Soap Ratings

Eastenders ratings:

·         Eastenders proved to be very popular, Appreciation indexes (Is an indicator of the public’s appreciation out of 100 for a television or radio programme) revealed this. By achieving 55-60 out of 100 at the launch, and rising to 85-95 out of 100 later on.

·         When the show first launched in 1985 it attracted approximately 17 million viewers

·         Combining the omnibus and the original the Christmas day episode in 1986 where Den Watts handed over the divorce papers to then wife Angie, the episode attracted 30 million viewers. This has been the highest rated episode of a soap in British television history.

·         Eastenders regularly attracts 7 to 12 million viewers per episode.

·         In 2001 Eastenders and Coronation Street clashed for the first time; however Eastenders won the battle gaining 8.4million viewers whilst Coronation Street gained just 7.3 million viewers.

·         The live 25^th anniversary episode which was shown on 19^th of February 2010, which revealed Stacy Branning as Archie Mitchell’s killer, gained 16.41 million viewers

Coronation street ratings:

·         During the 1960’s-1980’s coronation streets averaged over 20 million viewers per episode. However during the 1990’s and early 2000’s the soap only had an average of 15-20 million viewers per episode. Currently ratings have dramatically dropped and Coronation Street now only has between 8 and 14 million viewers per episode.

·         On Christmas day 1987 an average of 28.5 million viewers tuned in to watch Hilda Ogden leave the street to start a new life as a house keeper for Dr Lowther.

·         For their 50^th anniversary tram crash anniversary Coronation Street attracted 14 million viewers.

Emmerdale Rating:

·         On average episode attracts 7-10 million per episode

·         Emmerdale attracted its highest ratings of 18 million on December 30 1993 when a plane crash in the village killed four villagers.

·         September 21^st 2006 saw Emmerdale beat Eastenders in ratings, gaining 8.57 million viewers for when Cain dingle kidnapped tom and Sadie king. Whilst Eastenders attracted only 4.77 million viewers.

Hollyoaks ratings:

·         Due to being aired to a niche audience Hollyoaks does not gain many viewing figures

·         At one point Hollyoaks dropped to under 1million viewers for a few episodes.