German public broadcaster ARD "drew more than 26 million viewers for its Euro 2016 broadcast on Sunday," according to Manuel Weis of QUOTENMETER. The game between Germany and Ukraine, which started at 9pm, recorded 26.57 million viewers. The number translated into a market share of 68.5%. In the target demographic 14-49, Germany's 2-0 win obtained a 74.9% market share. The game between Turkey and Croatia, which kicked off at 3pm, attracted 8.4 million viewers and had a 44.2% share. Croatia's 1-0 win drew a 44.3% market share in the target demo. The day's third matchup between Poland and Northern Ireland obtained a 39.7% market share starting at 6pm. A total of 10.73 million viewers tuned in to watch Poland's 1-0 win (QUOTENMETER, 6/13).
ACROSS THE CHANNEL: In London, Jasper Jackson reported England's Euro 2016 draw against Russia on Saturday night "was the most watched programme of the year so far," attracting an average of 12.9 million viewers and a peak audience of more than 14 million. The game on ITV "easily beat the previous most-watched programme of the year so far, the second episode of Britain's got Talent on April 16." However, it "was down by one-and-a-half million on the opening England match of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when 14.4 million watched the team lose 2-1 to Italy on BBC1." Wales’ opening game, a 2-1 win over Slovakia with coverage starting at 4pm, "attracted an audience of 5.7 million." Northern Ireland’s 1-0 defeat to Poland on Sunday "was watched by an average of 5.4 million" (London GUARDIAN, 6/13).
EURO OPENER: MEDIA SPORTIF reported the French were “particularly active” last Friday in watching the opening match of Euro 2016 between France and Romania on TF1. The 2-1 France victory was watched by an average audience of 14.4 million viewers, translating to a 55% market share. The numbers were “higher than the opening Team France match” of the 1998 World Cup, hosted by France (13.5 million on France 3). TF1 also “realized its strongest day of the year” with a 29.6% market share, more than France 2, M6 and France 3 combined. BeIN Sports did not release its audience numbers. In Romania, 4.5 million viewers tuned in to Pro TV to watch the match, translating to an 18% market share. The German “fervor for big sporting events did not disappoint,” with 15.5 million viewers (50% market share) watching the France vs. Romania match. Despite “being absent from the competition,” 2.3 million Dutch viewers watched the opening match, translating to a 40% market share. Dutch broadcaster NPO1 registered a 25.9% market share for the day. In Spain, 4.5 million viewers tuned in with a 34% market share for Télécinco. In England, ITV recorded an average audience of 6.7 million viewers with a peak of 8.3 million. In Italy, Rai Uno “also had a great day,” recording 7.6 million viewers, translating to a 31% market share (MEDIA SPORTIF, 6/11)
CANADIAN RACE: In a separate piece, Weis reported the Canadian F1 Grand Prix drew close to 4 million viewers on German free-to-air TV channel RTL. The race, which was won by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, attracted an average of 3.81 million viewers starting shortly after 8pm. The number translated into a market share of 10.3%. In the target demo, the race obtained an 8.1% share. Last year's race drew 4.45 million viewers and obtained a market share of 14.5%. In the target demo, the '15 race on Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve recorded a 12.7% share (QUOTENMETER, 6/13).
