Channel 4 claims first as streaming exceeds linear viewing among young

Younger audiences are consuming more Channel 4 (C4) content via streaming than over the UK public service broadcaster’s linear network, in what its bosses claim is a first for a major UK commercial broadcaster.

Ian Katz

Data from audience measurement organisation Barb shows that C4 viewers aged 16 to 34 streamed 53% of their viewing during 2025, with the remaining 47% watched via terrestrial TV.

Those streaming rates are up significantly from 2024 (42%) and 2023 (36%).

The data also shows that C4 saw rises in streaming viewer minutes across all ages (up 15% year on year), and the highest growth (up 2%) in share of commercial impacts among its peers.

C4 also claimed that the volume of adult viewer minutes (72 billion) consumed on streaming increased by 16% year on year – faster than each of the biggest seven streamers in the UK.

Streaming growth was driven by rating successes such as crime drama Patience, documentary The Bonnie Blue Story, crime thriller series In Flight and reality hit Virgin Island.

Views of full episodes of C4 programming on YouTube totalled 175 million, an all-time high and up 56% year on year. The top show was 24 Hours in Police Custody (18.9 million).

C4 bosses said the results prove the network is well on track to deliver its Fast Forward digital-first strategy to become the UK’s first public service streamer.

Ian Katz, chief content officer at C4, said: “Powered by a combination of new hits and old favourites, Channel 4 achieved viewing growth across the board last year as we continue our transformation into a public service streamer.

“Virgin Island became our biggest unscripted launch for share of 16-34s since modern records began. Averaging over four million viewers, Patience was our biggest drama since It’s a Sin and Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping was our most successful comedy launch since Derry Girls.

“Last year’s brilliant results – smashing our own records and leading the pack among commercial broadcasters – attest to the quality, freshness and originality of the Channel 4 slate.”