RTÉ Six One News ranks Christmas no.1 as Santa departs North Pole for Ireland
-19 of the top 20 programmes aired on Irish TV this Christmas were broadcast on RTÉ
-Mrs Brown’s Boys held no.1 entertainment spot on Christmas Day
-The top movie was The Greatest Showman on Christmas Day
-Christmas at Home tops as the music no.1
-RTÉ Player with 754,000 streams, up 24% on the same dates of 2019*
– 696,000 streams on the RTÉ Radio Player & RTÉ Radio Apps over the five-day period, up 95% growth on 2019*
Over half a million viewers (583,200) viewers watched RTÉ’s Six One News on Christmas Eve to make sure Santa Claus left the North Pole safely as he packs his sleigh to commence his journey around the world. Boys and girls across Ireland asked the man in the red suit some last-minute questions so they could ensure they were prepared for Mr Claus’s impending arrival. RTÉ News: Six One achieved a 51% share and proved to be the most popular Christmas programme watched by Irish viewers between 23rd-27th December 2020.
Audiences continued to turn to RTÉ for their entertainment across the Christmas period as Mrs Brown’s Boys: Mammy of the People scooped the top entertainment spot averaging a total of 486,400 (35% share) on Christmas Day.
Christmas movies on RTÉ proved to be a big hit with viewers. The Greatest Showman ranked as the most-watched movie between 23rd- 27th December period. Broadcast on RTÉ One on Christmas Day, some 351,200 (28% share) viewers tuned in to the musical favourite. The perennial favourite Home Alone 2: Lost in New York ranked as the close number 2 most-watched Christmas movie with 322,500 viewers (33% share) on Christmas Day. Peter Rabbit scooped the third most-watched movie over the 5 days with 266,000 (21% share).
Fair City continued to capture Carrigstown life through a lens, with residents, like all of us, rising to the challenge of a different kind of Christmas this year it took the number one soap spot for Christmas Day with 257,000 viewers (21% share). Viewers headed over for more action on Albert Square in an EastEnders Christmas Special on RTÉ One 267,000 (21% share) who tuned in on St Stephen’s Day.
Irish audiences continually sought to be informed over the Christmas period as RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News on Wednesday 23rd December was the third most-watched programme averaging 471,500 (35% share).
On Christmas Eve, 303,200 (22% share) viewers were treated to an evening with Ruth Smith and Mary Kennedy who presented Christmas at Home, with a rich array of musical talent, including Celine Byrne, Úna Healy, Ray Lynam, Mick Flannery, teenage YouTube sensation Allie Sherlock, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Cor na nÓg. Christmas at Home ranked as the number one most-watched music programme over the Christmas period.
Keeping with the music, some 228,700 viewers (19% share) caught up with Jennifer Zamparelli and Nicky Byrne as they got their sparkle back on in a nostalgic one-hour Dancing with the Stars – Putting on the Glitz on RTÉ One on 27th December.
Other favourites included Fungie’s Kingdom (272,000), The 2 Johnnies Christmas Spectacular (146,500), Angela’s Christmas Wish (314,200) and Today Christmas Special (266,800).
Comedy also rated highly, featuring the Father Ted Christmas Special (203,700) and The Young Offenders Christmas Special (277,300) plus high rating movies including Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom (230,000), The Holiday (227,200) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (120,100).
Overall, younger viewers (15-34’s) were up across RTÉ on Christmas Day, with a combined average share – across RTÉ One, RTÉ2, both +1 channels and RTÉjr- of 47.7% – up by 8.4 points of share year-on-year.
RTÉ PLAYER
The 23rd to 27th December was a strong period for RTÉ Player with 754,000 streams, up 24% on the same dates of 2019. There were 95,000 streams for EastEnders making it the most-watched title. 22,000 streams were recorded for the EastEnders Christmas Day Special which was the number 1 individual episode on RTÉ Player over the Christmas period.
Mrs Brown’s Boys: Mammy of the People on Christmas Day has had 20,000 streams so far. The Fair City Christmas Special has had 14,000 streams. The 2 Johnnies Christmas Spectacular has had 11,000 views. The Busk – A Decade of Christmas on Grafton Street aired on 22nd December and has had 22,000 streams so far (22-28 December)
RTÉ RADIO STREAMING
There were 696,000 streams on the RTÉ Radio Player and RTÉ Radio Apps over the five-day period, a 95% growth on 2019. On Radio, Joe Duffy’s Christmas Eve Special has had 22,000 streams. There were 57,000 streams for RTÉ Gold, including station slots on RTÉ Radio 1.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Party into the New Year on New Year’s Eve, Nicky Byrne presents Soundtrack of My Life featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra playing a selection of greatest hits and familiar floor-fillers with Kodaline and special guests including Jack L, Loah and many more. Tune in from 21:45 RTÉ One
Following Soundtrack to my Life the whole family can join in a special NYE Countdown Show presented by Kathryn Thomas and Deirdre O’Kanewith music, comedy, and chat live from The Gaiety Theatre in the heart of Dublin. Tune in for the NYE Countdown Show which begins live at 22.45 on Thursday 31st December on RTÉ One.
Broadcast information available at www.rte.ie/presspack
Note to Editors:
Source: TAM Ireland/Nielsen, Based on National, Individuals 4+ & Adults 15-34, Average Share, Average 000s, 23rd – 27th December 2020, All Day, Live+VOSDAL
Average audience – The average number of viewers across a programme or series, expressed in 000’s. TV viewing is measured minute-by-minute, so the average audience is the average across all of these minutes.
*23rd -27th December 2020 vs the same period of 2019