Unofficial live ratings indicate that Sunday’s 6.30pm premiere episode of The Simpsons on Sky One, Skinner’s Sense of Snow, was watched by more than 1.56 million viewers – representing a total viewing share in multi-channel homes of 15 per cent. It also achieved the distinction of being the channel’s highest ever rating Simpsons show.
By contrast, ITV’s weighty mid-evening menu of the ITN Early Evening News, local news and local programming, could only muster 966,000 viewers – a 10 per cent share.
Even a Simpsons repeat at 6pm, Margie, May I Sleep with Danger, performed better than ITV. It achieved a 12 per cent share for Sky One, attracting 1.12 million viewers.
Sky’s Director of Broadcasting, Mark Sharman, said:
The Simpsons go from strength to strength. They have been delighting viewers for ten years and Sky One is their family home. We will continue be first with every new episode – and they will be a major part of Sky One’s future as we bring viewers the best of imported and home-grown entertainment.
