RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport again topped the tables with sports fans in 2013, with audiences choosing RTÉ Two of all channels available in Ireland as the most popular destination for sports coverage.
Figures released today show that 19 of the Top 20 most-watched sports programmes – on any television channel available in Ireland – were RTÉ Sport programmes on RTÉ Two.
The most-watched sports programme of the year on any TV channel was RTÉ Two’s The Sunday Game Live’s coverage of the All Ireland Senior Football Final between Dublin and Mayo with 1,064,200 viewers tuning in to see the Dubs regain the Sam Maguire Cup – up over 89,000 on 2012’s All Ireland Senior Football Final.
In second place was The Sunday Game Live All Ireland Hurling Final between Clare and Cork as 889,400 viewers watched the Munster rivals battle it out for Hurling supremacy.
The All Ireland Senior Football semi-final between Dublin and Kerry, again on RTÉ Two’s The Sunday Game Live, was the third most-watched sports programme of 2013 with 828,400 viewers tuning in to see Dublin beat the old enemy Kerry in what was widely–regarded as one of the finest football matches in years.
Joining them in the Top 10 are Ireland’s Six Nations defeat to England at the Aviva Stadium in February; The Republic of Ireland’s home World Cup Qualifier against Austria in March; the replay of the drawn All Ireland Hurling Final between Clare and Cork; the second All Ireland Senior Football semi-final between Mayo and Tyrone; the Dublin and Cork All Ireland Senior Hurling semi-final; Ireland v France in the Six Nations; and the other All Ireland Hurling semi-final between Limerick and Clare.
The remaining Top 20 sports programmes included RTÉ’s coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup Qualifier in Sweden; Dublin v Cork in the All Ireland Senior Football quarter-final; Galway v Clare in the All Ireland Senior Hurling quarter final; the Republic of Ireland’s home World Cup Qualifier v Sweden; Ireland’s heart-breaking last ditch defeat to New Zealand in the Autumn Internationals; Ireland’s Six Nations games away against Wales and home against Scotland; the Republic of Ireland’s away World Cup Qualifier against Austria; and the Ireland v Australia Autumn International.
See below for a full breakdown of the Top 20.
Ryle Nugent, Group Head of Sport, RTÉ said: “It’s clear from these figures that RTÉ Sport’s coverage of our national games and national teams in action are a huge draw for Irish audiences. We’re committed to prioritising our resources to provide quality coverage of those games and major events and we’re heartened that Irish audiences continue to choose RTÉ Sport’s coverage in such numbers.”
ENDS
Position Programme Channel
1 The Sunday Game Live All Ireland Football Final: Dublin v Mayo RTÉ Two
2 The Sunday Game Live All Ireland Hurling Final: Clare v Cork RTÉ Two
3 The Sunday Game Live All Ireland Football Semi-Final: Dublin v Kerry RTÉ Two
4 RBS Six Nations Ireland v England RTÉ Two
5 World Cup 2014 Qualifier Republic of Ireland v Austria RTÉ Two
6 The Saturday Game Live All Ireland Hurling Final Replay: Clare v Cork RTÉ Two
7 The Sunday Game Live All Ireland Football Semi-Final: Mayo v Tyrone RTÉ Two
8 The Sunday Game Live All Ireland Hurling Semi-Final: Dublin v Cork RTÉ Two
9 RBS 6 Nations Rugby Ireland v France RTÉ Two
10 The Sunday Game Live All Ireland Hurling Semi-Final: Limerick v Clare RTÉ Two
11 World Cup 2014 Qualifier Sweden v Republic of Ireland RTÉ Two
12 The Saturday Game Live All Ireland Football Quarter-Final – Dublin v Cork RTÉ Two
13 The Sunday Game Live All Ireland Hurling Quarter-Final: Galway v Clare RTÉ Two
14 World Cup 2014 Qualifier Republic of Ireland v Sweden RTÉ Two
15 Guinness Autumn Rugby Internationals Ireland v New Zealand RTÉ Two
16 RBS 6 Nations Rugby Wales v Ireland RTÉ Two
17 RBS 6 Nations Rugby Ireland v Scotland RTÉ Two
18 World Cup 2014 Qualifier Austria v Republic of Ireland RTÉ Two
19 Guinness Autumn Rugby Internationals Ireland v Australia RTÉ Two
20 Championship Live TV3
Source: TAM Ireland Ltd/Nielsen TAM
Date: Friday 24 January
For further information please contact:
Fergus McCormack, Press Officer, RTÉ Television, 01 2083117; 086 9674751fergus.mccormack@rte.ie