UTV RATES AS NORTHERN IRELAND'S FAVOURITE CHANNEL

UTV is Northern Ireland's favourite television channel, as the official 2001 TV ratings just released confirm that almost twice as many people are watching UTV every evening as BBC NI.
UTV's share of peak time viewing averaged at 37 per cent in 2001 compared to 23 per cent on BBC NI and nine per cent each on BBC2 and Channel 4. The Northern Ireland Top 20 Programme List for last year is also dominated by UTV - with 19 of the most popular programmes and dramas transmitted by UTV as opposed to just one by BBC NI.
Alan Bremner, Director of Programmes at UTV, said: "We are absolutely delighted with UTV's performance last year. When you consider that there are now more than 200 channels available in Northern Ireland, UTV leaves its competitors well and truly in the shade with almost 40 per cent of the peak time audience, no one else comes near.”
Likewise, UTV Live continues to be the most popular news service in the province, with an average audience of nearly 200,000 viewers, 84,000 more than BBC's Six O'clock News and 42,000 more than Newsline at 6.30pm.
(CD)