EBU: More than 70 million people watched the show "Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light"

EBU: More than 70 million people watched the show
Tuesday, 26 May 2020

  • A week after the show "Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light" was aired, EBU unveiled some viewing figures confirming  that over 70 million people switched their TV's on to watch the alternative ESC show. 

    The alternative show that hit the screens in more than 45 nations  and on the official Youtube channel replacing this year's cancelled Eurovision Song Contest due to the covid-19 pandemic, saw a total of 73 million viewers switch on their TV's in order to watch the show. 

    The countries that saw the highest viewing figures were: Italy (RAI) with 3,0 Million viewers, The Netherlands (NPO) and United Kingdom (BBC One) with 2,4 million viewers each while Russia saw an audience of 2.1 million watched the show on Channel One. 

    Another remarkable figure concerns the younger audience from 15 to 24 year olds which reached a 20% in viewing numbers more above the average prime time percentage which is around 11%.

     

    The Online content

    In additon to the Europe shine a Light show, new content was launched online in order to fill the space left after this year's Eurovision cancellation. Special content such as Eurovision Home Concerts, Eurovision Song Celebration and Eurovisioncalls with NikkieTutorials attracted more than 53 million unique viewers between March and May while  74% of viewing on YouTube was by under 35-year-olds.

    EBU Director General Noel Curran said:

    “I really want to congratulate the whole team at NPO, NOS and AVROTROS who produced an incredibly creative and very emotional show under challenging circumstances. I’m proud that with Europe Shine A Light we united a continent in true Eurovision spirit. These fantastic figures really highlight the power of public service media to bring audiences together, not just in their own countries but across the world too.”

    Jon Ola Sand, the outgoing Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest said:

    “Even in the absence of a Song Contest, our show this year proves that the light that Eurovision shines into millions of hearts remains undimmed. I’d like to thank the incredible team in the Netherlands for all their hard work and our digital team who also worked intensively to provide new, original content which engaged millions online as well". 

    And concluded saying: 

    “The past 10 years have been amazing and I will always be a proud part of the Eurovision family. I wish everyone, and in particular my successor Martin Österdahl, all the very best as they begin preparations for the return of the Eurovision Song Contest next year.”

    The EBU confirmed during the Europe Shine A Light show that Rotterdam will host the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest while the dates during which the next contest will unfold will be unveiled the coming weeks. 

    News/Photo Source : Eurovision.tv