IT MAY NOT HAVE been the spectacle everyone had hoped for but Sunday’s Rugby World Cup clash between Ireland and Italy was the most-watched programme on Irish television this year.
An average audience of 956,600 watched TV3′s coverage of yesterday’s Pool D encounter at London’s Olympic Stadium, which represents a 70% of the market share.
It was the station’s highest ever ratings in it’s 17 year history.
And as the match reached its climax, audience figures peaked at 1.18 million while 1.59 million tuned in at some point during the coverage.
Joe Schmidt’s side assured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals with a hard-earned 16-9 win.
It overtakes last month’s All-Ireland football final between Dublin and Kerry which saw an average audience of 875,300 watch the RTÉ broadcast from Croke Park.
The World Cup is proving to be a real hit among Irish viewers with England’s defeat to Australia on Saturday reaching 1.12 million viewers as the hosts crashed out of the tournament.
TV3′s decision to outbid the state broadcaster for the exclusive rights appears to be paying dividends as its coverage has reached 3.06 million viewers already.
Tip tackle/spear, call it what you will there’s no place for them in rugby. The game is hazardous enough without them
“Boss was concussed, as a result, but is back training with Ireland ahead of their Six Nations game.
“……Do you think the medical rules on concussion have been slightly side stepped here?
It has been reported that he’s passing all return to play protocols with flying colours. So, maybe but maybe not.
Back to playing WWF on the playstation for him
Funny many on this site didn’t even think it was a penalty
Who said it wasn’t a penalty?
Deadly dangerous they are
How can you call it “gruesome” have you actually seen the video? http://www.thescore.ie/isaac-boss-tip-tackle-chapparo-ban-1321719-Feb2014/