Pat Kenny may not be the huge star UTV Ireland expected – as more people watched their first news bulletin than his debut show.
Figures revealed that 87,000 people tuned into Ireland Live at 6.30pm on Monday – 14,000 more than the former Late Late Show host’s first show.
It is even more surprising given that Pat’s programme, Out With The Old – In With The U, directly followed ratings winner Emmerdale.
Not a winner: Only 73,000 watched Pat | VIPIRELAND.COM
Bosses had been trumpeting the ex-Frontline presenter’s show, the station’s first homegrown programme, for weeks but only got 73,000 watching.
Their biggest homegrown audience so far came with their 10pm bulletin on Monday, the station’s first day putting out news bulletins, when 196,000 watched.
UTV Ireland Head of Channel Mary Curtis told Goss.ie: “We are particularly pleased with the reaction from viewers to our news programming.
Launch: Staff on UTV Ireland’s first day | MAXWELL’S
“As a total of 87,000 viewers tuned in to see the debut of Ireland Live at 6.30pm, followed by 196,000 in total tuning in for our one hour news and current affairs programme, Ireland Live at 10.
“Journalistically, it was a very strong performance from a highly competent team, who are keen to make Ireland Live news distinctive within this market and we look forward to building on our impressive start in the coming months.”
