BVITV Hails Early British Success of Ugly Betty

LONDON, January 8: The ABC series Ugly Betty, distributed by Buena Vista International Television, launched
on Channel 4 on Friday night and attracted the third-highest audience for a
U.S. series on the channel in the past decade, after the debut seasons of Lost
and Desperate Housewives.

Airing at 9:30 p.m., the first episode was Channel 4’s
highest ever launch of an American comedy. It attracted 4.46 million viewers
and secured a 19-percent share of individual viewers. The series, an American
adaptation of the Colombian novela Betty la fea, more than doubled Channel 4’s 2006 average prime time share with
individuals and adults 16-34. It was second in its time slot, one share point
behind ITV’s Soapstar Superstar. It
was number one in the 16 to 34 demo, securing a 33 percent share.