174,000 tune in to TG4 coverage of opening games

OVER 400,000 tuned into TG4’s coverage from the opening weekend of the National Football League. The first game between League and All-Ireland champions Kerry against Munster rivals Cork was watched by 174,000, an audience share of 13%, to the amazement of the host broadcasters.

"The Cork versus Kerry match last Friday would comfortably get into our top 10 programmes last year, so we are delighted the figures are so high this early in our coverage," said TG4 head of sport Rónán Ó Coisdealbha.

The Saturday night pairing of Dublin and Mayo under lights at Parnell Park also proved a ratings winner with an audience of 138,000 (share 10.7%) "We are very happy with the figures, considering it was the first weekend and the fact that there was a lot of sport on.

"Interestingly enough the deferred game last Sunday (Offaly versus Westmeath from Tullamore) got higher ratings of 67,000 than the live match between Donegal and Tyrone (44,000) due to the Six Nations rugby match in Rome and live horseracing on RTÉ," Mr Ó Coisdealbha said.

"Our GAA highlights programme on Monday night (Ard san Aer at 8:30pm) did very well as well highlights from seven Allianz Football League matches.

Next weekend, TG4 will be broadcasting four more matches in full, three of which will be broadcast live.