Spanish penalty shootout win nets BBC One 7.2m viewers

by Darren Davidson, Brand Republic 23-Jun-08, 11:00

LONDON - Spain's penalty shootout win over Italy, which booked them a place in the semi-finals of Euro 2008, netted BBC One 7.2m viewers last night, according to unofficial overnight figures.

The match, in which Arsenal player Cesc Fabregas scored the decisive penalty to end Spain's 88-year run of failing to beat Italy in a competitive football match, was watched by a 29.6% share of the audience between 7.30pm and 10pm.

Coverage ran beyond 10pm until around 10.30pm because the game went into extra time and penalties, though the unofficial figures were not adjusted to reflect this.

The overrun dented the performance of Channel 4's 'Big Brother'. The latest instalment of the reality series had a lowly 2.4m viewers and a 9.5% share between 9pm and 10pm. Including ratings on Channel 4+1, 'Big Brother' drew 2.7m viewers and a 10.7% share.

The first episode of a new series of hospital drama 'The Royal' brought ITV1 2.7m viewers and a 10.7% share between 8pm and 9pm.

It was followed by crime drama 'Taggart', which pulled in 3.7m viewers and a 15.2% share in the 9pm-10.30pm slot.

Earlier in the day, ITV1's live coverage of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix, in which British driver Lewis Hamilton finished a disappointing 10th in the race, attracted 3.2m viewers and a 31.7% share between 12pm and 3pm.

Comments

Keith Geddes - 23/06/2008

The BBC is a Public Service Broadcast service we have to pay for. Isnt there something in the Charter says they shouldnt BE in competition?? Figures cant be accurate anyway. Football... may offset normal wanted programmes... F1 is getting more boring.. and BB is the biggest waste of time and space on air ever. WHO watches people sleeping in black and white??? Just me by accident?