Virgin Media Television achieved its highest viewership in its 25-year history, attracting an average of 1.378 million viewers during Ireland’s narrow defeat to the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup last weekend.
Ireland were beaten 24-29 in one of the best games of rugby ever and this has been reflected in the audience numbers claimed by Virgin Media.
The game that was broadcasted on Virgin Media One on Saturday night became the most-watched programme of the year in 2023. This means that it is now expected to overtake RTÉ's popular show, The Late Late Toy Show as Ireland's yearly TV chart-topper.
Mick McCaffrey, the head of news and sport at Virgin Media Television, revealed that a remarkable 78 percent of TV viewers at that time tuned in to witness the quarter-final loss. Viewer engagement reached its peak at 1.541 million at 9:49 pm.
This number broke the channel's viewership record. There were also 292,800 streams on the Virgin Media Player.
"1.378 million people watched Ireland’s defeat against New Zealand on Saturday. 78% of total TV viewers watched. Viewing peaked at 1.541 million at 21:49. It is the most-watched programme on TV this year and the biggest in Virgin Media history. A further 292,800 streamed on VM Player," said McCaffrey on X.
1.378 million people watched Ireland’s defeat against New Zealand on Saturday. 78% of total tv viewers watched. Viewing peaked at 1.541 million at 21:49. It is the most-watched programme on TV this year and biggest in Virgin Media history. A further 292,800 streamed on VM Player.
— Mick McCaffrey (@mccaffreymick) October 16, 2023
This milestone surpassed the previous record held by Ireland’s Rugby World Cup pool game against South Africa in 2023, which had an average viewership of 1.22 million on RTÉ2, with an additional 267,000 streams on the RTÉ Player.
Earlier in the tournament, Virgin Media Television had already broken an eight-year viewership record when 1.19 million people watched Ireland’s final pool game against Scotland. This achievement marked a significant milestone for the channel, surpassing its previous highest audience of 1.16 million viewers during the Ireland-France match in the 2015 Rugby World Cup when the channel was known as TV3.
Ireland's game against New Zealand also broke TV records in France. In France, over 9.4 million people tuned in for Ireland's quarter-final in Paris. This is the largest audience in France for a rugby match that didn't feature the host nation.
Tournament Director Michel Possau and Chairman of France 2023, Jacques Rival added, "After 44 matches, and four compelling quarter-finals, four teams remain in contention to lift the Webb Ellis Cup here in Paris in just over a week's time. While there is inevitably elation and disappointment with knock-out rugby, I don't think I can remember four quarter-finals of such quality, intensity, suspense, and drama. Indeed, many of you reported that it was the greatest weekend of rugby ever. This was certainly reflected in a record weekend for the sport."
