Record RTÉ audience

A RECORD- BREAKING audience tuned into RTÉ Television’s coverage of Ireland’s historic RBS Six Nations victory over England at Croke Park on Saturday.

An average of 1,052,000 viewers tuned in to RTÉ Two from kick-off at 5.40pm to the final whistle. The audience peaked at 1,207,000 viewers during the 77th minute of the match, making it the highest television audience for a rugby game in this country.

Meanwhile, demand for electricity in Ireland, measured in the EirGrid National Control Centre, was substantially down during the match because people were watching the game with family and friends in sitting rooms or in public houses. Lights or appliances in other rooms were not switched on and this meant that demand for electricity was 100 megawatts less than on a normal Saturday at this time of the year.