Fledgling news channel GB News has managed to carve out a slender lead over Sky News in the weekday primetime ratings, according to the latest figures.
The new service - masterminded by veteran broadcaster Andrew Neil - launched on June 13 with a format of discussion-led programming in an attempt to offer an alternative to the rolling news formats of Sky News and the BBC News channel.
In its second week on air - from Monday, June 21 to Friday, June 25 - GB News averaged 54,600 viewers, a 0.4% audience share, between 6pm and midnight.
Programmes in the schedule during primetime include Michelle Dewberry's Dewbs & Co., the flagship Andrew Neil show and Tonight Live.
The average audience was slightly ahead of Sky's 52,100 (0.38%) and under half that of market leader the BBC News channel, which had 127,600 (0.94%).
Sky did have an overall lead between the hours of 6am to midnight, however, averaging a share of 0.68% to GB News's 0.58% - still an impressive share for a channel less than a fortnight old.
Speaking during the close of his show on Thursday, Neil admitted that GB News had endured "a bit of a rocky start" in technical terms but hailed the channel's "loyal audience, which has beaten all of our expectations".
Media Mole's ratings data is supplied by overnights.tv
Note: Figures include VOSDAL figures and viewing on +1 channels where available
Neil Wilkes
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