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RTÉ BROADCASTS ALL OF THE TOP 20 TV PROGRAMMES OF 2014

(AND THE TOP 50 PROGRAMMES SO FAR THIS CENTURY)

The Late Late Toy Show 2014 is the most-watched show this century

RTÉ One and RTÉ2 have once again performed highly among Irish audiences in 2014 as just-released figures for all of the top 20 programmes broadcast by any channel available in Ireland during the year were on RTÉ TV channels. In addition, RTÉ has also shown all of the top 50 most popular shows on Irish television so far this century.

The Late Late Toy Show once again scooped the top spot in 2014 with an average audience of 1,594,000, even beating the previous year’s viewership figures.  Not only was last year’s Late Late Toy Show the most watched TV programme of 2014 in Ireland, but it has also become Ireland’s most-watched TV programme this century. The 2013 Late Late Toy Show is the second most popular TV programme in Ireland this century with 154,740 viewers. In fact, the Late Late Toy Show fills the top 6 slots in Ireland’s 50 most-watched programmes this century. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, presented by former Late Late Show host, Gay Byrne makes up 7 of the top 50 most-watched programmes this century.

The second most-watched programme of 2014 was the dramatic season finale of the fifth series of Love/Hate which saw 1,150,000 viewers tune in to see Patrick Ward finally catch up with Nidge, shooting him twice at point blank range. This episode of Love/Hate series 5 is also the 11^th most-watched programme on Irish television this century.

2014 was another big year for sport and Ireland’s historic victory against France in Paris on March 15^th to win the RBS Six Nations was the third most popular programme among Irish TV viewers last year with 891,000 tuning into RTÉ2 to watch the live match which was also Brian O’Driscoll’s last ever match for Ireland.

Amber, the four-part Dublin-based RTÉ drama about the disappearance of Amber Bailey in January was the 4^th most-watched programme in 2014 with 865,000 people tuning in to watch the gripping final episode.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup Final between Germany and Argentina on RTÉ2 on Sunday 13^th July was the 5^th most watched TV programme in 2014 with 859,000 viewers following Germany’s extra-time victory in Rio de Janeiro.

The All Ireland Senior Football and Hurling Championship Finals were the 7^th and 8^th most watched programmes last year with 831,000 and 796,000 viewers tuning in respectively. Both of the All Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals also made the top 20, with the Mayo Vs Kerry replay attracting 675,000 viewers, followed closely by the Dublin Vs Donegal clash which was watched by an audience of 670,000.

Mrs. Brown’s Boys topped off another great year with its two end-of-year programmes both coming in the top 10 most-watched programmes of 2014. Mrs. Brown’s Boys: Mammy’s Gamble entertained some 838,000 viewers on New Year’s Eve, making it the 6^th most popular programme last year, while 788,000 people watched the Mrs. Brown’s Boys Christmas Special: Mammy’s Tickle which finished the year in 9^th position.

Continuing the nation’s love of big Irish family entertainment, the Voice of Ireland again made the top 20 with over 700,000 viewers tuning in to watch the blind auditions on 2^nd February, putting the popular show in 12^th position in 2014’s top 20.

Popular soap, Fair City, which celebrated 25 years in 2014 saw more than 670,000 viewers tune in on 4^th February to watch as Niamh revealed the truth to Callum that Jane was lying about undergoing cancer treatment

The nation’s interest in the Rose Of Tralee was also maintained in 2014 with 697,000 tuning in on 19^th August to watch Maria Walsh, originally from Shrule, Co. Mayo, who represented her adopted home of Philadelphia in the competition, become Rose of Tralee 2014.

The Late Late Show made a second appearance in the Top 20 as over 700,000 viewers tuned in for the eventful Eurosong special, making it the 13^th most-watched programme of the year.

Irish people’s appetite for news and current affairs was again evident last year with RTÉ One’s Nine O’Clock and Six-One news bulletins showing up as the 10^th and 20^th most-watched programmes of 2014. 728,000 viewers tuned into the Nine O’Clock News on 2^nd March which included reports about Ukraine putting its military on high alert as Russia moved to seize Crimea and convicted drug dealer John Gilligan being shot in Dublin. The winter storms which caused havoc across Ireland in January of last year drew an audience of 670,000 who tuned in on 6^th January to catch up on the nationwide devastation on the Six-One News.

Prime Time also finished the year strongly due to a special report by the RTÉ Investigations Unit on standards of care in the Áras Attracta Care Home in Swinford, Co. Mayo which shocked the nation and prompted widespread media interest. Over 670,000 tuned into Prime Time: Inside Bungalow 3 on 9^th December, making the programme the 18^th most-watched show on Irish television in 2014.

Glen Killane, Managing Director RTÉ Television, said, “We are delighted to see that Irish viewers continue to choose RTÉ Television despite having 100s of channels to choose from. These figures demonstrate our commitment to delivering high quality public service programming for Irish audiences across drama, entertainment, news & current affairs, factual and sport. We always strive to put our viewers at the heart of what we do and with so much choice out there for our viewers we appreciate the loyalty and support we continue to receive from the Irish public.”

See below for the list of the Top 20 programmes of 2014 along with the Top 50 programmes of the century.

Top 20 programmes of 2014

Top 50 Most-watched Programmes this century

-ENDS-

Date: Monday  12 Jan, 2015

For more information please contact: Tara O’Brien, Communications Manager, RTÉ Television, T: 01 208 2287, M: 0863544481

*Source: TAM Ireland Ltd/Nielsen TAM. Ranking is based on best episode of shows/series of 15+ minutes duration broadcast between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014, on any television channel, available in Ireland at any time.

** All figures are Consolidated National Individuals 4+. The Consolidated audience is the sum of the live viewing plus viewing recorded and played back within 7 days.