2018 was a good year for the CBS UK channels. The portfolio of channels, which are owned by AMC Networks International and CBS Studios International, delivered a 2.7% share of commercial impacts – an all time high and 4% increase year-on-year.
Additionally, the audience share of the group as a whole was 1.69%, up from 1.58% in 2017, according to official BARB data. CBS Reality, which now commissions six originals per year, remains the #1 factual entertainment channel in the UK amongst its target audience of women 16+. Two of the channel’s highest rated broadcasts were episodes of original series Evidence of Evil and Donal MacIntyre’s Murder Files.
Horror Channel, CBS Justice (formerly known as CBS Action) and CBS Drama all had their fourth consecutive year of growth in 2018. Horror Channel continued to be the second most watched free-to-air movie channel in the UK amongst men 25-54; CBS Justice registered a 5% increase in viewership, with a share of 0.43%; and CBS Drama saw a share of 0.15% – up 15% year-on-year.
“The CBS UK channel portfolio enjoyed its strongest year on record. CBS Reality continues to dominate the market among women, driven by our outstanding original true crime series”, said Kevin Dickie, Executive Vice-President/Managing Director, AMC Networks International UK. “CBS Justice, CBS Drama and, most notably, Horror Channel – which is the UK’s 2nd most-watched movie channel among men 25-54 – have all had remarkable audience growth, with viewers responding to our compelling line-up of drama series and horror, sci-fi and fantasy titles.”
While Robert Haiat, Senior Vice-President of Business Development for CBS Studios International, added: “With another record breaking year behind the CBS UK channel portfolio, we’re excited to work together with the AMCNI team to drive further growth in 2019 and beyond. Our focus remains on delivering some of the most watched programming from the U.S. while supporting CBS Reality’s successful original programming efforts.”
