9m Watch Channel 4’s First Grand National
A peak audience of almost nine million viewers watched The John Smith’s Grand National yesterday on Channel 4 – the first time the broadcaster has covered the annual event.
According to the channel, the peak audience of 8.9 million – a huge 61% share of the television audience – came at 4.20pm; with the 15 minutes of the race itself attracting an audience of 8.4 million.
The afternoon’s live coverage, which ran for four hours ten minutes from 1.00pm to 5.10pm, was watched by an average of 2.9 million, 28% share of viewing.
Jamie Aitchison, Channel 4’s sports editor, said: ‘We are delighted to be broadcasters of this iconic race. Congratulations to Aintree for putting on such a fabulous spectacle for our viewers.’
‘Channel 4 has shown this week our commitment to this fantastic sport and I would like to congratulate IMG for their coverage across the three-day meeting. It’s a super start to our four year deal and we look forward to coming back next year.’
Simon Bazalgette, one of the key executives involved in negotiating British racing’s four-year terrestrial television deal with Channel 4 as group chief executive of The Jockey Club, added: ‘The terrestrial viewing figures for the 2013 John Smith’s Grand National on Channel 4 were exceptional, peaking higher than the large national audience we enjoyed on BBC1 for three out of the last four years.’
‘That is testament to the British public’s love of the world’s most famous steeplechase, the efforts of our partner, Channel 4, to promote the event like never before and to the Aintree team for their incredible hard work.’
‘For many, the Grand National is the shop window for Britain’s second biggest spectator sport. I’m delighted so many people saw a fairytale result from the grassroots of Jump racing, at the same time as the race set new standards for safety and welfare. I look forward to the 2014 race once again capturing the nation’s imagination.’
The race was won by outsider Aurora Encore at 66-1 and significantly, following increasing coverage on horse welfare, there were no fatalities in the race.
