Channel 4's main network suffered a slight dip in its audience share following the decision to axe Big Brother, but the broadcaster saw growth across its overall channel portfolio.
Using consolidated ratings data, the broadcaster reported an 11.6% overall audience share across Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4 and 4Music in 2011, up by 0.2% on the 11.4% in 2010.
Channel 4's main network saw its audience share drop to 6.8% from 7% in 2010, which it largely put down to the cancellation of Big Brother after ten years as the channel's flagship entertainment brand.
The show has since resurfaced on Richard Desmond's Channel 5, currently airing its second run of Celebrity Big Brother.
As it developed a strategy without Big Brother, Channel 4 suffered some notable misses, including the Chris Evans-fronted Famous and Fearless, which was dropped last year after one series.
But Channel 4 noted that the percentage decline on its main network "was the least pronounced year-on-year decline in core channel share for five years", while the broadcaster was also boosted by the surprise hit Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.
The documentary occupied the first three spots in the top ten highest performing programmes list on Channel 4 in 2011, which contains just one drama, Shameless.
The full list runs as follows:
1) Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, February 8, 9.71m/32.8% share
2) My Big Fat Gypsy Christmas, December 13, 7.25m/25.6% share
3) My Big Fat Gypsy Royal Wedding, April 28, 5.32m/19.8% share
4) Embarrassing Bodies, February 4, 4.89m/18.7% share
5) Shameless, January 10, 4.49m/21.0% share
6) The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, December 27, 4.35m/16.4% share
7) Grand Designs, September 28, 4.16m/16.4% share
8) Cutting Edge: Obsessive Compulsive Hoarder, December 12, 9pm 4.036m /15.0% share
9) One Born Every Minute, February 14, 3.89m/13.9% share
10) Embarrassing Fat Bodies, June 6, 3.85m/13.5% share
Channel 4's sales had a strong year in 2011, generating £1 billion in revenue across spot advertising, online, product placement and sponsorship. It also took on the sales of advertising for UKTV's portfolio of digital channels and online services.
Film4 enjoyed the highest share growth across Channel 4's portfolio, with its share rising from 1.19% in 2010 to 1.40% in 2011 - a year-on-year growth of 18%.
Fellow digital channel More4 averaged 1.22% in 2011, compared to 1.11% in 2010, while E4 was up to 1.82% share from 1.79% the previous year. E4 achieved a 4.75% share in its key audience of 16 to 34-year-olds.
4Music reached only 0.3% of all individuals last year, and boosted its share of 16-34s by 20%, year on year (to 0.83%).
E4's Glee was the top rated programme of 2011 on Channel 4's digital channels, followed by Misfits and Hollyoaks.
The full list (which includes +1 ratings) runs as follows:
1) Glee, January 17 on E4, 3.84m/10.2% share
2) Misfits, October 10 on E4, 1.81m /8.5% share
3) Hollyoaks, November 11 on E4, 1.65m /6.9% share
4) The Big Bang Theory, November 11 on E4, 1.57m /5.9% share
5) Transporter 3, June 28 on Film4, 1.38m/6.0% share
6) Taken, June 6 on Film4, 1.23m/5.5% share
7) The Inbetweeners Top Ten Moments, August 14 on E4, 1.23m/6.2% share
8) Desperate Housewives, July 3 on E4, 1.2m/5.8% share
9) Come Dine With Me, August 7 on More4, 1.2m/6.0% share
10) Skins, January 27 on E4, 1.18m/6.0% share
