEST!!!!:thum bs:

[Amy]

Viewing figures for yesterday and Sunday from The Guardian

After a record-breaking start on Friday night, ratings for Big Brother 4 on Channel 4 fell away over the Bank Holiday weekend in the face of stiff competition from ITV1 and BBC1.
Big Brother lost more than 2.5 million viewers on Sunday night, after attracting nearly 7 million for the opening episode on Friday - but still managed to beat BBC1's critically acclaimed new drama series, State of Play.

Channel 4's hit reality TV series began with 6.9 million viewers - nearly one in three viewers - on Friday night, as Davina McCall ushered the 12 contestants into the house.

This was 1 million up on the first show of the third series last year, and marked a new record for a Big Brother launch show.

On Sunday and Monday, ratings for the Channel 4 reality show plummeted as it came up against much stiffer competition from ITV1 and BBC1.

On Sunday Big Brother was watched by 4.2 million viewers from 9pm, attracting a 19% audience share.



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