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specific locations and film
settings .
“ There is clear evidence that
British screen content furthers
interest in Britain and its people
and positively influences attitudes
towards it ,” she added . “ The
power of screen content lies in
how pictures are interpreted .
Young people know that what
they are watching is ‘ not real ’, but
subconsciously they process these
pictures as representations of
British reality .”
The BBC ’ s Sherlock was the
most frequently mentioned and
remembered British TV show . Sex
Education , The Crown , Peaky
Blinders and Doctor
Who followed in the top five . The
study also found some confusions
around what was British and what
was American . Bridgerton was
frequently identified as British
because of its UK settings and cast
even though it is classified as a US
production . The Office was wellknown
, but interviews revealed
that it was mostly the US version
that people had seen .
In all four countries , the
top 20 most-remembered
films were dominated by older
film franchises such as Harry
Potter and James Bond , as well
as classic romantic comedies such
as Notting Hill and Love Actually .
Channel 4 ’ s social audiences thrive
Channel 4 has reported that
YouTube audiences for full
episodes of its hit shows such
as First Dates , Murder Case :
Digital Detectives and Grand
Designs have grown by 169 % year
on year .
Newly released data for 2024
shows that Channel 4 ’ s main
YouTube channel saw higher
average views per video than
equivalent channels from the
BBC , ITV and Channel 5 , as well
as more views than ITV , Sky and
Channel 5 . Channel 4 News also
drove higher average views per
video on YouTube than ITV News
and Sky News .
The success helped Channel 4
amass more than 2.3 billion views
across its social output in 2024 ,
up 5.5 % year on year , driving
it towards the aim in its Fast
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Forward strategy of growing social views .
The data also reveals the success of Channel 4 ’ s strategy to reach young viewers via YouTube , with views of full episodes up an aforementioned 169 % year-onyear , surpassing 110m organic views in the UK . Hit shows included Gogglebox and First Dates , drawing in 4.3m and 2.9m views respectively , while its Channel 4 Documentaries channel drove interest from viewers with series such as Murder Case : Digital Detectives ( 4.2m views ), 60 Days On The Estates ( 2.7m views ) and To Catch A Copper ( 2.5m views ).
Digital-first youth brand Channel 4.0 serves original digital content across YouTube and social platforms . It enjoyed a strong 2024 , with a doubling (+ 99 % year on year ) in growth across all social platforms – driven by series including Harry Pinero ’ s Worst In Class ( 8.4m UK views ), Minor Issues ( 7.9m UK views ) and Tapped Out ( 3.1m UK views ).
Among all Channel 4 social platforms , TikTok – across the seven niche , genre-specific channels it now operates – posted the biggest annual audience growth with an 81 % rise from 2023 . Married At First Sight UK was one of big successes with multiple videos driving millions of views , including the series teaser earning 14.5m UK views and 24 Hours in Police Custody pulled in 3.6m UK views .
Matt Risley , managing director , 4Studio , commented : “ Today ’ s news highlights Channel 4 ’ s leadership on social , as we lead the way in extending the reach of public service media to digital natives , while delivering against our Fast Forward targets . The data also highlights the unique appeal of Channel 4 ’ s social expertise to brands : driven by world-class content from our Commissioning team , unrivalled social expertise from 4Studio , Channel 4 Sales ’ ability to match brands ’ storylines to a social audience , plus the capability of our distribution team to curate innovative platform partnerships .”
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Sacha Khari , Channel 4 ’ s
head of digital commissioning ,
added : “ In just two years , we ’ ve
built a huge global fan base for
British-made original content
across YouTube and social
platforms , delivering quality
entertainment and factual
programming wherever our
viewers choose to watch . Growing
this digital network has created
incredible opportunities for my
team to collaborate with UK
producers , creators and brands
– bringing Channel 4 values and
award-winning content to young
audiences . I ’ m excited to share
more in the coming months
about how we ’ re building on this
success .”
Illegal streaming sites risks highlighted
A new study released in support
of Safer Internet Day 2025
( February 11th ), has uncovered
concerning risks for users of
illegal streaming sites . The
research reveals that 76 % of
the UK ’ s 30 most-visited pirate
sites are actively exposing users
to scams , financial fraud , and
explicit content — posing a serious
threat to online safety .
To protect young people
better , this research has been
commissioned to deepen
understanding of the risks posed
by pirate sites , and to support
Safer Internet Day , which aims
to equip young people with the
knowledge and tools to navigate
the internet safely and make
informed choices . The findings
highlight how cybercriminals
exploit these illegal platforms to
deceive young people online , often
using scams and sophisticated
tactics that seem ‘ too good to be
true ’— a key theme of this year ’ s
Safer Internet Day campaign .
Scammers take advantage
of the trust and digital habits of
audiences , using manipulative
methods to steal personal data ,
distribute malware , and deceive
consumers — particularly young
people . The sites analysed in the
study were found to engage in
high-risk activities , including :
Credit card scams – Users
are tricked into providing
financial details via fake paywalls
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or misleading redirects .
Pop-ups and redirects to explicit content – Many sites flood visitors with unsolicited adult content and unexpected redirects to gambling or 18 + sites , often without warning or control over the destination .
Automatic downloads of harmful software – Malware and viruses are frequently installed without user consent , putting personal data and devices at risk .
Deceptive VPN tactics – Some sites falsely claim to reveal a user ’ s IP address , pressuring them into purchasing a recommended VPN service .
According to 2024 research , nearly 3.6 million illegal streamers in the UK fell victim to viruses , fraud , or personal data theft — while almost 1 million have had money stolen directly as a result .
“ This research from Corsearch is a stark warning : illegal streaming is far from a risk-free activity ,” declared Liz Bales , chief executive of The Industry Trust for IP Awareness . “ With 76 per cent of the UK ’ s most-visited pirate sites exposing users to scams and harmful content , it ’ s clear that these platforms are not only undermining the creative industries but also directly endangering consumers — especially younger audiences . It is more important than ever to ensure both parents and young people are aware of these risks and of the safer alternatives .”
“ At Corsearch , we ’ re committed to protecting the creative industries and the people who enjoy their work ,” added Simon Baggs , executive chairman , brand & content protection at Corsearch . “ Illegal streaming sites aren ’ t just a threat to rightsholders , they also put consumers at risk and in danger . Working at the forefront of tackling these threats , we have a clear understanding of the risks and the methods used by criminals to put young people at risk . Raising awareness of these is crucial in safeguarding youth today and creating a safer digital space for all .”
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18 EUROMEDIA |