Bennett criticises overnight ratings figures

Traditional overnight ratings figures are becoming obsolete as on-demand and time-shifted viewing become more popular, according to Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision, the public broadcaster’s content division.

Writing in a Guardian blog, Bennett said that 2.6 million people recorded the Doctor Who Christmas special on a DVR, while 1.4 million watched it via catch-up service iPlayer. This type of viewing can add up to 40% to viewing figures, she said.

“While traditional viewing remains robust these other numbers are creeping up as more people watch TV programmes on computers, games consoles and mobiles and record programmes on PVRs,” she said.