Despite the availability of over 800 channels in Ireland, RTÉ One and RTÉ2 provided 15 of the top 20 most popular programmes of the year.
RTÉ One continues to be the most popular channel in the country for all audiences with a channel share of 24.1%*, while RTÉ2 is the no. 2 choice in its target demographic of 15-34 year olds** with a share of 8.7%.
Speaking about the figures, Glen Killane, Managing Director, RTÉ Television said:
“2015 was a particularly competitive year for Irish television with a brand new Irish television channel coming into the market. Despite this, RTÉ delivered 15 of the Top 20 programmes of the year. Across RTÉ One and RTÉ2 we delivered a broad range of programming which brought the nation together from another unbeatable Late Late Toy Show, to the All Ireland Football and Hurling Finals, from the best in new Irish drama in Charlie, to comedy from the nations favourite Mrs Brown’s Boys, along with unrivalled news coverage and family entertainment from The Voice of Ireland”.
“It’s heartening to see this research from TAM Ireland which shows just how much Irish people continue to engage with television. Last night alone on RTÉ One, over half a million viewers tuned in for each of our programmes from 6pm to 10:30pm which demonstrates the ongoing demand for original Irish television. 2016 is shaping up to be major year for Irish viewers with RTÉ offering comprehensive election coverage, a major season of programmes commemorating and celebrating 1916, along with the best in sports coverage with the Six Nations, EURO 2016, the GAA Championships and the Olympics and Paralympics from Rio all to look forward to.”
More information on the figures and Irish television viewing habits in 2015 are available on the TAM Ireland website http://www.tamireland.ie/node/472
Top 20 Consolidated Programmes of the Year
*RTÉ One, Consolidated average Channel Share, peak time, all individuals,
**RTÉ2, Consolidated average Channel Share, peak time, 15-34s
*** Specific Programme information:
- 14, RTÉ News: Nine O’Clock News, 18 Jan, reaction coverage following Health Minister Leo Varadkar’s interview with Miriam O’Callaghan in which he spoke for the first time about being gay.
- 15, The Late Late Show, refers to The Late Late Country Music Special on the 23 October.
- 17, The Voice of Ireland, on 22 February was the most watched episode in the series. This was the first of show’s Battle stages.
- 20 Room to Improve, in which Dermot Bannon renovated a rural bungalow in Baltinglass.
For more information contact:
Tara O’Brien, Communications Manager, RTÉ Television; tara.obrien@rte.ie, 0863544481, 2082287