BREAKING NEWS: GB News dealt figures blow after claiming to be number one news channel
GB News Breakfast with Eamonn and Ellie aires on weekdays (Image: GB NEWS)
The UK’s independent TV audience measurement body has released viewing figures for July, and the news is not all as it seems for GB News. According to Barb.co.uk, GB News had a reach of 3.8 million views in July, whereas BBC News had 8.57 million, and Sky News had 7.51 million.
However, the channel had a higher share rate than Sky News and BBC News, which is why it claimed to be the number one news station last month. The figures revealed BBC News had a monthly share rate of 1.13%, GB News was 5.84%, and Sky News was 0.98%.
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GB News’ morning presenter Eamonn Holmes celebrated the news last week, writing: “Now Britain’s Number One News Channel thanks to you, morning, noon and night, on television, on digital radio, online. Thank you, thank you – now spread the word if you’d be so kind.”
Eamonn Holmes and Ellie Costello host the morning show (Image: @eamonnholmes/Instagram)
GB News also won the TRIC award for the Best Presenter and Best News Programme at this year’s ceremony in central London earlier this summer.
Ben Briscoe, GB News’ Head of Programming, said in recent days: “This is a seismic moment, not just for us, but for British broadcasting. We are ending the dominance of the BBC News Channel and Sky News.
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“And there’s more to come. Starting in September, GB News will expand its programming with the launch of a brand new show from Washington DC, taking our coverage to an even wider audience.”
Mick Booker, GB News’ Editorial Director, added: “We’re now firmly on track to achieve our ambition of becoming the UK’s biggest news channel by 2028.
“GB News is winning because it is different, and because we place the community at the heart of everything we do. We focus on the stories that matter most to our audience and, as a result, our bold, fearless journalism is reaching more people than ever.”
Critics have been questioning the significance and framing of the achievement, with Press Gazette noting that while GB News led in average viewership, BBC News’ total weekly reach remained over twice as large
Critics, however, questioned the significance and framing of the achievement. Press Gazette noted that while GB News led in average viewership, BBC News Channel’s total weekly reach remained double as large, “suggesting fewer but more engaged viewers for GB News”.
