BBC wins 'Election Night' battle

The BBC was the preferred network for coverage of the US Presidential election result on Tuesday night, according to early figures.

Anchored by David Dimbleby from Washington, the coverage - which was also simulcast on the BBC News channel, BBC World and BBC America - averaged 1.31m (24.7%) for BBC One between 11.15pm and 2am.

ITV1's coverage, fronted by Julie Etchingham in New York and Alistair Stewart in London, had just 320k (7%) from 11.45pm.

The top-rated programme of Tuesday was EastEnders, which drew 8.82m (39.1%) to BBC One at 7.30pm and 991k (5.7%) to BBC Three at 10pm. Emmerdale had 6.44m (29.9%) for ITV1 at 7pm. Hollyoaks drew 1.89m (9%) to Channel 4 and 788k (4.2%) to E4 at 7pm (+1: 145k, 0.7%).

ITV1's coverage of the Champions League game between Liverpool and Spanish side Atlético Madrid averaged 4.7m (20%) between 7.30pm and 10pm. On ITV4, coverage of AS Roma vs Chelsea had 766k (3.8%) over the same period.

Holby City brought in 5.78m (24.3%) to BBC One in the 8pm hour, and on BBC Two, the continuing Autumnwatch notched up a healthy 3.14m (13.2%). Channel 4's Miss Naked Beauty fashion series appealed to 1.76m (7.4%) and Five's Nature Shock interested 803k (3.4%).

At 9pm, a New Tricks repeat had a respectable 4.63m (19.5%) for BBC One. Prince Charles's Other Mistress, about the Australian socialite "Kanga" Tyron, delivered 2.37m (10%) to Channel 4 for the hour (+1: 251k, 1.6%). CSI: Miami had 2.06m (8.7%) for Five and on BBC Two, British Style Genius ended its five-week run with 1.1m (4.6%).

BBC One had an average share of 25.2% (last week: 22.8%) to ITV1's 19% (17.6%). BBC Two was third with 7.7% (8.1%), followed by Channel 4 on 7.3% (7.8%) and Five on 5.8% (6.1%).

BBC Three's reality competition Last Man Standing made an ascent in the ratings, logging 524k (2.5%) in the 9pm hour. Family Guy was also popular, with audiences of 535k (5.3%) and 490k (6.1%) in the 11pm hour.

E4 movie Mr & Mrs Smith pulled in an impressive 383k (2.2%) from 9pm (+1: 175k, 1.5%) and on ITV3 from 10pm, the concluding half of disaster drama Flood had 393k (3.3%).

Ratings data supplied by Attentional