THE BBC is defending a new £32million channel on which 21 programmes had no viewers at all.

The dud output at BBC Scotland has sparked fury while free TV licences for the over-75s face the axe.

The Nine, a short news broadcast on the new BBC channel is one of a number of shows that was watched by no one Credit: BBC

The channel launched in February with initial average audience figures at just under 60,000, before slumping to 19,000 by May 25.

Figures between February 24 and June 2 reveal 21 shows had no audience at all on some occasions. On one day in May an average of just 7,200 people watched.

Discussion show, The Collective, peaked on May 9 with 11,700, while an episode on May 2 featuring dominatrix Megara Furie had zero. Four out of 19 broadcasts of Tune, which features local bands, went unwatched, according to TV industry research firm Overnights.TV.

Two episodes of showbiz offering The Edit and several editions of The Nine news show also had no viewers, reported the Scottish Mail on Sunday.

Professor of journalism and former BBC editor Tim Luckhurst said the channel was only launched to pander to the SNP, adding: “The figures are deplorable.”

It comes as nearly 800,000 signed petitions demanding plans to cut free licences for the over-75s are axed.

John O’Connell of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “This must be particularly infuriating for pensioners.”

The BBC said it is “not unusual” for some digital channels to have low figures.

A spokesman said: “There were only 21 instances during core hours when zero audiences were recorded over February 24 to June 2. Seven were one-minute editions of The Seven just as the channel comes on air.

“The remaining 14 were all after 11pm when TV audiences to all channels are in sharp decline.”

The Collective peaked at 11,700 viewers, but an episode featuring dominatrix Megara Furie had zero

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