Festival suffers fall in viewers for second year
Official figures revealed by RTÉ confirm the event was watched by 440,000 (31% share) and 601,000 (42% share) during the pre- and post-Nine O Clock News segments of Monday’s show.
This compares with a 35% and 46% share in 2010, a 53% total share during the 50th anniversary celebrations in 2009, and a 42% total share in 2008.
As a result, the Rose of Tralee’s first live broadcast has slumped to its lowest point in three years — from a high of 748,000 viewers in 2009 to an average of 520,500 this year.
An RTÉ spokesperson said the figures were subject to a number of qualifications. These include the fact that the 2009 first night show was held on a Tuesday instead of a Monday and was the festival’s 50th anniversary.
She added that while the 2010 programme was up against a major sporting event, it also saw the first appearance of Daithí Ó Sé as presenter — naturally increasing viewer levels — and that the second night figures are always far higher than those for the first instalment.
Under this approach, the fairest year with which to compare this year’s first night figures is 2008 — when 42%, or 640,000 people, tuned in — marginally higher than this year’s 520,500 Monday night average.
