Channel 4 has trebled viewings of its TV shows across YouTube and digital-first hits on its made-for-social network Channel 4.0, according to its latest update.
The channel’s latest figures revealed a three-fold increase in UK viewings of full episodes of TV shows on YouTube in Q1, with documentaries such as ’60 Days on The Estates’ (1.9 million views in Q1) and entertainment like Hollyoaks driving the increase.
Overall, across all social platform and content types, Channel 4’s UK social audience increased by more than a tenth (12%) in Q1, to 626 million views and by 9% in April to 232 million views.
The total number of views on full episodes of the channel’s programming increased from 7.6 million to 23 million year-on-year, with social creators such as Nella Rose, Harry Pinero and Chloe Burrows helping to spearhead growth across the made-for-social network Channel 4.0.
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As well as YouTube, the channel’s TikTok growth continues, up 90% year on year to 143 million UK views in Q1, and primarily driven by content such as hit clips from Celeb Cooking School (one of which garnered 1.7 million views) and other programmes.
The quarterly update highlights the channels’ progress made against its Fast Forward strategy – which aims double all social views by 2030, including increasing the amount of content on YouTube.
“The success of Channel 4.0 speaks to Channel 4’s remit to advance creative diversity,” said Channel 4 head of digital commissioning Sacha Khari.
“Our collaborations with creators and publishers is helping to elevate that sector on YouTube and beyond in terms of quality, legitimacy and potency.”
4Studio managing director Matt Risley added: “Today’s announcement marks further progress on our Fast Forward strategy and keeps us on track for a planned doubling of social views.”
“Our growth on social is translating both into commercial success – with major rights distributors now entrusting us to represent social ad sales for their content – and for viewers it means even more ways to watch.”
The channel recently cut back jobs amid an advertising slump, spurred by the demise of traditional broadcast.
