GB News launched on Sunday night (Photo: GB News)
GB News had more viewers than BBC News and Sky News for its debut on Sunday evening.
The network – the first new news channel to launch in the UK in 30 years – officially got started last night and the numbers are in as the programme had a bigger audience than its rivals.
For its opening night, GB News was watched by 164,400 people, while BBC News (133k) and Sky News (57k) followed behind.
The programme boasts presenters including Kirsty Gallacher and Simon McCoy, and chair Andrew Neil was the first to appear on Sunday as he laid down a mission statement for the channel.
He said: ‘It’s 8pm on Sunday June 13th 2021. Welcome to the launch of GB News, Britain’s news channel, dedicated to covering the news that matters to you and to giving a voice to those who felt sidelined or even silenced in our great national debates. Because if it matters to you, it matters to us.’
He insisted GB News won’t ‘follow the existing news agenda’ in line with other broadcasters, noting the organisation aims to address stories ‘in a different way’ to competing networks.