In Spain, Wednesday's Iberian clash between Spain and Portugal turned into the "TV show most watched in history" when it went to penalties, according to AS. During the 13-minute penalty shootout, 18.1 million people were tuned in to Telecinco's broadcast or a 83.3% share. From the start of the match to the end of the shootout, the average audience was 14.2 million or a 75.6% share. The "overtime period increased the audience" to 16.5 million or a 77.1% share. The "most watched minute" occurred when Cesc Fabregas converted the "decisive penalty" to put Spain into the Euro final. At that time, 19.1 million people were tuned in or a 87.3% market share (AS, 6/28).
PORTUGAL: A BOLA reported that the game was the most-watched TV program "in the last eight years" in Portugal. An average of 3.7 million people watched SIC's broadcast of the game or a 74.8% share. The peak audience came during the PK shootout when 4.6 million people tuned in to watch the outcome (A BOLA, 6/28).
GERMANY: The SID reported that "close to 20 million" people watched ZDF's broadcast of Wednesday's semifinal match. ZDF's coverage attained a 62% market share. With a total of 19.6 million viewers it was "the highest rated Euro 2012 game that didn't feature the German national team" (SID, 6/28).
FRANCE: BOURSIER.com reported that in France, 8.8 million people watched M6's broadcast of the clash between their neighbors from the south or a 39% share (BOURSIER.COM, 6/28).
