BB launch attracts smaller audience (From Chorley Citizen)

BB launch attracts smaller audience

12:54pm Friday 6th June 2008 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2011

Big Brother launched with 5.4 million viewers - a smaller audience than last year.

In 2007, 6.1 million tuned in to the start of the Channel 4 show.

A peak of 6.1 million watched at 10pm on Thursday but that was down on the eight million peak of 2007.

Thursday night's show did attract the same share of TV viewers as the launch of last year's series, which was deemed a flop by critics, with 25% of the available audience.

Of the 16 to 34-year-old audience favoured by advertisers, 41% of those watching TV at the time tuned into Big Brother.

Channel 4 commissioning editor for Big Brother Angela Jain said: "This is a strong start for Big Brother 9 and it's fantastic that over a quarter of everyone watching TV tuned in to see the launch.

"We remain as committed as ever to making this year's series the most entertaining yet."

In 2006, the launch of the seventh series reached dizzy heights with seven million viewers and a 31% share.

Almost 400,000 tuned into live streaming from the house on E4.

Unofficial overnight ratings take no account of viewers who may have video recorded the programme.