BRAND REPUBLIC's Maisie McCabe reported England's "dramatic victory over Sweden on Friday night hit a peak audience of 16.2 million viewers on BBC One, the biggest audience for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament so far." An average of 13.27 million people tuned into BBC One and BBC One HD between 7:45-9:45pm BST. The peak number was greater than the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert, which “averaged 14.7 million” viewers. England's June 11 game against France, shown on ITV1, "pulled in a peak of 15.3 million viewers and an average of 12.3 million" (BRANDREPUBLIC.com, 6/18). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Scott Roxborough noted 27.7 million viewers "watched the German side beat Denmark 2-1 on public broadcaster ARD, a 74.2 percent market share and the highest ratings in Germany for any game of the tournament so far.” Roxborough wrote, “The impact of Euro 2012 was evident even when the German squad wasn’t playing. 11.3 million Germans tuned in Friday night to watch England beat Sweden 3-2, and 11.6 million watched the Czech Republic knock out Poland 1-0 in its primetime match Saturday night” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 6/18).
MULTIPURPOSE VENUE: Yesterday afternoon’s edition of ESPN2’s “UEFA Euro 2012” featured a tour of the Italian media area at the Euro Cup tournament. ESPN’s Bob Ley said, “There are press centers, a place to go to get a cup of coffee, maybe a sandwich, plug in your computer, watch the games -- fairly basic. Fairly basic, (until) you get to the Italian press center.” ESPN’s Alicia Ferguson said the press center, called the “Casa Azzurri,” has “absolutely everything.” Ferguson: “How many places do you know -- media centers -- that have their own restaurant?” The floor of the “sponsors’ room” is cleared after games and “there’s traditional Italian music” and “authentic Polish music” as the “place turns into a night club, basically.” There are TVs, video games, table soccer, two bars, two press conference rooms and a “sizable media work area” for the Italian media. Ley said of the show's studio, “We don’t have a disco ball yet overhead” (“UEFA Euro 2012,” ESPN2, 6/18).
OVER AT SBD GLOBAL: For more on Euro '12 global TV ratings, see yesterday's issue of SBD Global, which had comprehensive numbers from England, Germany, France and Spain (THE DAILY).
