09 January 2018

 The number of viewers watching S4C over the Christmas period showed an increase of +5% compared to a total decline in the main PSB channels of -2%.

The figures, as measured by BARB (Broadcasters' Audience Research Board) showed that between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, S4C viewing increased by 5% on 2016 where as the number of people watching BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 in Wales fell by 2% year on year.

The main contributors to S4C’s Christmas were the two regional Clwb Rygbi Pro14 rugby derbies with the Dragons v Ospreys New Year’s Eve cracker topping the tree, closely followed by the Boxing Day Scarlets v Ospreys game.

Other highlights of the festive period were a Ryan and Ronnie tribute special of Noson Lawen and the stage debut of former Ospreys and Wales winger Shane Williams in his Panto Shane a’r Belen Aur. In addition comedians like Tudur Owen, Sian Harries and Elis James contributed to viewers' enjoyment of S4C over the festive period.

S4C Chief Executive, Owen Evans said: “2017 has proved to be an exceptional year for S4C. We must thank all the producers and talented individuals that have worked so hard both before and during the festive period to bring a great variety of quality programming to our screens. Thanks also to all the viewers – old and new - who really seem to have welcomed S4C into their homes over Christmas. As well as the live sport, the music and entertainment, in recent months our viewers have enjoyed great drama output with the dramatic final episode of Eve Myles’s Un Bore Mercher on Christmas Eve proving a must-see for many. I’m happy to say people also took the opportunity over the holiday period to catch up on Bang our police drama based in Port Talbot which was available for viewers to enjoy as a box set. It’s a great end to 2017 and a promising start to 2018.”