As part of its Q3 results announcement ITV has revealed online viewing fell six per cent during the quarter, which the broadcaster attributes to there being no summer edition of Love Island.
However, while viewing was down, monthly active users were up one per cent and dwell time was up six per cent.
ITV CEO Carolyn McCall said the company has further improved the design and functionality of the Hub which now has 32 million registered users; while “BritBox is on track, with a very successful launch for Spitting Image – BritBox’s first original commission,” although she didn’t reveal subscriber or viewing figures.
“With online usage down, it clearly underlines the popularity of shows like Love Island and having a broad catalogue,” media analyst Paolo Pescatore tells TVBEurope.
“The BBC has done a superb job for catering to a broad audience with vast programming. ITV has some way to go to match its rivals as it transitions towards a more streaming world. Also, younger viewers do not have an appetite to pay a fee for the premium version of ITV Hub, nor watch ads for older shows,” he adds.
Overall, total external revenue at ITV dropped 16 percent between January and September 2020 to £2.17 billion, with revenue at the ITV Studios content production arm, which makes Love Island, ending the period down 19 percent at £902 million.
“We are seeing encouraging signs in both our divisions,” McCall said. “Advertising trends are improving with the fourth quarter forecast to be slightly up year on year and 85 per cent of our productions in the UK and internationally that were paused as a result of Covid-19 are back in production or have been delivered. However, Covid restrictions and further national lockdowns have added production costs and are making it challenging to bring ITV Studios productions back to full capacity.”
