Major sports events proved the most popular with Irish TV audiences in 2019 accounting for seven of the top 10 shows, TAM Ireland/Nielsen figures show. The country’s most popular crowd puller was again the Late Late Toy Show on RTÉ One Television. Sports events made up the top 10’s next six broadcasts with GAA and international rugby fixtures winning out.The average Irish adult in a TV home watches shows for two hours 55 minutes a day.
The All Ireland final replay between Dublin and Kerry in September was in second place, with the original match third. The 6 Nations game between Ireland and England on Virgin was in fourth place, followed by the All Ireland hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary fifth. International rugby games accounted for the next two rankings.
TAM says that 85 per cent of daily TV viewing is consumed live as scheduled, with just 15 per cent on catch up. The report shows that 61 per cent of all TV homes in Ireland now have PVR capability, allowing them pause, rewind and record live TV. Housekeepers – those that do most of the grocery shopping – spend three hours 34 minutes watching daily.
The other two non-sport shows that made the top 10 were Virgin’s I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here in eight position and Room to Improve on RTÉ One ranked tenth. The Late Late Show tribute to Gay Byrne was 11th. The Euro 2020 qualifier between Ireland and Denmark was 12th and Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Day show was ranked 14th.
To further capitalise on Irish rugby’s popularity and its Six Nations coverage, Virgin Media Television (VMTV) has a new entertainment show called The Late Tackle, co-presented by Love Island winner and Sevens rugby player Greg O’Shea and former Today FM host Muireann O’Connell. VMTV screens the new show right after Love Island.
A winter season of Love Island returned to VMTV on Sunday, hosted by Laura Whitmore.
Pictured above are Ireland’s CJ Stander, Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw. Photo: Inpho
