Following a dismal summer, the UK's biggest commercial television broadcaster ITV has made a strong fightback in the viewing ratings.
The company reported an average peak-time audience share of 31% in November, compared with 26% for its commercial-free, state-funded rival, the BBC.
ITV ceo Charles Allen will be cheered by these latest figures, although the company's overall audience share for 2004 is still down year-on-year by 6%, prolonging fears it may have to compensate advertisers by up to £100 million ($189m, €142m).
The broadcaster's main terrestrial channel ITV1 has attracted more than double the combined audience of its commercial terrestrial rivals Channel 4 and Five so far this month. It has also seen a rise of 22% in its audience share of daytime programs.
Digital channels ITV2 and the recently launched ITV3 have also posted reasonable figures.
Data sourced from MediaGuardian.co.uk; additional content by WARC staff
