Irish sports fans once again watched in big numbers as they were treated to an incredible few days of sporting action live on RTÉ. Ireland got their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start on Saturday against Wales at the Aviva Stadium. An average of 729,000 viewers tuned-in to RTÉ2 with a share of 66% of those watching TV at the time. Viewing peaked at 4.07pm with 841,000 watching. In addition, there were 96,000 streams on RTÉ Player.
Later on Saturday evening Dublin went down to their second Allianz Football League defeat in-a-row, this time against Kerry in Tralee. An average of 444,000 viewers tuned in to the Saturday GAA Live coverage of the game on RTÉ2 with a share of 35%. Viewership peaked at 494,000 at 8.12pm. There were 27,000 streams on RTÉ Player.
The weekend’s sporting action got underway on Friday night as Ireland’s U20s defeated their Welsh counterparts in the Six Nations at Musgrave Park with an average of 204,000 tuning-in and a share of 17%, peaking at 261,000 at 8.37pm.
The Dublin Racing Festival from Leopardstown on Saturday on RTÉ One had an average audience of 83,000 with a share of 9% while Sunday’s Leopardstown racing, also on RTÉ One averaged 108,000 with a 14% share.
Sunday also saw the Six Nations continue on RTÉ2 as France hosted Italy in Paris watched by an average of 240,000 viewers and with a share of 27%. Numbers peaked at 273,000 at 4.38pm while there were 23,000 streams on RTÉ Player.
Sunday evening saw a wrap of the weekend’s GAA action on RTÉ2’s Allianz League Sunday which was seen by an average of 110,000 viewers and with a share of 12% of the available audience.
Commenting on the figures, RTÉ’s Group Head of Sport, Declan McBennett said “Across rugby, GAA and racing the desire for free-to-air sport is clear for all to see. Events like those from the weekend allow people to enjoy sport as a collective and witness those who are wearing their jerseys and silks with pride and providing enjoyment for some and inspiration for others.”
There’s no let up this weekend as Wales take on Scotland live in the Six Nations on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player at 1.30pm on Saturday with full highlights of Ireland’s trip to Paris at 10.50pm. All Ireland champions Limerick face Henry Shefflin’s Galway in the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday GAA Live (6.40pm, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player) with all the Allianz League action re-capped on Allianz League Sunday at 9.30pm on Sunday night.
