German public broadcaster ZDF "recorded successful ratings for its winter sports broadcasts over the weekend," according to Alexander Krei of DWDL. A total of 4.67 million viewers tuned in to watch the men's 15km mass start biathlon race on Sunday. The number translated into a market share of 25.3%. In the target demographic 14-49, the event obtained a 16.3% market share as 1.06 million viewers tuned in. Pan-European sports network Eurosport reported an average viewership of 430,000 for its broadcast of the four ski jumping events of the '14-15 Four Hills Tournament. The most watched event was the opening tour stop in Oberstdorf, Germany, which attracted a peak audience of 740,000 viewers. German broadcasters ARD and ZDF also recorded satisfying ratings for their Four Hills Tournament coverage. The highest audience number was generated by the New Year's Day event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, which aired on ARD and was watched by 6.05 millon viewers. The fourth and final event from Bischofshofen, Austria was able to increase its viewership by about 1.5 million in comparison to '14 as it attracted 5.31 million viewers this year.
AROUND THE BALL: German sports network Sport1 attracted an average of 220,000 viewers for its broadcast of the "Sparhandy Cup." The indoor football tournament obtained a market share of 1.2% in the target demographic. Later on, Sport1 recorded a market share of 1.1% in target demographic for its coverage of another indoor football tournament, the "Budenzuber Krefeld." The tournament was watched by a total of 340,000 viewers (DWDL, 1/12).
