While the Brits got press coverage a plenty last week, and helped to boost album sales over the weekend, the Brits TV show scored its worst-ever TV ratings, with viewing figures less than a half of those achieved ten years ago. Reports on Friday suggested that about 5.3 million tuned in to the start of the show, but that soon dipped to 4.5 million, with only 2.9 million watching through to the end of the show. Ten years ago some 11.1 million tuned in the music industry's big night out.
An ITV spokeswoman put a positive spin on the listening figures saying: "In the multi-channel environment of today's market, we are delighted the Brit Awards got a third of the 16-to-34 audience", but insiders at both ITV and the Brits are said to be disappointed with the figures - and presumably sponsors Mastercard would have been hoping for a bigger audience also.