F.Y.I.

Foxtel reports record ratings for Sky News MH370 documentary

Subscription TV platform Foxtel is reporting record ratings for Sky News’ two-part MH370 documentary.

The announcement:

MH370: THE UNTOLD STORY

Compelling Two-Part Sky News Investigation Tops Foxtel Ratings

The two-part investigative special: MH370: The Untold Story smashed Sky News audience records last Wednesday (19 Feb) and Thursday (20 Feb) nights, reaching a total 403,000 individual viewers becoming the channel’s most successful documentary series to date.

Anchored by Peter Stefanovic, MH370: The Untold Story sheds crucial new light on the stalled investigation of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight that gripped the world – including startling new information about just what happened that fateful day – and where the wreckage might be found.

The investigation spanned several months and took Peter to five cities across two countries, where he interviewed more than a dozen individuals from government officials and aviation experts to victims’ loved ones.

MH370: The Untold Story reached record audiences*:

Part 1 (19 February at 8pm) ranked the #1 program on Foxtel delivering a total average audience of 175,000 viewers (162,000 watched on Sky News and 13,000 tuned into the encore on Sky News Extra).
Part 1 delivered the highest audience for the channel ever, outside of the 2019 Federal Election and the 2013 Labor Leadership Spill.
Part 1 was up +44% on Bad Blood/New Blood Part 1 (122,000) and +70% on Lawyer X: The Untold Story Part 1 (103,000).
Part 2 (20 February at 8pm) ranked the #1 program on Foxtel delivering a total average audience of 156,000 viewers (150,000 watching on Sky News and 6,000 tuned into the encore on Sky News Extra). Sky News secured a 3.6% share, the channel’s highest share since May 2019.
Part 2 was up +20% on Bad Blood/New Blood Part 2 (130,000) and +55% on Lawyer X: The Untold Story Part 2 (101,000)
Part 1 and Part 2 combined reached 403,000 viewers and holds the year’s #1 and #2 program positions on Sky News.
Across both nights, Sky News was the #1 channel on Foxtel.

Paul Whittaker, Sky News Australia Chief Executive, commented: “The impressive audience results for MH370: The Untold Story is testament to the demand for quality, long form investigative broadcast journalism and for the enduring fascination with this story, the greatest puzzle in aviation history.

“Not only was the two-part series the number one Foxtel program on both nights, the documentary’s revelations have made international headlines, as pressure mounts for a new search and international inquiry into the plane’s disappearance.

“Our investigative team worked tirelessly and uncovered important new details of missing flight MH370 which we hope will ultimately lead to a new search and bring much-needed answers for the victims’ families as well as the travelling public.”

Mark Frain, Foxtel Media CEO added: “With a record audience on STV augmented by the multi-platform reach of Sky News, MH370 The Untold Story provides a benchmark moment for factual news programming in 2020. Demonstrating the power of the Foxtel platform to bring great content to mass audiences, we are excited to be supporting the delivery of this program by supporting channel and brand partners.”

Source: Foxtel media release

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