Leaked figures are full of holes

I was very surprised to see your article about Carlton Digital’s viewing figures (MW last week).

Your assertion that Carlton Cinema and Carlton Food Network have “failed to attract a viewer for the past five weeks” is not only baffling but completely inaccurate.

In fact the official data from BARB cable homes in the four-week period ending February 4 paints a very different picture of Carlton Cinema’s viewing figures (not to mention the fact that there is no consolidated data from BARB for the final week referred to in the article).

According to the official BARB figures, the monthly reach for the period in question on cable was 871,000 – equivalent to nine per cent of the cable panel.

These figures do not include ONdigital homes (which, according to the latest ONdigital figures, number over 1 million). This is particularly relevant as Carlton Cinema is the most watched film channel on ONdigital.

Needless to say, I was very disappointed that a respected publication like Marketing Week should get its information so seriously wrong and be prepared to print unsubstantiated data.

Perhaps the piece should serve as a warning about “leaked reports”.

George McGhee

Director

Carlton Cinema