Wednesday tops the UK audience charts on launch week
The BARB data for UK audiences August 04-10 has been released, and shows two episodes of Wednesday season 2 part 1 have made the top 10, with the first episodes in the number one spot! We dive a little into the data.
What does BARB data show?
In their words:
This dashboard displays the 50 most-watched programmes across all broadcast channels and SVOD services for the chosen week.
For continuity, we publish ratings on our website that use a definition of viewing that takes place within seven days of the programme’s launch, either as part of a linear schedule or as part of an on-demand service. This doesn’t preclude other interpretations of a programme’s success — a number of broadcasters and streamers focus on ratings achieved by a programme in the first 28 days after its launch.
Viewing figures for programmes on SVOD services are calculated based on the average audience achieved during the first seven days of their availability – if launched during the week in question – or across the calendar week, and only include TV set viewing.
Enough with the theory, what were the numbers?
We’ve grabbed the Top 10 to help give context.
| Rank | Programme | Channel | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WEDNESDAY: SERIES 2, EPISODE 1 | Netflix | 4,514,500 | |
| 2 | THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE (TUE 21:00) | BBC 1 (inc HD) | 4,156,000 | |
| 3 | RIDLEY (SUN 20:02) | ITV1/Breakfast Total | 3,935,000 | |
| 4 | CORONATION STREET (WED 20:00) | ITV1/Breakfast Total | 3,908,000 | |
| 5 | CORONATION STREET (MON 20:00) | ITV1/Breakfast Total | 3,825,000 | |
| 6 | WEDNESDAY: SERIES 2, EPISODE 2 | Netflix | 3,793,100 | |
| 7 | EMMERDALE (TUE 19:29) | ITV1/Breakfast Total | 3,658,000 | |
| 8 | CORONATION STREET (FRI 20:00) | ITV1/Breakfast Total | 3,619,000 | |
| 9 | EMMERDALE (WED 19:29) | ITV1/Breakfast Total | 3,508,000 | |
| 10 | EMMERDALE (FRI 19:29) | ITV1/Breakfast Total | 3,486,000 |
There’s a lot of soap opera, and an appearance from Ridley as well as The Great British Sewing Bee. As to Wednesday, first and sixth might look good, but note the large drop between episodes one and two. It seems a lot of the UK audience didn’t rush into episode 2 after watching the first. It’s a snapshot, but is it evidence of something more.
As ever, we’ll bring you more information as and when we get it.