Channel 5 and Channel 4 have been the terrestrial channels hardest hit by the arrival of digital TV according to the first set of digital Barb figures released this week.A preview of the figures obtained by Media Week, revealed that in homes with digital multichannel TV mainstream terrestrial channels are watched significantly less than in analogue multichannel households.The figures taken from a spread of 148 homes, revealed that total terrestrial viewing in SkyDigital homes was down over 32% in digital homes, compared with a downturn of around 25% in analogue multichannel homes. Channel 5, which attracts an average 6.1% share in all homes, was suffered the biggest downturn, dropping 56% to a 2.7% share in DSAT homes. Channel 4 suffered a similar loss dropping from 10.6% in all homes to 5.7% in DSAT homes, a 46% reduction. The broadcasters average 4.8% and 7% in analogue satellite and cable homes respectively.However, ITV’s figures recorded a 23.8% share in DSAT homes, down roughly 25% on its 31.9% yield for all homes but representing just over a 7% drop from its 25.6% share in analogue multi-channel homes. Richard Eyre, chief executive of ITV, used the figures to defend the network’s decision to stay off the SkyDigital platform.“This new slate of research proves that people watch great programmes, not great technology,” he said.The network, which has said it will not put any of its channels on the Skydigital platform for at least 12 months, outperformed BBC 1, which dropped to 18.2% in DSAT homes, down from 26.8% in all homes and 19.8% in analogue multi-channel homes.BBC 2 was the only channel to show an increase in multichannel homes with digital, netting a 7.1% share, up from 6.8% in analogue multi-channel homes (10.9% in all homes).The 24 digital-only channels included in the survey racked up a 6.9% share. Sky Premier 3 was the top performing channel, attracting an average of 12 minutes per viewer per week. BBC Choice was watched for an average fo eight minutes a week.Both broadcasters and agencies have criticised the digital Barb figures for their limited coverage of digital homes. Homes with ONdigital will not be included in the new survey for at least another fourmonths.(c) MediaWeek