GB News, which is widely considered to be Britain’s most Islamophobic TV news channel, outpaced the BBC and Sky in July in terms of average viewership.
This marks the first time the BBC News Channel has been overtaken by GB News for an entire month.
Ben Briscoe, GB News’ Head of Programming, said: “This is a seismic moment, not just for us, but for British broadcasting. We are ending the dominance of the BBC News Channel and Sky News.
“And there’s more to come. Starting in September, GB News will expand its programming with the launch of a brand new show from Washington DC, taking our coverage to an even wider audience.”
The results are drawn from the industry’s official BARB ratings and show that across July GB News’s average views were 80.61k, while the BBC News Channel recorded 78.65k and Sky News recorded 67k.
Mick Booker, GB News’ Editorial Director, said: “We’re now firmly on track to achieve our ambition of becoming the UK’s biggest news channel by 2028.
“GB News is winning because it is different, and because we place the community at the heart of everything we do. We focus on the stories that matter most to our audience and, as a result, our bold, fearless journalism is reaching more people than ever.”
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Supporters have hailed GB News’ achievement as a victory for alternative media.
On X, users described it as “a game-changer” and “proof the public wants real voices, not BBC bias,” with some praising presenters like Nigel Farage and Eamonn Holmes for resonating with audiences sceptical of mainstream narratives.
The Conservative Post called it a “broadcasting bombshell,” emphasising GB News’ rapid rise as an underdog challenging the establishment.
Critics, however, questioned the significance and framing of the achievement. Press Gazette noted that while GB News led in average viewership, BBC News Channel’s total weekly reach remained over twice as large, suggesting fewer but more engaged viewers for GB News.
The BBC’s figures may also rise once iPlayer data is included, unlike GB News’ broadcast-only numbers.
GB News and Reform UK
Since its launch four years ago, many have noticed the close relationship between GB News and Reform UK, which is leading in the Westminster voting polls.
Critics say that in essence, GB News serves as a key amplifier for Reform UK, though regulatory and operational constraints temper the partnership.
Nevertheless, GB News and Reform UK share a close relationship defined by ideological alignment, personnel overlap and mutual promotion.
GB News amplifies Reform UK’s populist agenda, focusing on anti-immigration, anti-“woke,” and Eurosceptic themes.
Key figures like Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader and GB News presenter, alongside others like Michelle Dewberry and Darren Grimes, tied the two entities.
GB News extensively covers Reform’s campaigns and shared financial backers, like Sir Paul Marshall, further link them.
‘GB News hates Muslims’
Last December, a two-year analysis of GB News content claimed that the right-wing channel hates Islam and Muslims and is potentially fuelling community tensions and contributing to civil unrest.
The Centre for Media Monitoring (CFMM) said there is “structural and systematic bias in GB News reporting about British Muslims.”
The study spoke of “excessive” focus on Muslims bordering on an “obsession” that “regularly demonises their beliefs.”
Stories about Islam are “overwhelmingly negative” and fail to understand the diverse nature of Muslim communities in the UK, the report said.
GB News responded to the report by calling the allegations “defamatory” and an attempt to silence free speech.
