The 10.3% audience share is an 11% increase on its January 2004 figure and only 0.3 percentage points behind its January 2000 figure.
The broadcaster's ratings compare favourably with the other major terrestrial channels, which have experienced a fall in audience share year-on-year, while Channel 4 has gained two percentage points.
BBC Two, which usually beats Channel 4, fell back 14% year on year to an audience share of 9.5%, BBC One is down 9% to 23% and ITV is down 10% to 22.1%. Five is the only other terrestrial broadcaster to increase its audience, by 3%, although from a much smaller audience base.
Channel 4 also increased its reach of its key demographic group, 13.8% of 16- to 34-year olds and 11.3% of ABC1s, the most attractive group to advertisers.
Channel 4 attributes its performance to "strong original programming" like US drama series 'Desperate Housewives', which has been a phenomenal success in the UK since its launch four weeks ago, securing around 5.5m viewers an episode.
The third series of 'Celebrity Big Brother', which lasted for a record 18 days, regularly secured more than 4m viewers for each hour-long episode earlier in the month. The series was won by former Happy Mondays dancer Bez.
Other popular shows include the first terrestrial airings of new episodes of 'The Simpsons', averaging 3.2m viewers, and the Paul Abbott-penned drama 'Shameless', pulling in 3.1m, viewers and Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary 'Fahrenheit 9/11' attracting 3.5m viewers.
Channel 4 has also announced it has commissioned Bafta-nominated comedy series 'The Peep Show' for a third outing.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
.jpg)
.jpg)