Eurosport,Europe´s leading sports entertainment group, has reported one of its best ever half-year audience results for the first six months of 2013.
And the trend continued last weekend as Eurosport´s comprehensive coverage of the opening stages of the 100th Tour de France attracted 17.1m different European viewers, a 50% rise in audience vs. the 2012 edition of the race.
The historic race debut in Corsica saw the channel achieve its best start to the Tour de France since 2007.
The impressive audience growth reflects the strong viewing figures achieved by Eurosport so far this year.
The live sports specialists, currently broadcast in 131 million homes across the continent, started 2013 strongly.Action from the Australian Open tennis, Dakar Rally, Africa Cup of Nations, Snooker’s UK Masters and Wintersports World Cups saw average audiences in Europe rise by +5.3% in January vs. January 2012 and +19.9% vs. 2011.
All the channel´s core sports of tennis, cycling, wintersports and motorsports achieved positive ratings, welcoming growing audiences to its unrivalled live coverage and expert presentation.
Grand Slam tennis from Australia and France respectively attracted 53 and 59 million different viewers on Eurosport and Eurosport 2. The 2013 French Open was the second best Grand Slam ever for audience numbers on Eurosport.
In wintersports over 140 million fans watched live coverage of World Cup rounds and World Championships on Eurosport and Eurosport 2 in 2013, a 5% increase compared to 2012.
More recently in motorsports, 18 million fans watched Eurosport´s complete round-the-clock live coverage of Le Mans 24 Hours. A rise of more than 12% vs. 2012.
In cycling, Eurosport and Eurosport 2´s unrivalled programming offer features over 40 events this year and has attracted over 70 million different viewers since the beginning of the season. The Milan San-Remo and Paris-Roubaix Classics were the best ever on Eurosport in terms of average audience with massive 56% and 30% respective growth vs. 2012 races.
And the summer of sport continues with major events subscribers can enjoy on Eurosport including the UEFA Women´s EURO in Sweden (10-28 July), the FINA Swimming World Championships in Barcelona (20 July - 4 August), the IAAF Athletics World Championships (10-18 August) in Moscow and the US Open tennis in New York (from 26 August to 8 September). All the events will be broadcast in high definition.
ends
Sources: precise reach based on 60 non consecutive seconds - AGF/GfK, BARB, SKO, MMS, TNS-Gallup, Kantar Media, AGB NMR, Armadata/Kantar- Techedge.