The 2009 Eurovision Song Contest has become the most watched television show in Norway's history. 2,003,000 people tuned in to watch as the country won a landslide victory with Alexander Rybak's Fairytale.

More than half the entire population of Norway tuned in to see the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, almost half a million more viewers than a year before when Maria Haukass Storeng reached fifth place with the Mira Craig song Hold on be strong.

Alexander Rybak has become a national icon in Norway since winning the national final Melodi Grand Prix with the biggest ever televote in NRK's history. He went on to win the most points ever at the Eurovision Song Contest, along with the record for the biggest winning margin and the most top marks ever received in the competition.