News media in the UK - statistics & facts

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As is the case in countries around the world, accessing news online is now the norm for many UK consumers. That is not to say, however, that legacy media has lost its relevance in this regard. In fact, television ranked as the most important news platform to UK audiences, ahead of all other offline platforms and social media.

The continued interest in TV news

TV is still the most used news platform in all nations across the UK. Roughly 65 to 70 percent of audiences aged 16 or over cited television as their main news source, and Wales was the only UK nation to express a marginal preference for the internet. The leading TV news channel in the UK remains BBC One, with ITV channels lagging far behind in second place.

BBC News: the UK’s go-to news source

BBC News has also managed to retain its status as the top offline news brand in the UK, with around half of UK adults surveyed saying they tuned in for news and information. Meanwhile, BBC News online ranks as the UK’s leading online news brand, with over 40 percent of the UK news audience heading to the BBC’s website to keep themselves up to date. The success of the BBC’s digital platform does not come as a surprise given that the company has long been the go-to TV news source for many consumers across the country. Indeed, data on the most popular news apps in the UK revealed that the BBC News app amassed over 10 million users, second only to Apple News and eclipsing Sky News, The Guardian, and other major brands in this regard.

Younger consumers and TikTok

Even among younger consumers, the BBC enjoys good engagement, but this is set to change. A ranking of the most popular news source among UK teens aged 12 to 15 years found that a third favored TikTok for news, placing the platform a close second to the BBC and ahead of all other social networks. The platform is likely to see further engagement as younger audiences mature and begin to consume news, using TikTok as their go-to to begin this journey. A number of UK news brands feature in the top global English-language news sites on TikTok, and if sites not yet on the platform wish to snag views and follows from the next generation of news consumers, the time to make the move is now.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by
Amy Watson
, Mar 27, 2025

Key insights

Print revenue of Reach Plc
438.8m GBP
Daily Mail and General Trust Plc (DMGT) subscription revenue
111.8m GBP
Number of subscribers to Telegraph Media Group
1.04m
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Current statistics on this topic

Leading television channels used for news by consumers in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2024

News Consumption

TV channels most used for news UK 2013-2024

Main platforms used for news consumption in the United Kingdom as of 2024, by nation

News Consumption

Platforms used to consume news in the UK 2024, by nation

Leading online news brands accessed in the United Kingdom as of February 2025

News Consumption

Leading online news brands accessed UK 2025

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Brands and providers

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Brands and providers

  • Top newsbrands in the UK in 2023, by combined online reach
  • Most used news sources in the UK 2018-2024
  • Leading online news brands accessed UK 2025
  • Leading offline news brands in the UK in 2025
  • Top national newspaper publishers in the UK in 2022, by weekly circulation
  • Most popular newspapers in the United Kingdom (UK) 2024

News platform engagement

7

News platform engagement

  • Platforms used to consume news in the UK 2024, by nation
  • Most important news platforms in the United Kingdom (UK) 2024
  • Leading social networks used for news in the UK 2025
  • News apps audience in the UK 2024
  • TV channels most used for news UK 2013-2024
  • Leading news radio stations in the UK 2013-2025
  • Leading daily/weekly newspapers in the United Kingdom (UK) 2023, by reach

Consumer behavior

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Consumer behavior

  • Social media platform news usage in the UK 2023, by news type
  • Leading news brands in the United Kingdom (UK) 2024, by audience reach
  • Popular styles of news reporting in the UK in 2023, by age group
  • Leading news sources for young teenagers in the UK 2024, by reach
  • Paying for digital news in the United Kingdom 2012-2025
  • Trust in the press in the United Kingdom (UK) 2022, by generation
  • Reasons consumers do not trust the news UK 2023
  • Most used types of local news UK 2023

Ad spending

4

Ad spending

  • Total vs. digital newsbrands advertising spending in the UK 2012-2023
  • Newsbrands advertising spending in the United Kingdom (UK) 2011-2023
  • National newsbrands advertising spending in the UK 2011-2023
  • Regional newsbrands advertising spending in the UK 2011-2023

Further reports

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Social media usage in the United Kingdom (UK)
Social media usage in the United Kingdom (UK)
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