Broadcasters across the continent continue to report excellent viewing figures and market shares for the 12-17 August Zurich 2014 European Athletics Championships as the European Broadcasting Union compiles its final television report for European Athletics.
The highest average live audience on ZDF in Germany during the championships was 4.67 million on Wednesday 13 August as Robert Harting won discus gold. This audience was the highest recorded for the European Athletics Championships on ZDF since Gothenburg 2006.
The highest average live audience received for ARD was 3.9 million on Thursday 14 August.
In France, excluding the first evening, the evening sessions averaged a live audience of 2.6 million, with more than 4 million on Thursday 14 August – a 20.8 percent market share – when Benjamin Compaoré won the men’s triple jump and Yoann Kowal won the 3000m steeplechase after Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad’s disqualification.
The highest average live audience for the BBC was 2.2 million on Friday 15 August as Adam Gemili struck gold in the 200m.
In Poland, evening sessions averaged on TVP1 and TVP2 combined about 1.5 million viewers, with more than 2.3 million on Friday 15 August when Adam Kszczot won the men’s 800m final and Anita Wlodarczyk the women’s hammer.
The highest average live audience received for SF2 in Switzerland was 344,199 on Friday 15 August when Kareim Hussein won Switzerland’s solitary gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles. This is the highest-ever recorded audience for a live programme in Switzerland for the European Athletics Championships.
International Broadcasters across the continent continue to report huge market shares for the event. Finland had a market share of 79.99% on Sunday 17 August as Antti Ruuskanen won men’s javelin gold with countryman Tero Pitkí¤mí¤ki third.
There was a 50.79% market share for SF2 in Switzerland on the morning of Sunday 17 August for the last Marathon of Viktor Röthlin.
The European Athletics Championships also had a market share of 46.1% in Sweden on the Sunday, 15.72% in the Czech Republic on Saturday, 28.5% in France on Sunday and 19.2% in Germany on Sunday.
European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said, “We are very pleased that in cooperation with the EBU we have been able to showcase the best of European Athletics during Zurich 2014 with them providing the biggest platform to promote our sport on public free-to-air TV channels throughout the continent.”
Julien Ternisien, Eurovision Head of Sports Rights – Summer Sports, said, “In general, members are reporting excellent figures and that for them it has been a very successful championships. At a time when more and more sports are switching to Pay TV, it shows the strength of extensive free-to-air coverage and the strength of our partnership with European Athletics as we continue to ensure athletics can be watched live by such big television audiences.”
Thirty-nine rightsholders broadcast the Zurich 2014 European Athletics Championships, with 61 commentary positions, 25 live television and radio mixed zone positions and five studios onsite at Letzigrund stadium.
European Athletics will report a cumulative television audience figure from all broadcasters, including live, delayed and highlights, once a final report is received from EBU.