UKTV SOCI Hits 9.53% In 2019, ‘Hypothetical’ Ranks As Network’s Top Rated Show
is shaping up to be a good year for UKTV. Year-to-date, the broadcaster's SOCI (share of commercial impacts) has hit 9.53%, up 3% compared to 2018. SOCI for the 16-34 demo also is showing strong growth, up 6% year-on-year to 6.74%. A key driving force behind the SOCI growth was the performance of UKTV's original series. Dave's Hypothetical, featuring James Acaster and Josh Widdicombe, launched with 1.2 million viewers - making it UKTV's top rated show of 2019. 
UKTV's originals push is paying off. Last year, original commissions were amongst the top-rated programmes on six of the channels (Dave, W, Gold, Drama, Yesterday and Really) across the network and also drove growth for VOD service UKTV Play. 
UKTV's Yesterday channel has given the greenlight to Bangers & Cash, a ten episode car series following the Mathewsons family-run business. The series is set to premiere on Yesterday in 2019. 
UKTV is bringing three of their channels to Freesat. The commercial network, which is a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, has struck a deal with Freesat which will see Drama, Really and Yesterday launch on the subscription-free satellite TV service, TVWise has learned. 
“UKTV has agreed a deal with Twofour to acquire 'Impossible Engineering', a six episode factual series about the history of "pioneering modern-day mega structures", for their factual channel Yesterday. 
UKTV has closed a pre-sale deal with IMG Media to acquire Secrets of the Bible and the third season of Raiders of the Lost Past for their specialist factual channel Yesterday. 