RTÉ delivers another record year in 2025, bringing Ireland together with national moments
RTÉ Player has 157 million streams, up 10% year-on-year
An increase on 2024, RTÉ delivers 45 of the Top 50 of 2025’s most-watched shows on TV, including Ireland’s biggest sporting moments, RTÉ Investigates, The Traitors Ireland, Documentaries and Presidential Election Coverage
RTÉ continues to attract younger viewers with all day share among 15-34s at its highest level in over 14 years
Newly released TV viewing figures by TAM Ireland/Nielsen Media for 2025 show that once again, Irish audiences overwhelmingly chose RTÉ – their public service media – ahead of all other channels available in Ireland, reflecting strong audience engagement with content that informs, entertains and connects people across different generations and communities.
2025 showed that RTÉ is continuing to attract younger viewers with all day share among 15-34s at 25.8% – its highest level in over 14 years.
National moments delivered the highest TV audiences in Ireland in 2025. The Late Late Toy Show yet again took top spot while brand new The Traitors Ireland entered the top 10. Sport made up the remaining eight out of the top 10 most-watched programmes as Troy Parrott’s World Cup qualifier goals, All-Ireland Hurling and Football Finals, and the Guinness Six Nations all featured prominently.
With an increase on the previous two years, RTÉ delivered 45 of the Top 50* most-watched programmes across all channels available in Ireland in 2025 with a mix of sport, entertainment, documentaries, News & Current Affairs, as well as drama and comedy.
2025 was a year of big national and international events with RTÉ bringing audiences relevant and engaging content including the final of The Traitors Ireland, Prime Time Presidential Debate in the run up to the presidential election, as well as the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, the Six Nations, Quilter Nations Series and the GAA All-Ireland Championships.
RTÉ Player had its most successful year to date attracting a record-breaking 157 million streams in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 10% as time spent watching saw an increase of 17%. Audiences were attracted by the unique and distinctive choice of quality Irish and international content with a mix of national events, well-loved TV series and quality boxsets, ensuring RTÉ’s services remained available wherever audiences chose to watch.
Eastenders was number one on RTÉ Player followed by Fair City, Home and Away and The Traitors Ireland. RTÉ News: Nine O’Clock and RTÉ News: Six One are also in the top 10 of 2025 on RTÉ Player followed by Bluey, The Sunday Game Live, Yellowstone and Love/Hate.
Home-produced documentaries including DJ Carey: The Dodger, Gerry Hutch: AKA The Monk and Michael Lynn: the Fugitive, entertainment favourites The Late Late Show, Dancing with the Stars, Ireland’s Fittest Family and The Rose of Tralee, as well as comedy and drama like Fair City and The Walsh Sisters all proved hugely popular in 2025.
A presidential election year saw RTÉ continue to be the home of trusted News and Current Affairs for Irish audiences with the Prime Time: Presidential Debate and The Katie Hannon Interview both featuring in the most-watched programmes of the year, while Nationwide and the RTÉ Six One News also made the Top 50.
Home renovation programming continued to be as popular as ever as the Top 50 list included the ever popular Room to Improve, Cheap Irish Homes, DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland and The Great House Revival featuring the late Hugh Wallace.
While individual performances are not captured in programme averages, RTÉ’s coverage of an incredible performance from Troy Parrott and the Irish Football team brought the nation to a standstill as a last-minute goal against Hungary propelled them into the next stages of the World Cup qualifiers with the Irish audience peaking at over a million viewers.
Steve Carson, Director of Video, RTÉ, said: “It’s been a remarkable year for RTÉ programming – audiences in Ireland, of all ages, joined us in record 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.
RTÉ, our staff and programme makers, and our colleagues in the independent sector are committed to bringing the people of Ireland relevant, engaging content that truly sets us apart from global media companies and streamers.”
-ENDS-
Date: Friday 9th January 2025
For more information contact:
Maureen Catterson, Communications Manager, TV, Radio and Online | maureen.catterson@rte.ie