Continuing our snapshot of UK unscripted viewing, following is a list that captures the highest-rated program for each of the major terrestrial broadcasters and their digital brands.
The data conveys the scale of viewing for the genre and highlights the major players.
And in the next table, the spotlight falls on the vast gulf between UK broadcasters and the multichannels.
Note:
- The two legacy BARB categories for unscripted are “Documentary” and “Hobbies & Lifestyle.”
- Viewers are in thousands.
- I selected a broad sample of channels.
Takeaways?
- The data is fascinating.
- But there’s a limit to the lessons that can be drawn from it, particularly on a hot summer day in New York
- The broadcasters and multichannels are subject to different business models, cost structures, regulatory remits that govern repeat rates, and much more.
“Documentary” Category
| Viewers | Rating | ||
| BBC 1 | Countryfile | 7,714 | 13.2 |
| C4 | Gogglebox | 5,266 | 9.0 |
| ITV | The Mafia | 4,722 | 8.1 |
| C5 | Celebrity Big Brother | 3,709 | 6.4 |
| BBC 2 | Billionaire’s Paradise | 3,266 | 5.6 |
| E4 | Made In Chelsea | 1,209 | 2.1 |
| BBC 4 | Life of a Mountain | 951 | 1.6 |
| BBC 3 | Bangkok Airport | 906 | 1.6 |
| ITV2 | Hell’s Kitchen | 711 | 1.2 |
| SKY1 | Ross Kemp: Extreme World | 684 | 1.2 |
| ITV3 | P. O’grady: Love Dogs | 653 | 1.1 |
| More4 | Building The Dream | 503 | 0.9 |
Paul O’grady + dog
Hobbies & Lifestyle Category
| Viewers | Rating | ||
| BBC 1 | Masterchef | 6,952 | 11.9 |
| BBC 2 | Top Gear | 6,921 | 11.9 |
| C4 | Married At First Sight | 2,743 | 4.7 |
| ITV | Love Your Garden | 2,734 | 4.7 |
| C5 | The Classic Car Show | 758 | 1.3 |
| BBC 4 | Great Irish Journeys | 588 | 1.0 |
| MORE4 | Selling Houses | 564 | 1.0 |
| DAVE | Storage Hunters | 509 | 0.9 |
| QUEST | Salvage Hunters | 502 | 0.9 |
| ITV4 | Shed & Buried | 353 | 0.6 |
| YESTERDAY | The Joy of Train Sets | 337 | 0.6 |
| DISCOVERY | Fast N’ Loud | 333 | 0.6 |
| REALLY | A Place In The Sun | 264 | 0.5 |
| PICK | 60 Minute Makeover | 179 | 0.3 |
| BBC 3 | Snog Marry Avoid? | 164 | 0.3 |
| TLC | Say Yes To The Dress | 139 | 0.2 |
| WATCH | Heston’s Fantastical Food | 129 | 0.2 |
| GOOD FOOD | Masterchef: Final 3 | 98 | 0.2 |
| FOOD | Man v Food Nation | 97 | 0.2 |
| SKY LIVING | Motorway Patrol | 95 | 0.2 |
| HOME | Make My Home Bigger | 88 | 0.2 |
| TRAVEL | Palin’s Pole to Pole | 85 | 0.1 |
| DMAX | Treehouse Masters | 76 | 0.1 |
| 4SEVEN | Mini Cooper: Love Cars | 73 | 0.1 |
| ITVBE | 60 Min Makeover | 70 | 0.1 |
| DISC TURBO | Car Fix 3 | 61 | 0.1 |
| EDEN | Angry Planet | 58 | 0.1 |
| DISC HOME | Homes Under Hammer | 52 | 0.1 |
| DRAMA | Just Friends | 52 | 0.1 |
| SKY ATLANTIC | The Petrol Age | 50 | 0.1 |
| DISC. SHED | Record Breaking Fish | 43 | 0.1 |
| ITV3 | World Kitchen | 43 | 0.1 |
| PBS AMERICA | Unbelievable Flying Objects | 35 | 0.1 |
| NDTV 24X7 | Will Travel For Food | 34 | 0.1 |
| LIFETIME | My Dream Home | 33 | 0.1 |
| REAL LIVES | Downsize Me | 33 | 0.1 |
| ANML PLANET | My Tiny Terror | 32 | 0.1 |
| LONDON LIVE | Ten Years Younger | 30 | 0.1 |
| NAT GEO | Born To Ride | 30 | 0.1 |
| DISC HISTORY | Auction Kings | 28 | 0.0 |
| AFRICA | Cooking With Siba | 27 | 0.0 |
| S4C | Straeon Tafarn | 26 | 0.0 |
| ABN TV | Motorweek | 25 | 0.0 |
