Vote 2005: Thursday's news ratings

Each day during the election campaign, Digital Spy will be tracking the performance of the major news broadcasters. Check in daily for a roundup of the latest ratings for the terrestrial news programmes and the rolling news channels.

Overnight data for Thursday, April 28 follows.

Terrestrials: Summary

BBC One's primetime edition of Question Time featuring all three main party leaders drew an audience of 4.14 million (18.1%) between 8.30pm and 10pm.

The ensuing 10pm bulletin was down significantly on usual figures to an average of 3.68 million (17.7%). The top national news programme of the day instead went to ITV1's Early Evening News bulletin, which had 4.38 million (26.2%) at 6.30pm.

News Channels: Summary

Sky News enjoyed another day ahead in the ratings, with an average audience of 46,000 viewers and a 1.13% share between 10am and 7pm. News 24 had 41,000 (0.96%) over the same period.

The BBC hit a higher peak, however, with an average of 56,000 (0.7%) in the 5pm hour.

News channels: Primetime Breakdown

7pm - 8pm
Sky News (The Boulton Factor): 23,000 (0.18%)
News 24: 38,000 (0.31%)

8pm - 9pm
Sky News: 22,000 (0.15%)
News 24: 25,000 (0.17%)

9pm - 10pm
Sky News (Nine O'Clock News / Sky News): 30,000 (0.19%)
News 24: 19,000 (0.12%)

10pm - 11pm
Sky News (Sky News At Ten / Sky News): 31,000 (0.24%)
News 24 (BBC News / Business Today): 10,000 (0.08%)

11pm - 12am
Sky News (The Boulton Factor): 33,000 (0.48%)
News 24 (BBC News / Hardtalk): 16,000 (0.23%)

Ratings data supplied by ViewingFigures.com