This year's Eurovision Song Contest will be memorable not only for being one of the most magnificent shows produced to date, but also because of its very remarkable viewership rates, reaching over 122 million people across the 45 countries broadcasting the event. These figures show an increase of 17 million over Belgrade 2008.
17 million more viewers mean, in relative terms, an increase of 16%. The Eurovision Song Contest viewing figures peaked especially in several countries, such as France, the Netherlands and Estonia, and in many more there was also significant growth in terms of audience. In general, viewing figures for the Eurovision final on May 16 were double the average rates for a Saturday prime time.
EBU officials have shown their satisfaction upon theviewing figures. Bjørn Erichsen, Eurovision TV Director, stated that “Every year, millions of viewers from Iceland to Azerbaijan watch the Eurovision Song Contest. It is a rare example of a cultural event which brings people across the continent together to celebrate Europe’s diversity".
"The impeccable TV productions of the past years and continuous improvement in the standard of songs, have made it (the Eurovision Song Contest) a unique event and one of the most watched live TV entertainment programmes in the world," said Svante Stockselius, the EBU's Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest. "We are confident that the Contest will continue to attract millions of viewers, especially as it develops more and more into an interactive event," he concluded.
