The UEFA Champions League final, one of the most anticipated events in the football calendar, saw millions of viewers tune in from across Germany and Spain. The match featured LaLiga champions Real Madrid securing a 2-0 victory over Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.
German public service broadcaster ZDF reported that 12.3 million viewers watched the game, more than double from last year's figures. This surge in viewership was largely attributed to Dortmund's involvement in the final, sparking greater interest among German fans. The audience share reached an impressive 47.7 per cent according to Kicker.
This figure surpasses last year’s audience for Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Inter Milan which drew only 5.5 million viewers on ZDF. The last time a Bundesliga club reached the final four years ago - when Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain - it attracted nearly similar numbers with 12.8 million viewers tuning in.
RTVE averaged 6.2 million viewers in Spain
In Spain, RTVE’s broadcast on free-to-air channel La1 was viewed 'at some point' by an estimated total of 10.4 million people while averaging at around 6.2m consistent watchers throughout the match duration which equates to a substantial market share of about 48.8 per cent.
However, this is significantly lower compared to when Real Madrid featured in the final back in 2022 where RTVE averaged at around a whopping figure of approximately about7 .7 million viewers.
Despite this drop, Spanish broadcaster's coverage peaked at an impressive number during closing stages with as many as approximately about 7 .3 million people tuning into watch towards endgame stages.
Online streaming and International coverage
RTVE Play also recorded more than just traditional TV views. The streaming platform clocked more than 770,000 unique visitors, making it the most-watched Champions League final on the platform. Internationally, CBS Sports in the US reported an average of 2.3 million viewers for the final, marking a six per cent improvement from last year's figures.
Both ZDF and RTVE are set to broadcast another major football event - the upcoming UEFA 2024 European Championship. The tournament kicks off on June 14th with Germany vs Scotland match.
The Champions League final's impressive viewership numbers underscore football's immense global popularity and its ability to attract millions of viewers worldwide. As broadcasters prepare for future tournaments like UEFA Euro 2024, they will be hoping to replicate or even surpass these viewing figures.
