The first episode of Pat Kenny in the Round which aired on UTV Ireland at 9pm last night averaged 143,000 adults and peaked at 185,000. Javelin media director Ruth Payne said it got a 10.7 per cent all adult share. The show’s first guest was Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte whose daughter Michaela was murdered while on her honeymoon in Mauritius in 2011.
Surprisingly, more women tuned in – 82,500 v 60,700. Less surprisingly, the show rated best in Connacht/Ulster, followed by Dublin. Those living in Munster and the rest of Leinster had considerably less interest in the show. In socio-economic terms, it was heavily skewed towards the DE demographic category and the farming community.
Payne said it was an extremely disappointing result for UTV Ireland, particularly as it followed on from Coronation Street, which attracted 441,000 adults on average between 8.30pm and 9pm. Compare it to Claire Byrne Live which aired from 9.35pm to 10.40pm on RTE 1. Average adult viewing was 361,700, peaking at 423,100, or 28.7 per cent adult share.
Byrne’s show was also much more regionally and socio-economically balanced.
