Despite protests, Eurovision 2024 breaks global viewing figures

nme.com:

Eurovision 2024 broke global viewing figures despite protests over the inclusion of Israel at this year’s event.According to figures from the EBU, 163 million viewers tuned into the three live events including the Grand Final.The total reach of the contest also increased by one million people compared to 2023 and has grown by two million since 2022’s event in Turin.The viewing share for the Grand Final was also 46.7 per cent – the highest since 2006 and almost triple the broadcast channels average (17.6 per cent).Germany recorded the highest audience for the Grand Final with an average of 8.1million viewers watching on Das Erste and ONE.

The United Kingdom also had the second highest audience with 7.7 million viewers tuning in for the Grand Final on BBC One despite viewing figures being down compared to last year’s event in Liverpool.Online, the Eurovision Song Contest’s digital platforms had another record year with 486million unique accounts reached on TikTok, during the event weeks, more than four times as many as that in 2023.Up to 42million unique viewers across 231 countries and territories also watched content on the official YouTube channel during the week of the live shows.Speaking about the record results across the board, Jean Philip De Tender, EBU Deputy Director General said: “These incredible numbers show the Eurovision Song Contest’s huge global impact – online, on TV and importantly musically.