The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 was a hit in Germany. More than 11 million viewers saw the contest at average, two and a half million more than last year and the highest number since 1998. The average audience share was 43,8%. At its peak, nearly 14 million Germans watched the spectacle.
As intended by German broadcaster ARD with the recent relaunch of the German final, the Song Contest was especially successful with the younger audience. 55,8% of Saturday's TV viewers in the age group 14-49 saw Ruslana winning.
Unlike previous Song Contest winners, Ruslana's Wild Dances seems to become a hit. The single, which was released in Germany immediately after the contest, topped the charts at Amazon.de for a short while, now sliding down slowly and holding a 24th position as this article was written. The release of an English-sung album is announced for June, and a Europe-wide tour is said to follow.
