German free-to-air TV channel Sat.1 "has obtained extremely satisfying ratings" with its broadcasts of the NFL's Conference Championship games early Monday morning, according to Manuel Weis of QUOTEN METER. Starting at 12:15am German time, Sat.1 obtained a 9.2% market share in the target demographic 14-49, while a total of 580,000 viewers watched the broadcast. At 12:40am, the market share increased to 12.7%. The "later the night, the higher Sat.1's ratings." Around 1:15am, the market share in the target demographic was 13.5% and increased to 13.7% by 1:45am. More than 300,000 stayed up to watch the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens advance to the Super Bowl. At 2:40am, Sat.1's market share "reached a fantastic" 16% (QUOTEN METER, 1/21).
HANDBALL HIGHS: DWDL's Alexander Krei reported German public broadcaster ZDF "received great viewing numbers" with its broadcast of Germany's round of 16 match-up against Macedonia from the Int'l Handball Federation Men's World Championship. A total of 5.43 million viewers tuned in to watch Germany's 28-23 victory on Sunday. The number equaled a 24.9% market share. In the target demographic, the game obtained a 20.8% share. German free-to-air TV channel Sport1 aired the world championship game between France and Iceland at 8pm local time. France's 30-28 victory was watched by 260,000 viewers and received a 0.7% market share. In the target demographic, the game obtained a 0.8% share (DWDL, 1/21).
TENNIS & SNOOKER: DWDL's Krei also reported pan-European broadcaster Eurosport "obtained respectable ratings" for its broadcast of the Australian Open fourth round match between Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka. The more than five-hour long match was watched by 160,000 viewers. Eurosport, which aired the match at 9am German time, reached a 1.2% market share. In the target demographic, Djokovic's victory obtained a 0.7% share. At 9pm, Eurosport's live broadcast of the Snooker Masters from London attracted 320,000 viewers and reached a 1.1% share (DWDL, 1/21).
ARMSTRONG STRONG IN AUSTRALIA: In Sydney, Michael Bodey reported Lance Armstrong's admission of guilt to Oprah Winfrey was "the highest-rating program on subscription television on Friday." Discovery Channel’s broadcast of "Oprah and Lance Armstrong: The Worldwide Exclusive Part 1," in which the disgraced cyclist "admitted to blood doping, bullying and lying, averaged 186,000 viewers nationally and had another 86,000 viewers for a repeat." The follow-up episode on Saturday "averaged 100,000 viewers, to rank second for the day behind the Big Bash League final" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/21).
