German public broadcaster ARD "attracted close to six-and-a-half million viewers to its Bundesliga highlights show on Saturday," according to Alexander Krei of DWDL. ARD's "Sportschau" program obtained a 26.7% market share as 6.49 million viewers tuned in starting at 6:30pm. In the target demographic 14-49, the show had a market share of 21.7%. German pay-TV network Sky Deutschland also recorded high ratings for its Bundesliga broadcasts on Saturday. Sky's coverage recorded an average of 1.44 million viewers and obtained a 14.2% share in the target demographic. The game between Frankfurt and Schalke on Saturday evening reached 860,000 viewers and had a 6% share. The matchup between Dortmund and Mainz on Friday night attracted 960,000 viewers.
WINTER SPORTS: Public broadcasters ARD and ZDF "failed to attract high ratings numbers for their coverage of the 2015 Ski Alpine World Championships from Vail, Colorado, which was partly due to the time difference." The men's slalom event on Sunday, however, obtained a satisfying 2.4 million viewers and had a 11.7% market share starting at 10:50pm. In the target demographic, the race recorded an 11.7% share. Aside from the world championships, ARD attracted 4.64 million viewers to its broadcast of the women's biathlon relay race. The event had a market share of 29.4% along with 17.9% in the target demo. The following men's race obtained a market share of 28.8% along with 19.5% in the target demo as 4.94 million viewers tuned in (DWDL, 2/16).
CRICKET WORLD CUP: The AAP reported Sunday's Cricket World Cup fixture between "bitter foes" India and Pakistan had a "predicted worldwide TV audience nearing 1.5 billion people" -- more than 1,000 times the population of Adelaide, which hosted the matchup. Estimated worldwide viewers:
- India vs. Pakistan -- 2015 Cricket World Cup -- 1.5 billion
- Germany vs. Argentina -- 2014 FIFA World Cup -- 1 billion
- Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos -- Super Bowl XLVIII -- 160 million (AAP, 2/16).
