German public broadcaster ARD "obtained Friday's top ratings with its broadcasts of the Sochi Winter Olympics," according to Marcel Pohlig of DWDL. An average of 6.5 million viewers tuned in on Friday afternoon to watch the women's slalom event, which made it the day's most-watched event. The number translated into a market share of 34.7%. In the target demographic 14-49, the event, which was won by U.S. skier Mikaela Shiffrin, attracted 1.53 million viewers and had a 25.5% share. Ahead of the women's slalom, ARD aired the women's biathlon relay. The competition was watched by 5.9 million viewers and had a 37.5% share. In the target demographic, the victory of the Ukrainian team attracted 1.28 million viewers and obtained a 24.7% market share. On Friday morning, women's ski cross attracted 1.52 million viewers and had a 24.7% share. The men's curling broadcast shortly after 10am obtained a 23.8% share as 1.9 million people tuned in. The hockey match between the U.S. and Canada on Friday evening attracted 2.22 million viewers including 70,000 in the target demographic. The market shares were 7.7% and 7.3%, respectively (DWDL, 2/22).
OLYMPICS THURSDAY: QUOTENMETER's Elisabeth Saukel reported ARD "attracted 1.62 million viewers to its broadcast of the Nordic combined team event, which started at 9am on Thursday morning." The number equaled a market share of 29.8%. About an hour later, the men's ski cross final obtained a market share of 28.7% as 1.88 million viewers tuned in at 9:55am. Around noon, 3.41 million viewers tuned in to watch the German team win the Sliver Medal in the Nordic combined event. The women's free skate, which started at 6:50pm, was watched by 3.59 million viewers and had a 13.9% share (QUOTENMETER, 2/21).
AUSTRIA: DER STANDARD reported Austrian public broadcaster ORF 1 attracted 1.36 million viewers for its broadcast of the second run of the men's slalom on Saturday. ORF 2's sports news program, "Sportnachrichten," was watched by 1.06 million viewers shortly before 8pm. On Friday, the women's slalom competition attracted 902,000 viewers on ORF 1 (DER STANDARD, 2/23).
EUROPA LEAGUE: QUOTENMETER's Kevin Kyburz reported German private-TV channel kabel eins "obtained a market share of 5.2% during the first half of its Europa League broadcast on Thursday night." A total of 1.66 million viewers tuned in to watch the first leg of the round of 32 matchup between Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Porto. In the target demographic, the game's first half attracted 670,000 viewers and a 5.5% share. The second half of the game, which ended in a 2-2 draw, was watched by 1.98 million viewers including 810,000 in the target demographic. The corresponding market shares were 8.2% and 8.5%. The post-game analysis was watched by 1.69 million viewers and had a 8.4% market share. In the target demographic, the analysis attracted 800,000 viewers and had a 10.1% share (QUOTENMETER, 2/21).
