Triathlon Series Reveals Record Viewership
The ITU World Triathlon Series has announced record television viewing figures for 2012, with an 18% increase recorded, according to analysis conducted by IFM Sports, with broadcast time also topping 1,000 hours for the first time.
The latest jump means viewing figures have now risen 168% from the competition’s inception just after the Beijing Games in 2008.
The ITU World Triathlon series was broadcast by 40 television partners worldwide in 160 countries, with the success of triathlon at the London 2012 Olympic Games also having a positive impact on the sport.
In the UK, over 4.7 million people watched Lisa Norden of Sweden take gold in a photo-finish with Nicola Spirig of Switzerland on the BBC, with even higher figures for the men’s event as 5.6 million tuned in to see British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee take gold and bronze respectively.
The 2013 ITU World Triathlon series is due to commence on 6th April in Auckland, with record-numbers of amateur competitors expected to compete along with the elite athletes.
Competitors will also be given the opportunity to race on the course used for the 2012 Games in Hyde Park during the Grand Finals of the series.
