Skip to main content

Over 122 million viewers for 2009 Eurovision Song Contest

22 May 2009 at 14:07 CEST

 

“Every year, millions of viewers from Iceland to Azerbaijan watch the Eurovision Song Contest. It is a rare example of a cultural event which brings people across the continent together to celebrate Europe’s diversity,” said Bjørn Erichsen, Eurovision TV Director.

Last year, 105 million people tuned in for the Eurovision Song Contest from Belgrade. This year shows a 16% increase.

Audience share for the Final (16 May 2009) was double Saturday night prime time average (2008) in a number of the 45 countries which transmitted the show to Europe and beyond. Average audience share across all countries was 43,1%, compared to normal Saturday night average of 18,4%. An increase in market share over 2008 figures was significant in a range of countries such as France, Estonia and The Netherlands. Most other countries showed rising market shares over last year's figures.

"The impeccable TV productions of the past years and continuous improvement in the standard of songs, have made it (the Eurovision Song Contest) a unique event and one of the most watched live TV entertainment programmes in the world,"  said Svante Stockselius, the EBU's Executive Supervisor for the Song Contest. "We are confident that the Contest will continue to attract millions of viewers, especially as it develops more and more into an interactive event," he concluded.