Eurovision 2024: Viewership Soars Despite Controversy
Published: October 26, 2024
The 69th edition of the Songfestival, hosted in Switzerland, concluded with Austria taking the top prize. While the event faced its share of controversy and criticism, it also drew important viewership, demonstrating its enduring appeal.
Record-Breaking Numbers
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) recently released the official viewing figures, revealing that approximately 166 million people across the 37 participating countries tuned in to watch the competition. This represents an increase of three million viewers compared to the previous year.
Did You Know?
The 2024 Eurovision Song contest achieved the highest viewing share since 2004, with 47.7% of television viewers watching the grand finale.
The contest proved particularly popular among younger audiences. 60.4 percent of them were watching the Songfestival, which is the highest viewing share ever,
according to EBU data, highlighting the event’s continued relevance to the 15-24 age demographic.
regional Highlights
Switzerland, as the host country, experienced a significant boost in viewership. The final was watched by 1.1 million people,a 57% increase compared to the previous year. The event also welcomed over half a million Eurovision fans to Basel.
- Germany: Led the pack with an average of 9.1 million viewers, the highest figure since 2016.
- Iceland: Boasted an remarkable 97.8% of TV-watching Icelanders tuning into the final on May 17.
- YouTube: Recorded 12.1 million live views, demonstrating the contest’s strong online presence.
Belgium’s Viewing Figures
In Belgium,the viewing figures for the final were a bit disappointing,with the lowest figure since 2014: 663,011 people called in for the final.
In contrast, the first semifinal featuring Red Sebastian attracted 914,210 viewers.
Controversies and Criticisms
The 2024 eurovision Song Contest was not without its controversies. several broadcasters, including RTVE (Spain), Yle (Finland), Avrotros (Netherlands), and VRT (Belgium), voiced concerns regarding the EBU’s openness and the integrity of the televoting process.
Pro Tip
The EBU has announced that voting occurred from 146 countries, including a “rest of the world” category.The United States and Canada were the most active voters in this category,followed by Romania,Slovakia,Mexico,and Turkey.
The participation of Israel also sparked considerable debate. The EBU addressed these concerns by stating that there had been voting from 146 countries, including a special category for countries that do not participate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people watched Eurovision 2024?
Approximately 166 million people across 37 participating countries.
Which country had the highest viewership?
Germany,with an average of 9.1 million viewers.
What was the viewing share among young people?
60.4% of viewers aged 15-24 watched the songfestival.
What were the main criticisms of the event?
Concerns were raised about the EBU’s transparency and the televoting process, as well as the participation of israel.
