Eurosport Group Reveals Audience Growth

TV audiences across the Eurosport Group rose by 11% in the first five months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, with all Eurosport TV channels performing strongly, according to the sports entertainment broadcaster. 

Eurosport’s average TV audience has also risen by 7%, with Eurosport 2 generating an average TV audience rise of 37%.
 
Audiences have been offered a range of sports across the channels, from the Africa Cup of Nations, Australian Open tennis Grand Slam, international cycling and the finale of the Winter Sports season as well as dedicated local content in specific markets such as MotoGP, Bundesliga and Davis Cup tennis.
 
There was an 11% rise in the UK, although the strongest growth in average TV audiences came from Poland, with a rise of 43% vs 2011. 

It is joined across the continent with +25% average TV audiences in Italy, +22% in France, +12% in Romania, +11% in Netherlands, and +9% in Sweden.
 
The 2012 Australian Open Grand Slam attracted over 56.4m different TV viewers on Eurosport channels, closely followed by the Africa Cup of Nations which drew 56.3m different TV viewers. 

Snooker also made a positive contribution with over 47m different TV viewers for the 2012 World Championships.

Eurosport chairman & CEO Laurent Eric Le Lay said: ‘Today sports fan consumers have more content and many channels to choose from and they are in control. At Eurosport, we believe providing the best experience possible on TV to viewers is our mission. And that is why sports fans choose us. The figures prove it.

‘It is a credit to everyone at Eurosport that we can announce such a strong start to the year thanks to the strength of our live coverage and production around major events. 2012 is an exceptional year of sport and the coming months represent an unique period in sport so we look forward to welcoming even more fans to our TV channels and across the entire platform of Eurosport channels beyond TV to internet and on all devices.’