Channel 4 reports that its social media reach is growing steadily in 2024, exceeding 1.6 billion views in the UK, thanks to a tripling (+331 percent) of views of full episodes on YouTube in the UK.

So far this year, shows like First dates, Gogglebox, Hollyoaks And 60 days on the property generated 65 million views of full episodes on YouTube in the UK – more than the 50 million views of such content in the UK in all of 2023. Full episode hits on YouTube included Channel 4 Entertainment (Google Box2.4 million views in the UK) and reality programmes (First dates2.1 million views in the UK). Film4’s short-form content views in the UK (up 26 percent year-on-year) also boosted Channel 4’s YouTube audience, including content developed for social networks to Evil little letters (0.7 million views in the UK).

Channel 4’s documentary offering was also very popular on YouTube. In the UK, it was viewed 38 million times, an increase of 104 percent compared to the previous year – driven by Click here for murder (4.3 million views in the UK), 60 days on the estate (2.7 million views in the UK) Banged Up: Stars behind bars (2.1 million views in the UK) and On the trail of murderers (1.2 million views in the UK).

Meanwhile, Channel 4.0 in the UK saw a 93 percent increase in views across all platforms to 65 million. Channel 4.0 focuses on entertaining formats such as the hilarious Exhaustedanarchic Minor problemjaw drops King Konan’s TrapdoorAnd Worst in its class where Harry Pinero brings top-notch digital talent back to school.

UK views across all social platforms and content exceeded 1.6 billion, up 13 percent year-on-year, putting Channel 4 on track to meet its goal of doubling its social views by 2030. TikTok is now one of Channel 4’s biggest social platforms for UK views, generating 456 million UK views (excluding Channel 4 News). Some of the most successful videos come from Google Box, Hollyoaks, First Dates and Channel 4.0. And on Instagram, views in the UK have increased by 92 percent to 301 million. The most successful Instagram content includes channels for Hollyoaks, E4Chelsea and the Celebrities go on dates Channel.

Matt Risley, Managing Director of 4Studio, said: “YouTube is not just a social platform, nor is it a television simulcast. It is a combination of both and a key part of our future strategy to reach and engage a wide audience. Our growth builds on Channel 4’s social success in 2023 – where it was the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster on social all year. It also continues outstanding progress under our Fast Forward strategy, which commits us to doubling all social views by 2030 – a target we are well on track to exceed.”

Sacha Khari, Head of Digital Commissioning at Channel 4, added: “Channel 4.0 continues to feed viewers’ rapidly growing appetite for fresh approaches to digital content. We are proud to be leading the way as a breeding ground for a generation of established and future content creators from Nella Rose and Yung Filly to Billy The Goat and The Diary Room.”