German pay-TV network Sky Deutschland "attracted 1.16 million viewers to its broadcast of Sunday's Bundesliga game between Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach," according to Alexander Krei of DWDL. The number translated into a market share of 7.4% in the target demographic 14-49. The all-time record was set during the first matchup of the two teams in October, when 1.37 million viewers tuned in. Sunday's early game between Mainz and Wolfsburg was watched by 490,000 viewers and obtained a market share of 3.5% in the target demographic. Sky's simulcast of Saturday's Bundesliga games had a 14.1% market share in the target demo as 1.46 million viewers tuned in. The game between Schalke and Leverkusen drew 820,000 viewers in front of their TVs on Saturday evening.
WINTER SPORTS: German public broadcaster ARD recorded more than 3.3 million viewers for its ski jumping coverage on Sunday. A total of 3.31 million viewers watched the broadcast. The number translated into a market share of 24.5%. An additional 300,000 viewers watched the event on Eurosport. ARD's biathlon broadcast prior to the ski jumping coverage attracted 3.47 million viewers and had a 29.9% share. The women's biathlon race, which started around noon, obtained a 27% share as 4.17 million viewers tuned in. The men's race drew a 15.7% share in the target demo (DWDL, 3/23).
SIX NATIONS SHOWDOWN: REUTERS' Michael Hann reported "staggered starts and scintillating rugby helped attract a peak record audience of nearly 10 million television viewers for the Six Nations' finale between England and France." Ireland "retained the title on points difference on Saturday after 9.63 million viewers tuned in to watch England battle with France in the championship’s climax," surpassing the previous record of 9.56 million when the same two teams met in '11. The BBC Sport website "also recorded its highest ever traffic," with 8.22 million unique U.K. browsers, beating the previous online record of 8.03 million during the 2012 London Games. Wales kicked things off in front of a peak TV audience of 4.1 million viewers before Ireland trounced Scotland in front of 5.1 million TV viewers (REUTERS, 3/23).
