Advanced Television

Australian Open sees Eurosport record audience

February 3, 2016

Eurosport‘s exclusive coverage of the Australian Open served up record ratings across Europe. Average live audiences were up 17 per cent versus the 2015 tournament and the finals rated as the best tennis matches in the channel’s history. Andy Murray’s final made Eurosport 1 the most watched channel in the UK at the moment Novak Djokovic won the third set tie-break to seal victory over the Brit on Sunday.

In Germany, Eurosport 1 achieved the best ever ratings for a tennis match during Angelique Kerber’s surprise victory against Serena Williams with an average of 1.47 million viewers, reaching a peak of 2.46 million, and an audience share of 14.7 per cent (A3+) and 17.9 per cent (M20-59). The hard fought match was also the best ever Grand Slam final for Eurosport 1 in Poland.

Fans enjoyed Eurosport’s enhanced production for the 2016 edition of the Grand Slam with former world number 2, Àlex Corretja joining three-time Australian Open winner Mats Wilander, former top-ten player Barbara Schett and Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou on-site to offer expert opinion, insight and analysis with the stars of the tournament.

The results are a further indication of Eurosport’s revitalisation and growth as part of Discovery Communications, the world’s leading media entertainment company.  Eurosport’s exclusive rights to the Australian Open across Europe highlight its commitment to show more of the very best sporting moments to fans across the world.

Peter Hutton, Chief Executive Officer, Eurosport said, “The record breaking ratings endorse our investment in the refreshed, new-look Eurosport. We had German commentator Matthias Stach swimming with Angie Kerber, and experts such as Mats Wilander and Annabel Croft providing unique insight into the minds of the biggest stars. We invested more in production and it has paid back in our ratings, as well as setting a benchmark in quality for us to improve on at the French Open.”

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