Record Breaking 2024 for RTÉ

RTÉ Player has record breaking 142 million streams, up 42% year-on-year

RTÉ has highest share of TV viewing in Ireland in 11 years

RTÉ delivers 42 of the Top 50 of 2024’s most-watched shows on TV, with
Sport, RTÉ News, and Eurovision among Top 20 programmes

Newly released TV viewing figures by TAM Ireland/Nielsen Media for 2024 show that Irish audiences overwhelmingly chose RTÉ – their public service media – of all channels available in Ireland.

RTÉ attracted its highest share of linear TV audience in Ireland in over a decade with a share of 27.9% of the TV audience in 2024 beating the previous high of 27.7% in 2013*. RTÉ has grown its share of 15-34 year olds over the same period, going from 20.4% in 2013 to 25.4% in 2024.

Home grown content continued to pull the highest TV audiences in Ireland in 2024. The Late Late Toy Show yet again took top spot with Sport making up the remaining nine out of the top 10 most-watched programmes as the Guinness Six Nations, the All-Ireland Hurling and Football Finals, and the UEFA Euro 2024 Final all featured prominently.

As was the case in 2023, RTÉ delivered 42 of the Top 50* most-watched programmes across all channels available in Ireland in 2024 with a mix of Sport, entertainment, documentaries, News & Current Affairs, as well as, drama and comedy.

RTÉ Player had it most successful year to date attracting a record-breaking 142 million streams in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 42%. Audiences were attracted to a unique and distinctive mix of quality Irish and international content with a mix of national events, well loved TV series and quality box-sets in the growing catalogue of over 5000 hours of content.

2024 was a year of big national and international events with RTÉ bringing audiences relevant and engaging content including Ireland’s first Eurovision Final appearance since 2018, both Leaders’ Debates in the run up to the general election, as well as the Olympics and Paralympics, the Six Nations, the Euros and the GAA All-Ireland Championships.

UEFA Euro 2024 coverage was number one on RTÉ Player with 8.8 million streams followed by EastEnders, Paris Olympics 2024, Home and Away, and Fair City. Sleeper hit Yellowstone came in next with over 4.5 million streams on RTÉ Player.

Home produced documentaries including Bishop Casey’s Buried Secrets, entertainment favourites The Late Late Show, Dancing With the Stars, The Tommy Tiernan Show, The Rose of Tralee and New Year’s Eve Live, as well as comedy and drama in the form of Fair City and The Young Offenders, all proved hugely popular.

An election year saw RTÉ continue to be the home of trusted News and Current Affairs for Irish audiences with the Prime Time Leaders’ Debate and the Upfront With Katie Hannon – Leaders’ Debate both featuring in the Top 50 most-watched programmes of the year while coverage of Storm Darragh on the RTÉ Nine O’Clock News on December 6 and Storm Isha on the RTÉ Six One News on January 21 also made the Top 50.

While individual performances are not captured in programme averages, RTÉ’s coverage of a stunningly successful Paris Olympics for Team Ireland was hugely popular with Irish viewers with Kellie Harrington’s gold-medal performance in the ring peaking at 1.4 million viewers, Rhasidat Adeleke’s Women’s 400m Final peaking at 926,000 and the Irish Women’s 4 x 400m Final peaking at 910,000.

Steve Carson, Director of Video, RTÉ, said: “RTÉ constantly strives to provide audiences with a unique and compelling mix of content that they deserve from their public service media organisation. We are delighted to see audiences engaging with RTÉ content in such high numbers on television and on RTÉ Player across a wide range of genres, from trusted News & Current Affairs, Irish Drama, Entertainment and Documentaries, as well as national events and major sporting moments.

We invested in both the functionality and availability of RTÉ Player and it has paid off with an enhanced user experience and expanded catalogue clearly delivering for audiences. RTÉ is committed to continuing to deliver relevant, engaging content for Irish audiences that sets us apart from global media companies and streamers. We will continue to provide that for Irish audiences in collaboration with the independent sector in 2025 and beyond.”

-ENDS-

Date: Friday 10 January 2025

For more information contact:  
Sharon Brady, Senior Communications Manager
0876858975, sharon.brady@rte.ie

Notes to Editor:

*Individuals all day share – consolidated. Source TAM Ireland/Nielsen Media.