Sky+ saves 2 million Saturday nights

Sky revealed this week that almost 2 million reality TV addicts made full use of their Sky+ and Sky+HD boxes as the much-publicised scheduling clash last Saturday between X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing gave fans of both shows a tough choice.

With X Factor on ITV1 at 8pm – 9.15pm on Saturday 19th September, and Strictly Come Dancing on BBC 1 from 7.25pm – 9.05pm, fans were forced to choose between the two. However, data released by Sky shows that 1.9 million households chose to set their Sky+ boxes to record either show, allowing them not to miss the top-rated Saturday night programmes.

Figures also show that not only did X Factor win the live ratings battle, with 9.3 million viewers compared to Strictly Come Dancing’s 7.7 million, but was also the preferred choice of Sky+ users. Over 1.2 million people chose to watch X Factor at a later time via Sky+, whilst around half that amount (686,000) set their Sky+ boxes for Strictly Come Dancing*.

A Sky spokesperson commented: "Scheduling clashes like this are what Sky+ was made for. It’s great we’ve been able to save two million people from a difficult decision and enabled them to watch every second of their favourite shows."

It will be interesting to see who will win the battle this weekend.

ENDS
Notes to Editors

Data: BARB/TNS, based on individuals in all homes (Network panel)/individuals in Sky homes (MCH panel), Partly Consolidated Overnights Data (inc. any Sky+/V+ playback where applicable)
*PVR playback within Sky homes after 2 days only

About Sky: 
Sky is the UK’s leading entertainment and communications company, operating the most comprehensive multi-channel television service. Over 9.4 million homes - a third of households across the UK and Ireland - enjoy the entertainment, movies, news and sports channels.  In delivering entertainment through the TV, PC and mobile, customers have more control and flexibility over what, how and when they watch. Almost 5.5 million customers now choose Sky+, Sky’s digital video recorder, to record and store their favourite programmes and 1.3 million enjoy the picture and sound quality of Sky+HD, which offers 33 dedicated HD channels.  Sky is also the UK’s fastest growing broadband and fixed-telephony provider with over 2.2 million customers taking Sky Broadband and over 1.8 million customers taking Sky Talk.

For further media information regarding Sky or this release please contact:
Victoria Etaghene
Sky Consumer PR Executive
British Sky Broadcasting Ltd
Grant Way
Isleworth
Middlesex
TW7 5QD
0207 705 3000
http://packages.sky.com/