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RTÉ’S SIX ONE News on Christmas Eve was the broadcaster’s most-watched programme over the festive period.
Over half a million viewers (583,200) watched the Six One News on Christmas Eve, earning it a 51% share of the market at the time it aired.
This made it the most popular Christmas programme watched by Irish viewers between 23 and 27 December.
Mrs Brown’s Boys: Mammy of the People scooped the top entertainment spot on Christmas Day, averaging a total of 486,400 views and a 35% share of the market.
The figures indicate that Irish audiences continually sought to be informed over the Christmas period, as RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News on 23 December was the third most-watched programme over the festive period, averaging a total of 471,500 and a 35% share of the market.
Meanwhile, Christmas movies on RTÉ proved to be a big hit with viewers.
The Greatest Showman ranked as the most-watched movie between 23 and 27 December. Broadcast by RTÉ One on Christmas Day, some 351,200 viewers tuned in to watch it.
The perennial favourite Home Alone 2: Lost in New York ranked as the close number two most-watched Christmas Movie, with 322,500 viewers on Christmas Day.
Peter Rabbit scooped the third position, with 266,000 viewers.
Fair City took the number one soap spot for Christmas Day with 257,000 viewers (a 21% share).
Viewers also headed over for more action on Albert Square in an EastEnders Christmas Special on RTÉ One with 267,000 (a 21% share) who tuned in on St Stephen’s Day.
The five days of 23 to 27 December was a strong period for RTÉ Player with 754,000 streams, up 24% on the same dates of 2019.
There were 95,000 streams for EastEnders, making it the most-watched title. 22,000 streams were recorded for the EastEnders Christmas Day Special, making it the number one individual episode on RTÉ Player over the Christmas period.
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So everything that RTÉ showed over Christmas had fewer viewers than the Six-one news? That’s a bit sad. Still funnier than Mrs Brown’s Boys though
@JusticeForJoe: Couldn’t agree more. If RTÉ have seriously discovered the most popular item they’ve broadcast over the Christmas period was the News they should be hanging their well paid heads in shame instead of being proud of the fact. In fact, a discussion about why there are so many of them so well paid may be a good place to start.
@Arch Angel: It makes sense that RTE news on Christmas eve was in the top spot.
Brexit.
Travel chaos
Covid numbers
Impending new restrictions
Less people traveling and more people with a reason to watch the news….simple as that
@Davey Ohanlon: and possibly Santa setting off? I know that’s why I watched it with my little lads
@marian doherty: each to their own Marian, but never would i ever stick me kids in front of the six one news on Christmas eve to watch Santa setting off. Anyway maybe iam getting old and you know better.
A little over 10% tuned in for the six one propaganda show.
Maybe people are getting sense after all ?
What do we pay a licence for??? RTE is a joke
The only reason the six 1 news was the highest watched on xmas eve is because it ends with them showing santa on the sleigh heading off. Same every year. I never watch the news and actually meant to tune in for the kids but forgot in the end
Nothing else on to watch!
No choice!
@Barbara Christopher: ever hear of Netflix, Anazon Prime, Disney+ etc
@Anthony Edward Healy: or the aul dodgy box cough cough.
Is the journal hoping to receive some of the licence money in the new overall the Irish government is considering is that why their reporting on rte,s awful Christmas schedule or is it your boss whose an x rte employee wielding his weight around the journals office telling ye wat to write in favour of rte the most hated broadcaster in the country squeezing money outa the irish people for years and are still deeper in the black
@liam ward60: wow
@liam ward60: daddy chill
@liam ward60: are RTÉ really in the black?
Sure they show Santa leaving the North Pole! Kids were glued to it.
Worst Xmas ever in TV, absolute kcrap
Is there any other tv station besides rte
@Richard Russell: network 2 and tg4 are my favourite new stations
I call BS these figures I think the tv may have been on but nobody watching it. I also think the last number of years the tv at Christmas has gotten worse as for Mrs Browns boys I’ve heard nothing but bad reviews.
@Tom Harpur Photography:
Watch it and decide for yourself
A nation in fear.
@Full Circle: You’re so woke.
Says everything really about RTÉ’s content. Very poor.
Jaysus, just got my TV Licence in the post. Really detest paying it when I know it’s going on ridiculous salaries for mediocre presenters.
Hardly surprising over half the market would tune into RTÉ as it is a trusted source of news. Who wouldn’t want an up date on covid and Santa’s travel progress!
When the news beats 5 days worth of Christmas films then something has gone seriously wrong. It was an interesting time, but all the same airing a Star is Born and censoring quite a bit of the finale followed by a hotline for help if you were affected by the issues was a mistake.
Was that not the day they agreed on brexit…people where glad to hear the end of that $hit sh0w!
Never ever watch RTE news, full of parochial rubbish…mega yawn!
@Joan Featherstone:
Sometimes usually always
This will surely justify the TV license hike.
Bring back Sharon,
@Looney Tunes: and Georgie
Was that not the day they agreed on brexit…people where glad to hear the end of that circus!
Oh pulezeeeze
Very bad viewing on RTE over the Christmas all the money we pay
What’s with everyone on RTÉ radio one being on vacation. No proper programs
have your say